Meet the People Behind AeroKontiki

At AeroKontiki, we’re more than just engineers, we’re passionate fishers, tinkerers, and creators who believe in reimagining how people experience fishing. With deep roots in New Zealand, our team brings together real-world insight, technical expertise, and a love for the ocean to design drones that truly make a difference.

Kyle Parshotam

CEO & Company Founder

Hi, I’m Kyle Parshotam, lead developer of the AeroKontiki fishing drone.

For many years my family and I have enjoyed cooking and eating fresh fish. However, on so many occasions when buying fish, we’ve cooked it using the ideal recipe, only to be disappointed to find the fish was less than fresh. Basically, the only way of being sure a fish is fresh is to catch it yourself, so the question was obvious. What is the most efficient and effective way of catching enough fish for a family meal? Also, how can this be made more interesting, and involve the whole family?

The aim of this project was simple. Deploy from almost any beach, get the line out as far and as fast as possible, precisely target successful known locations, and catch only as much as you need. The next time, do it exactly the same way again, or alternatively, modify the bait drop to suit conditions on the day.

The approach was clear. Talk to fishing experts, learn what was required, and use the most advanced, most reliable technologies to build the best fishing machines available. Think outside the box, and hey, even make it fly if it helped… and so we did. In March 2014, the world’s first AeroKontiki fishing drone was born.

Man kneeling on sandy beach, holding two large fish by the mouth, with fishing reel in front, greenery and houses in background.

Meet the Team

  • A man on a sandy beach holding two large fish, with fishing gear and a fishing reel in front of him, during sunset or sunrise.

    Kyle Parshotam

    CEO & Founder

  • A man in a suit and tie smiling outdoors at an event, with palm trees and other people in the background.

    Umar Parshotam

    Marketing Director

  • Close-up of a woman wearing glasses, a cap, and a life jacket, smiling outdoors near water.

    Shima Zaman

    General Manager

  • A man standing outdoors near a baked bread tree, holding a bicycle handlebar, wearing a blue Nike polo shirt and black shorts.

    Noel Coxhead

    Taranaki

  • Close-up of an older man wearing a cap and glasses, with a serious expression, standing outdoors.

    Peter Reid

    Whangarei and Dargaville

  • A woman smiling outdoors while holding a large fish.

    Garry Briggs

    South Island

  • A smiling elderly man with glasses and gray hair.

    Phil Evans

    Bay of Plenty 

  • A man with a shaved head, glasses, and a beard smiling, wearing a light gray shirt against a plain white background.

    Leonard Hall

    Control and Tuning Engineer

  • A smiling elderly man with glasses and gray hair, wearing a light blue shirt, standing in front of a wall with framed pictures and a zebra figurine.

    David Shawbrick

    UAV Systems Engineering Consultant

  • A man with a bald head and light skin, wearing a dark shirt, standing indoors with a neutral expression.

    Ron Van Dam

    Airbrush Art & Creations

  • Close-up of an elderly man with glasses and a beard, wearing a blue plaid shirt, outdoors with a mountain background.

    Eric Dewse

    Fabrication Engineering Consultant

  • John Rey Lobo

    Product Design Engineer