Airline's sponsorship takes off to new heights

Art Deco Trust general manager Sally Jackson and Air New Zealand chief executive officer Christopher Luxon celebrate the take-off of another three-year sponsorship arrangement. Photo / Duncan Brown

After three years of putting its support into the annual Tremains Art Deco Weekend, Air New Zealand has bumped things up into a higher class.

"For the past three years Air New Zealand has been involved but at a smaller level - but now they will have more significant involvement," Art Deco Trust general manager Sally Jackson said.

"It is so good to have them on our side." She said the annual event had grown hugely over the past five years and had attracted a large number of domestic and international travellers to the Bay, which made Air New Zealand's decision to become more involved understandable.

"It is so valuable for us to get these sort of national businesses involved.

"We value our partnership with Air New Zealand and renewing this for another three years makes a great deal of sense," Mrs Jackson said.

Air New Zealand chief executive officer Christopher Luxon said the company was committed to showcasing "the very best of New Zealand" to the world.

"We have been a sponsor of the Art Deco Weekend for three years and are very proud of our association with the trust and the event," he said after announcing the news at a Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce luncheon with local business leaders in Hastings yesterday.

Having only been back in the country for two years he had not had the chance to enjoy the unique event, but that was set to change.

"Oh I most definitely want to come here for it," he said.

He recalled, as a child, coming through Napier with his parents and remembered it as a "magical" place.

"And Art Deco just takes that further - we want to be very involved in it and we're keen to work with Sally and her great team."

Last weekend Air New Zealand staged special Art Deco competitions on the flights into the Bay, and next year will do the same, and may even deck the crew out appropriately.

And maybe an Art Deco-painted aircraft?

"Now there's an idea," Mr Luxon said with a smile.