Aero Work sold

High-flying New Zealand topdressing icon Wanganui Aero Work has been sold to the very people who formed its core client base.
The 54-year-old company has been bought by 100 percent New Zealand farmer-owned Ravensdown Fertiliser, enabling the co-operative to build on a lifetime's work by the Harding family.
Wanganui Aero Work was established in 1950 by topdressing pioneer Wally Harding and has been owned and operated by the next generation of the Harding family since 1957, with Richmond Harding at the controls.
The son of Wally Harding, Richmond, 67, will remain at the helm in the foreseeable future, as will existing staff.
During the last five decades, the company has grown to be the largest privately-owned aerial topdressing company in New Zealand.
Wanganui Aero Work, which operates 13 fixed-wing aircraft and four helicopters, has been at the forefront of technology in the aerial topdressing industry. The company was among the first in the world to introduce global positioning (GPS) equipment to achieve far greater fertiliser application accuracy and produce maps for clients as proof of fertiliser placement.
The company was also one of the earliest users of the highly efficient Cresco aircraft ? which, with its powerful engine and high payload, has brought substantial benefits to Wanganui Aero Work's customers.
It was this innovation, introducing the best technology available, that has driven the sale.
"As the technology develops, the family simply couldn't afford to continue funding expensive equipment upgrades. From an historic aspect, it was a very difficult decision to sell. Ravensdown is committed to delivering its shareholders and farmers in general the best technology and from that perspective Wanganui Aero Work will continue to flourish," Mr Harding said.
"Having spent a lifetime developing this business and the quality of service and the technology of aerial fertiliser application, I wanted to sell the company to an organisation which would carry on this tradition," Mr Harding said.
"Ravensdown is a high user of science in agriculture, with an annual $2 million investment in research and development, 70 degree-qualified field officers, a soil and plant testing lab and with millions of dollars invested in computer-assisted fertiliser recommendation programmes and farm mapping, so it is the perfect organisation to carry on our work," Mr Harding said.
Employing 45 permanent staff, Wanganui Aero Work has more than 2000 customers and offers a diverse range of services, from fertiliser and lime application for farming and forestry to spraying of painted apple moth.
Nothing other than the ownership will change. The name will remain the same, and staff retain their jobs with existing contracts intact. The company will continue to apply any fertiliser product chosen by farmers.
The iconic status was gained not only from years of topdressing service in the rural sector, but also for lifesaving mercy missions during emergencies. Well before the introduction of dedicated rescue helicopters, Wanganui Aero Work's aircraft and pilots were called on in times of need.
Often they flew in atrocious weather conditions and under cover of darkness; their local knowledge of Wanganui's hinterland proved a key. The lives of literally thousands of rural dwellers were saved by the quick action of skilled Aero Work pilots.
"Wanganui Aero Work is a company with tremendously loyal staff and customers who want the final step in the fertiliser process carried out with a high level of accuracy and efficiency," Ravensdown chairman Jim Pringle said.