Flying in to make a splash

Stephen Newland and Chris Sattler aim to have their Aotearoa II seaplane operating this summer. Photo / Getty Images

Seaplanes - once the epitome of glamorous air travel - are returning to the Auckland waterfront.

Seventy-three years ago, a Tasman Empire Airways Limited (Teal) flying boat named Aotearoa took off from the Waitemata Harbour for Sydney.

Seaplane flights continued to operate on the Waitemata under various companies until 1989.

Now, owner Chris Sattler and pilot Stephen Newland want their eight-seater 1961 de Havilland Beaver seaplane - named Aotearoa II and registered ZK-AMA in honour of its 1940 predecessor - to be flying from the harbour this summer.

A second plane is likely to join the fleet, allowing for up to 20 flights a day, most to Hauraki Gulf islands.

Said Sattler: "Seaplanes operated in Auckland for a long time and I'd like to continue that tradition.

"It's not going to make me a millionaire - this is not for money, this is for passion."