Picture credits: NZAA
Oamaru: The High Commissioner of India to New Zealand, Neeta Bhushan, visited the New Zealand Airline Academy (NZAA) in Oamaru last week, attending a dinner with local officials and academy representatives.
The NZAA, an Indian-owned flying school operating from Oamaru Aerodrome since 2018, has seen steady growth in student enrollment and fleet size. The academy now has 25 aircraft, including 10 added this year, and international student numbers have increased from 92 in early 2024 to 172, The Otago Daily Times highlighted this expansion, along with the school’s plans for further development.
Picture credits: NZAA LinkedIn
Bhushan met with Waitaki District Mayor Gary Kircher, MP Miles Anderson, and district councillor Jim Hopkins at the NZAA-hosted event at Del Mar Restaurant. Kircher described the discussions as “entertaining and enlightening,” stating that topics included the aviation industry, exports, and politics.
Kircher also noted that NZAA has contributed to strengthening ties with the Indian community in Waitaki. NZAA co-director and academy co-founder Celroy Mascarenhas said the institution has been recognized for its “high-value training programme.”
Picture credits: NZAA LinkedIn
“The Ministry of Education classifies it as high value because the students end up spending a lot of money within a short time,” Mascarenhas said. “Not just on their fees, but also in their local surroundings.”
The flight school provides accommodation for students at Aviator’s Place in Oamaru. Mascarenhas stated that student numbers have grown significantly since mid-2024, leading to an increase in hiring.
“We’re still going through our post-Covid recovery. We’re hiring pretty much every day,” he said. “We’ve just taken on another five instructors, and the intention is to take on another two.”
Picture credits: NZAA LinkedIn
NZAA has also expanded its support staff in response to upcoming developments at Oamaru Airport. According to local officials, this includes a $13 million council project to upgrade the airport’s sealed runway in 2025-26. Hopkins stated that NZAA is among the most successful Indian-owned businesses in North Otago.
“If you add up all the spending associated with housing, feeding, clothing, entertaining, and training that number of students year-round, it’s pretty clear NZAA is an important local contributor,” he said.
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