Along New Zealand’s southern coast, rugged shorelines and fjords give way to the pristine waters where Ngāi Tahu Seafood sustainably harvests kōura, also known as rock lobster. 

Ngāi Tahu Seafood is part of Ngāi Tahu Holdings Corporation, the commercial arm of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, the largest iwi (tribe) in Te Waipounamu (South Island). In 2024, Air Kaikōura facilitated a partnership between Merlin and Ngāi Tahu Seafood to transport live seafood from Kaikōura to the international airport in Wellington. 

Ngāi Tahu Seafood operates near a small airfield on the southern coast that is accessible only to smaller aircraft, making Merlin’s Cessna Caravan a natural choice for the job. Merlin’s partnership with Ngāi Tahu Seafood is an important part of Merlin’s commercialization efforts, which also includes the transport of king crab and mussel spat in other parts of the country. 

In 2023 Merlin opened its center for operations in Keri Keri, New Zealand, with the primary focus of advancing our product R&D and certification activities with the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAA). Over the past year, we have been actively seeking niche and bespoke freight opportunities to both support our commercialization efforts, as well as lend a hand to local communities. 

Seafood transport emerged as a natural fit due to the high value of fresh, live exports and the logistical challenges of moving them quickly from remote fisheries to international markets. In our first season with Ngāi Tahu Seafood, we successfully transported over 125,000 pounds of live seafood across 100 flights—and this is just the beginning.

Kōura have served as a cornerstone of Māori culture and commerce for generations. Historically, Ngāi Tahu traded seafood both among iwi and, by the 1830s, even began exporting to Australia. Today, New Zealand seafood is recognized as a premium, high quality product, with strong global demand. 

New Zealand’s key exports of kōura, hoki, squid, mussels, and salmon have seen substantial price increases in recent years, with kōura alone reaching a record $371 million USD in 2023. Live kōura in particular are in high demand in China, the largest importer of New Zealand seafood, where live lobsters sold for an average of $71.18/kg USD in 2020. 

The demand for live, not frozen, seafood means that regional airlines like Merlin play a crucial and time-sensitive role in New Zealand’s fishing industry. Previously, Ngāi Tahu Seafood relied on a five-hour ferry ride or a six-hour drive across the island to reach the international airport. With Merlin’s air transport solution, the journey now takes just one hour.

Another niche market that Merlin has entered is the transport of mussel spat from Kaitaia (along New Zealand’s northernmost shore) and Motueka (the South Island) where the waters are calm and more suitable for farming. 

Spat are very young shellfish that serve as the foundation of New Zealand’s increasingly valuable mussel aquaculture industry. In 2023 the mussel industry generated over $167 million in export earnings annually, making it the country’s second most valuable seafood export.

However, the industry remains heavily reliant on wild-caught spat, which have low survival rates due to the challenges of collection and transport. The transport of mussel spat is highly time-sensitive. Spat must be kept moist and handled with care to ensure successful transfer to mussel farms. Research has shown that exposing spat to air for just five hours significantly reduced survival rates. 

By providing a dedicated, efficient air transport solution, Merlin is eager to support the growth and sustainability of one of New Zealand’s most important seafood exports.