Teal

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Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL) was the forerunner of Air New Zealand. It was first registered as a limited liability company on April 26 1940. The inaugural service, from Auckland to Sydney on April 30 of that year, was flown by one of its two Short S30 flying boats.

The shares were originally held by the New Zealand government (20%), Union Airways (19%), BOAC (38%) and QANTAS (23%).

After World War II shareholding passed to equal ownership by the governments of New Zealand and Australia. Four Short Sandringhams and later Short Solents were acquired, as well as an ex Royal New Zealand Air Force PBY Catalina for survey flights. The airline expanded beyond the Tasman, flying from New Zealand to most Pacific islands - some of which were also flown to by Short Sunderlands of New Zealand's other airline, NAC.

In the 1950s Douglas DC-6 land planes and Lockheed Electra II turboprops were acquired.

When further investment was required to purchase modern Douglas DC-8 jets, Australia decided to support the wholly Australian owned QANTAS the New Zealand government bought out the Australian Government shareholding, giving New Zealand 100% ownership. The airline changed to its present name, Air New Zealand on April 1 1965.

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