Case Studies
Crayfish – Kaikōura to Wellington
A seafood operator based in Kaikōura needed to get live crayfish to Wellington, fast. The challenge? No commercial airline serviced this route, and the only option was a local airport capable of handling small aircraft.
These smaller planes required multiple trips and could only fly in ideal weather - making consistency nearly impossible. This lack of reliability created a logistical headache, especially when dealing with live cargo where time, temperature, and handling can significantly affect quality.
Merlin Freight stepped in with a solution that completely changed the game.
Our aircraft was able to handle larger volumes and heavier loads, flying in a far broader range of weather conditions. What previously took multiple attempts with unpredictable success could now be consolidated into fewer, more reliable flights. For the client, this meant less time spent coordinating multiple legs, more product arriving on schedule, and greater confidence in meeting delivery deadlines. Most importantly, the crayfish were arriving fresher and in better condition, delivering a better result for both the business and its customers.
Crabs – Picton / Blenheim to Auckland
A seafood exporter was repeatedly running into roadblocks trying to move live crabs from the upper South Island to Auckland.
The freight systems in the region were unreliable, not just in terms of volume capacity, but also timing. Often, the client would make the 30-minute drive to the airport, arriving two hours ahead of schedule as required, only to be turned away at the last minute. It was an enormous waste of time and resources. And while the crabs were packed in chilled containers, the extended handling, long wait times, and additional ground transport at the Auckland end meant quality often took a hit.
With Merlin, everything changed.
We provided a tailored freight option with scheduled flights that worked specifically for the client’s needs, not the other way around. The seafood could now arrive at the departure airport and be loaded directly onto the aircraft with minimal delay. Even better, the aircraft flew directly to Ardmore Airport in Auckland, significantly reducing the final leg of the journey. That meant less time on the ground, better temperature control, and seafood arriving in far better condition. For the client, it wasn’t just a faster service; it was a smarter, more dependable one that protected the integrity of their product.
Mussel Spat – Kaitaia to Motueka
Transporting mussel spat from Kaitaia to Motueka may not sound complicated, but for one aquaculture customer, it was a major obstacle.
The spat needed to be delivered quickly, kept in optimal conditions, and reintroduced to mussel farms as soon as possible to ensure survivability. Unfortunately, there were no commercial airline routes that worked for this leg of the journey, and road transport took over 24 hours. That time delay was critical: survivability rates were under 10%, making the whole process inefficient and financially risky.
That’s when Merlin stepped in with a direct, point-to-point flight solution.
We were able to move the mussel spat from Kaitaia to Motueka in around three hours - an enormous improvement over the previous 24-hour timeframe. The result was immediate and measurable. Survivability rates jumped to over 60%, and the mussel spat was reintroduced to the farms on the very same day. Even better, the cost was comparable to what the customer had been paying for road transport. What they gained was time, reliability, and most importantly, a healthier, more viable product.
Have questions or enquiries? Reach out to us, and we’ll be happy to assist you.