The first official airmail across the Tasman left Muawai Beach, Auckland, New Zealand for Sydney on February 17 1934 carrying 45,000 letters weighing 1000 lbs. A special stamp was released for this first mail carried in the "Faith in Australia" piloted by C.P.Ulm.

An official experimental airmail to New Zealand was carried out on April 11, 1934 by Flt.Lt C.T.P.Ulm in Faith in Australia between Sydney and New Plymouth (New Zealand). Mail carried on this flight had an airmail fee of 5d in addition to ordinary postage. 38,682 articles were carried on the outward flight with 22,071 articles carried on the return flight. A special stamp was not issued but letters on the flight bore a special cachet. .

The next flight from New Zealand was by Kingsford-Smith on his journey from Kaitaia (Ninety Mile Beach) to Mascot (Sydney) on March 29 1934 carrying 25,000 letters. .

Another experimental flight by Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith in the "Southern Cross" on May 15 1935 almost ended in disaster and fourteen of the twenty-one bags of mail carrying an estimated 28,000 articles had to be dumped overboard. .

However, it was another two years before an agreement could be reached between the Governments of the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand on the conditions allowing for an Australian - New Zealand service to link up with the Empire Air Service to United Kingdom. .

Meanwhile, arrangements were made for mails shipped from Australia to be forwarded over New Zealand's air services. The first despatch to Auckland left Sydney on April 9, 1936 on the "Monowai". The air fee of 2d was in addition to ordinary postage from Australia and was payable in Commonwealth stamps. The air services utilised initially were Palmerston North - Blenheim - Christchurch - Dunedin and Wellington - Blenheim - Nelson. .

On April 30 1940, a weekly flying boat service was established between Mechanics Bay (Auckland) and Sydney. This service then linked with Qantas service to the UK. It was operated by Tasman Empire Airways, a company especially formed to operate the service. The journey covered 1342 miles and required nine hours. The airmail rate to Australia was 5d per half ounce. To Great Britain, Commonwealth countries beyond Australia, Egypt and Iraq, the rate was 1/6 per half ounce. All other countries attracted a charge of 6d above normal rates. Postcards were carried at half rate. The first New Zealand - Australia service carried 40,000 letters of which 20,000 were destined for Australia. The first Australia - New Zealand mail flight left Sydney on May 1, 1940 carrying 31 bags of mail. .

The operating company, Tasman Empire Airways (TEAL), was owned by Qantas Empire Airways, Imperial Airways, the New Zealand Government and Union Airways of New Zealand. Its original fleet comprised three flying boats. .

By 1945, the New Zealand service had been increased to thrice weekly. .

The following year, the service was increased to nine return trips fortnightly. .

1947 saw the introduction of seven return trips per week. During February - May 1948, it was necessary to ground the Sandringham flying boats that operated the service following an incident on December 3 1947 when an aircraft had to dump its fuel and cargo following an engine failure. It was necessary to reduce the frequency to four return trips per week with a temporary service provided by DC4 Skymasters chartered from TAA and ANA. By the end of the year, the frequency had been doubled with six services provided by the Sandringham flying boat and the other two by Skymasters. During 1948/49, an extra Sandringham service was provided though both Skymaster charter services were retained. .

In 1949/50, the service was extended to include second and third class mail. Eight services per week were now provided by the Solent type aircraft which replaced the Sandringham in 1949. .

Parcel mail was included in 1950/51. Changes introduced in 1951/52 included the substitution (as of October 1 1950) of Wellington instead of Auckland. A Melbourne - Christchurch service was commenced on June 28, 1951 The three routes were used for a total of nine services per week. .

Sydney - Auckland - four services per week
Sydney - Wellington - four services per week
Melbourne - Christchurch - one service per week.

Land based DC6 aircraft began being used on the service during 1954 and the frequency of service reduced to seven return flights per week. .

On June 28 1954, a twice weekly service was established on a permanent basis from Christchurch to Sydney by Tasman Empire Airways. A special cachet was applied to all mail ex Christchurch on the first day of the new service. .

Following a change to a Labour Government, the Union Airways of New Zealand was taken over which put its share of TEAL in government hands. Shortly after, the Australian Government (which owns Qantas) bought out the British Government share. .

1955/56 saw the total Australia - New Zealand flights reduced to seven weekly. For a short period of that year, a weekly service was provided to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. .

In 1956/57, the Sydney - Norfolk Island service was extended on a fortnightly basis to Auckland. For a short period in the year, a direct Melbourne - Auckland service was provided. .

The following year, this was established on a regular weekly basis and the number of Australia - New Zealand flights per week totalled 10. On June 1 1960 a direct Brisbane - Auckland service was introduced and the services to New Zealand increased to a total of 14 per week. It was further increased to 19 per week in 1960/61. .

The New Zealand Government bought out the Australian share-holding on July 21,1961. In 1965, the airline was renamed Air New Zealand. .

Trans Pacific Services.

The trans-Pacific service between San Francisco and Auckland commenced in July 1940 arriving at Auckland on July 18. Operated by Pan American Airways, it called at Honolulu, Canton Island and Noumea. With a fortnightly service, it reduced the transit time of Australian mails to the USA to seven days and to the United Kingdom to eleven days. .

In December 1941, the trans-Pacific service was discontinued due to the Pacific War. However, the Australia - New Zealand service was continued though with its frequency reduced from three services per fortnight to two services per fortnight. .

Pan American Airways resumed the service between Auckland and New Zealand in June 1946 but due to the better facilities offered by the Lancasterian service to the UK, it was not utilised for airmails. .

Extracted from Official Airmails by Ken Sparks which is available in CD ROM or book form from the stamps AU shop.