Rob, the CEO and Chief Pilot of Way To Go has contributed to the rural community all his life. He started his career farming on the family farm in Hawkes Bay before moving to the South Island.

Rob put his stereo on the back seat, saddle in the boot, heading dog Jess in the cab and crammed as many of his worldly possessions that would fit into his truck and headed South. Straight away Rob noticed that there was a stark contrast to the luscious green hills of CHB. Rob was now working on dry arid highland country known as Mackenzie Country and he loved it.

Deer were a large part of the station that he worked on and by the mid 80’s was in full swing. There was currently one helicopter working on recovery and as the numbers of deer increased, so too did the number of helicopters! Rob was invited to have a go one day and netted two deer on his first flight. He was hooked and spent the next five years recovering deer from most farms in the South Island with the legendary pilot, Howard Smith.

After 10 years away from CHB it was time to return and he spent the next few years farming with his father on the family farm. Farming was hard with continuous droughts and poor stock prices and Rob said to himself, what if I get to 50 and these prices are still existing. He didn’t want to put all his eggs into one basket and decided to learn to fly a helicopter.

He learnt to fly with Rick Graham in Hastings and spent every free moment studying for his PPL (Private Pilot Licence) and CPL (Commercial Private Licence). He gained both and became a qualified pilot in 1998.

Rob had the opportunity to work with Amuri Helicopters in the South Island, so he headed South and before long he was very busy. Farming had improved for the farmers with more finance for them to control weeds and develop pastures which meant there was plenty of work for Ag pilots.

Work was good and Rob’s knowledge and reputation grew so he decided to set up his own company in 2000 – Way to Go Heliservices in Rangiora, Christchurch.

Rob has been flying for over 20 years now and is a very diverse and talented helicopter pilot by virtue of the environment that he operates in. His office has a different view every day, and he knows the Canterbury region like the back of his hand.

He has a passion for advising farmers on how to get the best yield from their land and with his pasture and stock management knowledge helps the farming community, whether it be by weed control, wilding pines, fertiliser application, controlled burns or stock mustering. Flighty deer are hard enough to move on the ground, but Rob understood how they ran. Using a helicopter is a very effective way of mustering animals on steep terrain blocks that have a lot of cover, especially those of a bigger size that are difficult to manage on foot.

Not many helicopter pilots have Robs farming experience and his repeating client base is based on his honest approach to getting the best out of the land.

What we offer

Way To Go Heliservices and Mt Hutt Heliservices (operated by Way To Go) offer a range of commercial, agricultural & aerial transportation (including heli-skiing, hunting & fishing) services by Helicopter throughout the South Island area.

Take a stunning scenic helicopter tour of Christchurch, the Canterbury region and/or the South Island. To see and experience New Zealand at its very best... there is only ONE WAY TO GO!

Our scenic helicopter tours of Christchurch, Mount Hutt and the Canterbury plains, take in breathtaking scenery where you can see secluded beaches, pristine lakes and rivers, snow-clad mountains and untouched native forests. New Zealand is internationally renowned and respected as the perfect place to get away from it all, and Way To Go will take you there in comfort and style.

Your specific interests and requirements can most certainly be catered for – whether it be Heli-skiing, a golfing tour by helicopter, a secluded and romantic lunch, a helicopter tour of South Island wineries or any other special occasion. We are right on the back doorstep of some of New Zealand's best hunting and fishing and can take you off the beaten track. 

We operate five helicopters from both Rangiora Airfield and Mount Hutt so we are able to cater to every need, taste and budget. Additionally, if you prefer something a little more adventurous, try an Introductory Flight with one of our Instructors - full flight training available. This will challenge and thrill even the most adventurous!

Contact Us for a Quote - we'll be happy to help