New Zealand National Airways Corporation ZK-AWP (Classic) repaint on the Aeroplane Heaven DC-3 Dakota.

ZK-AWP History - Credit 3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com

25 April 1945
What was to become ZK-AWP was manufactured in the USA for the United States Army Air Force as a Douglas C-47B-30-DK, with the number 44-76803

13 May 1945
The C47 was allocated to the Royal New Zealand Air Force becoming NZ3543

15 July 1952
The DC-3 was withdrawn from the RNZAF and registered to the NZ National Airways Corporation (NAC) as ZK-AWP, named Powhaitere.  

23 March 1953
 ZK-AWP was converted from its wartime Douglas C47B designation to a civilian airliner, a Douglas DC-3C, at Palmerston North

13 August 1963  
ZK-AWP was converted as to "Skyliner" configuration named "Skyliner Kaitaia" - notice the much bigger windows

2 February 1970
The New Zealand registration ZK-AWP was cancelled and aircraft went to Western Samoa for service with Polynesian Airlines Ltd as 5W-FAI

8 June 1973
The Western Samoan registration 5W-FAI was cancelled and the DC-3 returned to NAC for sale with its New Zealand registration ZK-AWP restored. 

3 August 1973
ZK-AWP was sold to Southern Air Super Ltd for conversion to a topdresser.

14 July 1975  
Ownership of Southern Air Super passed to Fieldair Ltd, Palmerston North

30 October 1986
ZK-AWP was transferred to Classic Air Services Ltd and converted to freighter configuration for Fieldair Freight's contract with NZ Railways

27 August 1993
ZK-AWP as sold to the Wanaka-based Alpine Deer Group Ltd

11 March 1994
The DC-3 was sold to Classic Air Ltd, Wellington and converted back to airliner configuration

14 December 1995
ZK-AWP's ownership changed to Mackley Aviation Ltd, Milford, Auckland 

28  August 1998  
ZK-AWP's ownership changed to NZ Aerial Mapping Ltd (Historic Flight) Albany, Auckland 

5 July 2000  
ZK-AWP's was leased to Pionair Adventures Ltd, Christchurch who used it for tourist flying in New Zealand and Australia

21 December 2001  
Flight 2000 Limited, Ardmore, Auckland 

24 May 2002  
ZK-AWP was finally sold to Pionair Adventures Ltd, Christchurch

21 November 2005 
The New Zealand registration ZK-AWP was cancelled and the DC-3 went to Tonga for service with Peau Vava'u Air as A3-AWP

September 2010 
After not being used in Tonga for 3 years A3-AWP was restored to airworthiness and entering service with Chathams Pacific in Tonga

25 November 2013
The Tongan registration A3-AWP was cancelled and and the DC-3 returned to New Zealand for service with Air Chathams back as ZK-AWP and renamed named Powhaitere. ZK-AWP continues to be used on sightseeing flights and for a brief period on scheduled services between Auckland and Whakatāne