Heading north past the bays and inlets, headlands and tranquil turqouise seas, we slowly descend. Further north in the hills we see fresh scarring from the torrential rains earlier this year.

We fly past the distinctive skyline of Bream Head, over the Marsden Point oil refinery and up the length of Whangarei Harbour. A sharp turn at the top to land heading back out to sea on this little plateau on the headland.