A government-funded upgrade to the Wairoa Airport is a game-changer, says Wairoa Mayor Craig Little.

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

The upgrade will be funded with a $3.0 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.

The runway will be extended from 914 to 1,250 metres, enabling a wider range of aircraft to use it in difficult weather conditions. 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.

Construction will begin in the second half of 2026. Employment on the project is expected to peak at the equivalent of 20-25 full-time people. Locals will be engaged where possible.

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says the $4.2 million upgrade will help support the region’s growing needs.

“Wairoa Airport is critical infrastructure for the area, supporting commercial air passenger services, vital health transport and logistics during extreme weather events,” Mr Jones says.

“The New Zealand Air Ambulance Service transports more than 400 patients each year to and from the Wairoa community from its headquarters at Hawke’s Bay Airport.

“When roads are cut off, the airport becomes an even more vital lifeline, as we saw during Cyclone Gabrielle when it handled more than 100 emergency flights in quick succession.

“This upgrade will extend and improve the runway’s operating capability, improving the area’s resilience and increasing potential for economic growth,” Mr Jones says.

Mayor Little said the airport provides a critical health service on a daily basis and is vital during emergencies, particularly when the roading network into and out of the district is compromised.

“The upgrade will deliver a range of benefits, including strengthening the region’s resilience to future emergencies and reducing transfer times for critical health services. This investment will help save lives.

“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.

“This upgrade helps secure connectivity from a health perspective, emergency management, and also from an economic perspective, while also reinforcing regional connectivity and resilience.

“Thank you to Minister for Regional Development Shane Jones and the coalition government for recognising our need and supporting the investment which will unlock critical resilience, health, and economic capability for one of Aotearoa’s most geographically isolated regions.

“Wairoa is also fortunate to have the support of the Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit Regional Lead Cameron Osmond, who is on the ground investing time in Wairoa to enable him to understand our unique position and bespoke needs.”

26 January 2026

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