Air New Zealand Limited is the national airline and flag carrier of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to domestic and international destinations worldwide. Air New Zealand is a member of the Star Alliance global airline alliance, having joined in 1999.
Air New Zealand originated in 1940 as Tasman Empire Airways Limited. TEAL became wholly owned by the New Zealand government in 1965, whereupon it was renamed Air New Zealand. The airline was largely privatised in 1989, but returned to majority government ownership in 2001 after a failed tie up with Australian carrier Ansett Australia.
Air New Zealand’s regional subsidiaries, Air Nelson, Eagle Airways, Mount Cook Airline, operate additional short-haul New Zealand domestic services.
Source: Wikipedia