Wairoa Airport Extension

From the Wairoa Star, 21 September 2023

A boost for Wairoa flood recovery and its economic growth was announced at Wairoa airport yesterday with a flying visit from the Prime Minister Chris Hipkins on his election campaign trail. An upgrade for the airport funded from reprioritised Cyclone Recovery tagged funding was included to help the district with emergencies, tourism and air ambulance services. Hipkins announced $1.2million of funds to extend the runway by 300 metres on available and ready land. The length of the current runway restricts traffic to light aircraft access which limits cargo and passengers and the ability to fly in support equipment and supplies. An increased operational distance will allow longer range emergency air ambulance services to fly direct to treatment facilities outside the Hawke’s Bay. The announcement is one of nine projects in a $10 million package which will support economic recovery in Hawke’s Bay, Tairāwhiti and Northland...