Mission Aviation Fellowship exists to bring help, hope & healing through aviation to people living in isolation and poverty.
Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is the world’s largest humanitarian air operator. For over 75 years we have been flying light aircraft over jungles, mountains, swamps and deserts.
We enable more than 1,400 aid, development and mission organisations to bring medical care, emergency relief and long-term development
Our pilots and personnel deliver relief workers, doctors, pastors, school books, food, medicines - everything that can only be safely and speedily delivered by air.
Meet the Kiwi's across the world who are serving with MAF and doing their part to meet the needs of the world's most isolated people.
After flying in WWII, two Kiwis, Murray Kendon & Trevor Strong, had a dream to use aircraft for good, to meet the needs of people living in isolation around the world.
Learn more about our fleet of planes which land on the world's toughest airstrips and make impossible journeys possible.
“Before MAF began operations in Timor-Leste, we faced a number of challenges, including lack of medical evacuation equipment, difficulty driving on rough roads, and a long distance to transport people from rural areas to the national hospital. However, MAF’s presence in Timor-Leste helped us a lot in providing medical evacuation flights for our people in emergency situations.”
- Ermenegildo Pereira, Nurse, Timor Leste
How We Help
Inaccessible Terrain
Flying onto desert and jungle airstrips, lakes and rivers, tracks and roads, MAF’s light aircraft and our pilots go the extra miles to provide a lifeline.
Disaster Relief
Cyclones, typhoons and earthquakes can devastate the world's poorest communities in climate-vulnerable areas like the Philippines, Bangladesh Brazil. Surveying the damage from the air is the first step in getting relief where it is needed, and MAF can be operational within hours, getting precious people and supplies where they are most needed so the rebuilding can begin.
Conflict Zones
When conflict arises, we evacuate NGOs to safety. Often the aftermath can mean there are thousands of people displaced. Living in fear, they face hunger and isolation. MAF flies in food, shelter and healthcare to those in urgent need of help.
Church Evangelists
MAF has had a vision to carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth since the organisation began in 1945. Today, MAF is still serving the Church and those who carry the Gospel, plant churches, encourage Christians in distant communities and translate the Bible into the 'heart' languages of different people groups. Every year there are celebrations as a new Bible translation is flown into a remote village by MAF.
Education
Education opens up a world of possibility and a route out of poverty for people in the developing world. Whether it's flying children to remote school in PNG, school teachers in Arnhem Land, supporting NGO projects that help keep girls in school in South Sudan, or ferrying text books and exam papers, MAF is helping to sow hope into the next generation and open up opportunities for children and adults in their own communities.
Peace-Making
MAF helps to facilitate the work of partner organisations in bringing together those with opposing views to rediscover their shared humanity - promoting forgiveness and reconciliation within communities. We're honoured to be part of the sensitive process of peace-making, through bringing together those who want to lay aside their differences, and the peace-builders who help them find ways to do so.
Our Values
Impact
We value ministry that transforms lives & multiplies the effectiveness of those we serve, seizing opportunities to serve the living God in a fast-changing world.
Partnership
We value the strength & diversity that co-operation & collaboration bring and partner with those who share our beliefs & values.
Excellence
We value integrity, professionalism, safety & competence in all areas & believe that all our work should honour & glorify Christ.
Stewardship
We value the wise use of our resources & carefully balance the benefits of investments with the costs involved.
Care
We value the personal & spiritual wellbeing of our people. We respect, care and pray for one another.
Witness
We value Christ-like behaviour in the way we work and relate to one another & to those we serve. We have respect & care for all people & have compassion for those in need. We are sensitive to cultural differences & have a servant attitude.
More Information
MAF New Zealand & MAF International
How does New Zealand fit within MAF’s global family? There are two aspects to MAF, Resource providers and Operations. We value ministry that transforms lives and multiplies the effectiveness of those we serve, seizing opportunities to serve God in a fast-changing world. To achieve these ends, New Zealand is one of many resource providers that MAF International rely upon to provide people, prayer and financial support. In New Zealand we recruit for many roles, pilots, engineers, and support staff serving in some of the most remote locations throughout the world. A large proportion of the financial support raised in New Zealand is used by MAF International to support those serving in missions overseas. We encourage our candidates preparing for mission to gather a team including their church, family and friends to support their calling and offer prayer and financial support for the duration of their service.
MAF New Zealand Governance & Charitable Trust
Mission Aviation Fellowship of NZ Inc. (CC36076) is a faith-based, not-for-profit, international humanitarian relief and development organisation
The Flying for Life Charitable Trust is a registered charity (CC41476) funded by donations.
Governance of each named entity is directed by their respective Boards and Trustees. The delegated executive and management of both organisations (i.e. CEO, Finance Manager and Administration) is the same management team)
Responsibilities of Mission Aviation Fellowship of NZ Inc:
· MAF provides office space and administrative support for the Flying for Life Trust
· MAF also supports the fundraising strategy, administration, and fundraising income for the Trust to distribute to overseas projects.
Responsibilities of Flying for Life Charitable Trust:
· The Trust regularly reports on financial activity to the MAF NZ Board
· The Trust distributes funds intended for overseas projects through MAF International.
