Flying Kiwis (Was Re: Port Elliot)

[Chris Brownbill <cbrnbill@enternet.com.au>]

jshugg@westpac.com.au wrote:

> 
> The Kiwis also claim to have been the first to achieve powered flight.
> [snip]
> Yeah, like, who would believe that?
> 

Here's a link which describes the claim.  

http://chrisbrady.itgo.com/pearse/pearse.htm

It claims that a Richard Pearse was the first man to fly a mechanically
powered aeroplane on 31st March 1902, and that this was in Waitohi on
NZ's South Island (or was it the Middle Island in those days?)