Built on innovation and experience
In 2024, Aerowork marked 75 years of flying for New Zealand farmers — celebrating a proud history of innovation and invention that began in the Whanganui hills and continues to lead in rural aviation today.
What began in 1949, when Wally Harding founded Wanganui Aerowork, has grown into New Zealand’s leading aerial spreading company, today known as Aerowork. When Wally retired, his son’s Richmond, better known as Ditch, and John took over the reins.
The Harding family built the business from humble beginnings into a trusted national operation, helping shape the landscape of modern New Zealand rural aviation. Their pilots weren’t just skilled spreaders — they often doubled as first responders for rural rescues, long before dedicated rescue helicopters existed.
In 2004, the Harding family sold the company to Ravensdown, combining decades of aviation expertise with Ravensdown’s world-class soil science and practical advice. The name changed to Aerowork, and since then other operators have come on board: Marlborough Aerial Work, Rowley Aviation, Wareham Airspray and Bargh Gardner Aviation.
However the purpose stayed the same: serving farmers with precision, reliability, innovation in rural aviation.
75th Celebration
Whanganui Airport came alive at the celebration, filled with farmers, families, and friends celebrating 75 years of Kiwi topdressing history — and the story of Aerowork itself.
The smaller hangars at Whanganui Airport came alive with the sound of aircraft and conversation as farmers, families, and friends gathered to celebrate 75 years of Kiwi topdressing history — and the story of Aerowork itself.
The event brought together Aerowork’s people, aircraft, and customers from across the country, recognising the company’s long-standing contribution to New Zealand’s rural sector. It was a rare opportunity to see the team and technology that keep farms thriving in some of the country’s most remote areas.
Attendees also had the chance to view Aerowork’s in-house engineering capability, a feature that sets the company apart as the only topdressing business in New Zealand with a dedicated team of engineers building and maintaining aircraft components.
A highlight of the celebration was a flyby featuring three generations of topdressing aircraft — an original Tiger Moth, a 1950s Fletcher, and todays PAC Cresco. At the controls were members of the Harding family, descendants of founder Wally Harding, who established Wanganui Aero Work in 1949, along with our Manawatu-based pilot, Shane Wareham.
