Progress on Wairoa’s airport upgrade is set to take off, with physical works expected to begin within the next couple of months.

The critical upgrade is in the preliminary design stage, with contracts planned to be let in October.

The project will include a runway extension from 914 to 1,200 metres, enabling a wider range of aircraft to use it in difficult weather conditions. The extension and other works will all take place within the existing Wairoa Airport footprint, which is totally owned by the Wairoa District Council. No other land will be acquired or impacted.

The upgrade will be funded with a $3 million grant from the government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund and $1.2 million from the North Island Weather Event fund. Both funds are managed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit. Wairoa District Council, which owns and operates the airport, will manage the project and pay for future maintenance.

Improvements will also be made to the airport’s drainage, lighting and fencing, enabling 24-hour operation. The airport’s vertical guidance systems, which assist pilots, will also be upgraded. 

The upgrade will support the key connectivity role the airport plays, particularly during extreme weather events.

Wairoa Mayor Craig Little said the Council is extremely grateful to the coalition government for recognising Wairoa’s needs and funding the upgrade. “The airport provides a critical health service on a daily basis, with the New Zealand Air Ambulance Service transporting more than 400 patients each year. It is also vital during emergencies, particularly when the roading network into and out of the district is compromised.

“The airport really is a critical lifeline, with the upgrade extending and improving the runway’s operating capability, resilience and increasing potential for economic growth.

“The upgrade and extension will greatly improve our district’s connectivity. Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to have this project elevated to a national level. Our Council is particularly grateful to all the stakeholders, including local iwi and the airport users, who supported this project, which comes at no cost to our local ratepayers. As part of the project, regular meetings with user groups and a steering panel have continued.”

The project has a target completion date of June 2027.

17 August 2026

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