Groom Luke Hamlin was left stranded in Gisborne on Monday when his flight was cancelled the day before his wedding, leaving no way to get to Auckland in time.
That’s when Air Ruatoria pilot Mahanga Maru stepped in, offering to fly Hamlin and his brother to Napier where they could catch the next flight to Auckland.
“Luke called me at about 3:15pm and his flight to Auckland had been cancelled and they didn’t have any options to get there so I said look, I’ll see what I can do,” he said.
“They were pretty happy, I think they were ready to go and have a great day, so they were really pleased when I said I could help them out.”
Maru's generosity even got him an invitation to the big day, but he said he “didn’t really think it was appropriate” given that he’d just met the guys.
“I just do my part to give them a memorable day... that was the best part, especially this time of year,”
Air Ruatoria was established in 2020, operating as tourist and charter flights on the East Coast, and helped during the devastation of Tairāwhiti and Gisborne during Cyclone Gabrielle earlier this year.
During Cyclone Gabrielle, Maru said he was “really lucky” to be able to help his community as a pilot.
“It warms the heart, those are my people, my relations and like many people here just been doing what we can do to help.”
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