Thomas Newman chartered and was a passenger on the first aircraft to fly from Wellington to Nelson on 11 November 1921, showing the progressive spirit that had typified the Newman Brothers transport firm for more than 40 years.

He is pictured here (at right, wearing a flying helmet) shortly after the aircraft's arrival in Nelson. To his right are his wife Christina Newman, her father Alexander Thomson, pilot Captain P. K. (Shorty) Fowler, flight mechanic Ted Ranish and the owner of the property where the plane landed, William Arnold.