Kia ora — Jamie Cleine explores how disappearing airline routes affect communities like Buller, tracing Westport’s aviation history and the real-life impacts on healthcare, tourism, jobs and local confidence.
The episode looks at the commercial pressures facing regional carriers, new government support measures, and what communities can do to keep vital connections open so the coast can thrive.

Kia ora — Jamie Cleine explores how disappearing airline routes affect communities like Buller, tracing Westport’s aviation history and the real-life impacts on healthcare, tourism, jobs and local confidence. The episode looks at the commercial pressures facing regional carriers, new government support measures, and what communities can do to keep vital connections open so the coast can thrive.

When the Skies Go Quiet: Regional Fight for Flights

Kia ora, and welcome to The Cleine Line. I’m Jamie Cleine — Former Mayor (2019-2025) of Buller District, a local born and bred, farmer, business person, and now a podcast host too. Now just to clear things up right from the start — this isn’t the official line, it’s the Cleine Line. It’s not a press release, it’s not a meeting minute, and it’s definitely not spin. This is just me, speaking directly to you, about what’s going on — around Buller, across local government, and sometimes even up in the Beehive. Each episode, I’ll take a few minutes to share what I’ve been up to — the good stuff happening in our communities, the challenging things, and the occasional eyebrow-raiser coming out of Wellington. I’ll give you a few behind-the-scenes thoughts, maybe a laugh, maybe a rant — and hopefully give people a better sense of what goes on in this place we call home. The Cleine Line episodes will cover my previous work as a rural Mayor in the Buller District of New Zealand and the diverse communities that I served. I will comment on the issues and opportunities that I encounter, and provide commentary on these as I see them. I aim to inform and share some insights into how I approach leadership, strategic long term thinking and advocacy. The episodes will traverse the serious to the less serious including some community characters, events, social and news commentary. The Cleine Line is my own podcast and is not the official line of the Buller District Council.

Society & Culture

Government

Personal Journals

Kia ora, and welcome to The Cleine Line. I’m Jamie Cleine — Former Mayor (2019-2025) of Buller District, a local born and bred, farmer, business person, and now a podcast host too.Now just to clear things up right from the start — this isn’t the official line, it’s the Cleine Line. It’s not a press release, it’s not a meeting minute, and it’s definitely not spin. This is just me, speaking directly to you, about what’s going on — around Buller, across local government, and sometimes even up in the Beehive.Each episode, I’ll take a few minutes to share what I’ve been up to — the good stuff happening in our communities, the challenging things, and the occasional eyebrow-raiser coming out of Wellington.I’ll give you a few behind-the-scenes thoughts, maybe a laugh, maybe a rant — and hopefully give people a better sense of what goes on in this place we call home. The Cleine Line episodes will cover my previous work as a rural Mayor in the Buller District of New Zealand and the diverse communities that I served. I will comment on the issues and opportunities that I encounter, and provide commentary on these as I see them. I aim to inform and share some insights into how I approach leadership, strategic long term thinking and advocacy. The episodes will traverse the serious to the less serious including some community characters, events, social and news commentary. The Cleine Line is my own podcast and is not the official line of the Buller District Council.

Kia ora, and welcome to The Cleine Line. I’m Jamie Cleine — Former Mayor (2019-2025) of Buller District, a local born and bred, farmer, business person, and now a podcast host too. Now just to clear things up right from the start — this isn’t the official line, it’s the Cleine Line. It’s not a press release, it’s not a meeting minute, and it’s definitely not spin. This is just me, speaking directly to you, about what’s going on — around Buller, across local government, and sometimes even up in the Beehive. Each episode, I’ll take a few minutes to share what I’ve been up to — the good stuff happening in our communities, the challenging things, and the occasional eyebrow-raiser coming out of Wellington. I’ll give you a few behind-the-scenes thoughts, maybe a laugh, maybe a rant — and hopefully give people a better sense of what goes on in this place we call home. The Cleine Line episodes will cover my previous work as a rural Mayor in the Buller District of New Zealand and the diverse communities that I served. I will comment on the issues and opportunities that I encounter, and provide commentary on these as I see them. I aim to inform and share some insights into how I approach leadership, strategic long term thinking and advocacy. The episodes will traverse the serious to the less serious including some community characters, events, social and news commentary. The Cleine Line is my own podcast and is not the official line of the Buller District Council.

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When the Skies Go Quiet: Regional Fight for Flights

When the Skies Go Quiet: Regional Fight for Flights