Surging Ahead – Introducing Our Second Winner of 2026 – Kate Rankin

Sometimes, when you look at applications, you spot a potential winner straight away. Kate was that person this year. Usually, when I start to read applications and begin the shortlisting process, I have a lot of research to do about the applicant and a bit of verification to seek. But Kate’s application and her backstory were flawless.

As a newly minted PPL, Kate (right) takes her sister, Sophie, for a zap around the skies.

Kate is a natural born leader, and nothing seems to faze her. Even when things go wrong on a day of importance. For the day Kate was to be interviewed by our pilot panel here in Christchurch, we organised a flight out of Nelson for her to arrive nice and early so she could relax with us and other candidates in a café before her interview.

On the day, her flight left on time…. then promptly had a bird strike causing the aircraft to simply do a circuit to return to Nelson for engineering attention. Meanwhile, before she was able to get on the ground and contact us, I was already waiting at Christchurch airport, with another candidate who’d arrived earlier, for her to arrive.

Once we were aware of the issue, we rapidly reorganised the day, got the other candidate to the interviewers then went back to get Kate, who was now 90 minutes behind schedule. I expected to meet an anxious or distressed candidate coming through the arrival gate. Instead, I met a relaxed and happy Kate. She’d enjoyed the kerfuffle and had spent the time, between bird strike and landing back in Nelson, working out what was going on and appreciating the tech crew’s responses. Although seated in the cabin, she felt it was a real-life lesson for her to learn from. Undeniably, I was impressed by her relaxed demeanour as we drove to John’s house for her interview. In my mind, although not a formal part of her assessment phase, she certainly passed the ‘cool, calm and professional under pressure’ test.

A much younger Kate sitting in a PAC Cresco 750 at Whanganui Aerowork, where Kate’s grandfather was an engineer.

Kate has been interested in aviation since she was quite young, but it wasn’t until she attended the Walsh Memorial Scout Flying School early last year (2025) where her passion to be a commercial pilot not only ignited but burst into flames.

Kate was an exceptional student at Garin College, completing all three NCEA years with excellence. She received eleven awards for distinction in various capacities whilst at school and her attendance was more than 98%.

Kate has a personal motivation we seldom see, and I include here part of the reference we received from her school. Essentially, it’s breathtaking:-

‘Kate was awarded Garin Gold Academic Colours in all her senior years. She has a solid record of academic excellence, receiving four distinctions and the Top Scholar award in Year 9 and three distinctions in Year 10.

In class, Kate is a highly motivated and focused student. She takes responsibility for her own learning, asking questions and reflecting on her learning. Kate works well on her own and as part of a group. She has excellent time management skills.

Kate is an accomplished debater who has represented Garin College in Debating at the Nelson Regional Competition every year since 2021, making the Development Team for Nelson Regional Debating in 2023. She was awarded the Garin College Debating Trophy for the top debater in 2022 and 2023 and 2025. She has participated in the O’Shea Shield Competition between all of the Catholic schools in the Wellington Archdiocese from 2023 - 2025, representing Garin College in Religious Questions and Debating. In 2025 Kate’s debating team won the top Debating Team Prize at O’Shea Shield.

Kate has played Netball since Year 9. She was a valued member of the Senior A team in 2024 and 2025 and represented Garin College at the South Island Secondary School competition. Kate is also a qualified netball umpire, earning her Zone badge, and is umpiring in the Senior Women’s Premier grade. Kate took up Volleyball in 2024, making the Senior A Team which participated in the South Island Satellite Tournament.

Showquest is a nation-wide performing arts event. Kate has participated in this every year since 2021. In 2023, the group won the Nelson Regional competition, coming second in 2024. Kate has also participated in the Vast Dance Festival since Year 9. This is a non-competitive dance festival for high school students from Te Tauihu (the Top of the South Island). This has given her the opportunity to showcase her choreographic and technical skills.

Kate has a very kind and caring nature. She has consistently demonstrated this through her acts of service to the school. She has been a school librarian since Year 9 and was made Head Librarian as a Year 12 student in 2024. Kate became involved with the Enviro Schools Program in 2022 and has been the Garin College Enviro School Captain since 2023. In 2024, Kate led the revamp of our school garden and last year led a project making recycling bins that are about to be distributed around the school. Kate was a volunteer peer tutor in 2024. She has been an altar server at Garin College masses since Y9. Kate was awarded the Junior Christian Service Award in both Year 9 and Year 10. She received the Creation Award for showing responsibility for the natural environment in Year 11 and in Year 12. In 2025 Kate received the Ollie Moulder Memorial Trophy for History. Kate has been the recipient of Catholic Character Scholarship every year since 2021. In 2025 Kate was awarded the Westpac Kura Tuarua Grant, gaining the highest overall score across the Top of the South as well as the Student Volunteer Army Top Volunteer Award at Garin College. She was also awarded the prestigious Wellington Archdiocese prize - the Catholic Foundation Scholarship’.

Kate with her Umpire coaches at Saxton Stadium in Nelson

Her achievements don’t stop at school related successes– she is also a Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award recipient. At 16, she received the King’s Scout Award - the highest award in the Scouting movement.

One question we ask our candidates is ‘Why should we choose you?’ Kate’s answer was thorough and exactly what we seek in a candidate:-

‘What sets me apart is my commitment to serving and supporting others. Throughout school and aviation, I have consistently taken on leadership and mentoring roles, including being a head student, the school environmental captain, Flight Leader at Walsh, coaching and umpiring netball and volleyball, tutoring, and serving within my community. These experiences have taught me the value of patience, responsibility, and helping others build confidence in themselves. I genuinely enjoy helping people learn and grow. That is a large part of why I chose the Instructor Strand at Nelson Aviation College. I want to become someone who positively contributes to the aviation community by supporting and encouraging future students in the same way the amazing instructors at Walsh did for me.’

Kate currently attends Nelson Aviation College and is commuting from home in Nelson to keep her costs down. She also works part time whilst she’s studying to help pay her training costs. Prior to starting her study at the beginning of this year, she worked full time to bolster her training war chest.

In April 2026 Kate spent two weeks at Ohakea Airbase with the Royal New Zealand Airforce, having been awarded the RNZAF prize from her second attendance at Walsh (2026).  The prize was an opportunity to spend two weeks on base experiencing many aspects of the Airforce, which included an amazing opportunity to fly a Texan, as well as exploring a King Air, and a flight in an NH90.  Kate enjoyed all aspects of the experience, particularly flying the Texan, and the challenge of the fitness training and testing.

In her spare time Kate enjoys umpiring netball, going tramping with friends and supporting her Dad to complete the outside renovations at their home.  Kate recently tramped the Able Tasman with her sister, and spent three days tramping the Richmond Hills up to Rocks Hut.

At the time of writing, after eight months of study she now has 109 hours flying and has completed her PPL and four theory exams for CPL.

We have 100% confidence Kate will become the commercial airline pilot she plans to be.

Kate and her instructor, Andrew, with a Cessna152 when she passed her PPL flight test.