Kāpiti Coast Airport faces uncertain future as sale talks advance

By Andrew Curran.

New Zealand’s Kāpiti Coast/Paraparaumu Airport (PPQ) is at risk of being turned into a housing estate after its owner, investment and property development company NZ PropCo, entered into talks to sell its aviation asset.

Radio New Zealand (RNZ) reports that negotiations to sell the airport, located on the south-western side of the North Island, are well advanced, with the vendor in discussions with two interested buyers.

The first, a Wellington-based, Māori-owned property investment and development collective called Hāpai Property, wants to close the airport and redevelop the land for housing.

A second, unnamed buyer, is open to keeping the airport operational while converting parts of the land to other uses, including the construction of medical facilities.

The airport occupies a land of approximately 125 to 130 hectares (310 to 321 acres). It has two grass airstrips and a 1,307-metre sealed runway. Originally government-owned, it was privatised in 1995. South Island-based Sounds Air operates flights four times a week from Blenheim (BHE) and three times a week from Nelson (NSN).

Kāpiti Coast fighting to keep its scheduled air services

Until recently, Air Chathams served Kāpiti Coast Airport from Auckland (AKL), but ended those flights in late July, citing commercial unviability.

Since then, the New Zealand Government has made grants available to regional airlines to help maintain regional services.

However, Air Chathams CEO Duane Emeny later told Aero South Pacific that his airline would not be returning to Kāpiti Coast, citing ongoing complications surrounding the airport’s ownership, among other deterrents.

The prospect of Paraparaumu losing its airport is concerning local residents and the local government. A community meeting last week was well attended. As well as Sounds Air, the airport continues to be used by the local aero club and, when necessary, aeromedical aircraft. It is not one of the 21 airports protected under the New Zealand Government’s Emergency Management Act.

However, the sale and redevelopment of the airport is not a done deal. New Zealand law requires NZ PropCo to first offer the property to its original owner or successor, the government. It is a legislative provision that applies to privately held land used for public purposes.

Politicians unwilling to commit beyond talking

But New Zealand is heading towards a general election on November 7, and none of the major political parties has committed to buying back the airport, beyond local candidates saying they are “advocating” for it to remain open.

Kāpiti Coast District Council must also rezone the land before any redevelopment can proceed.

“We remain committed to working with the landowners and doing what we can to help ensure it remains in operation,” Kāpiti Coast Mayor Janet Holborow told RNZ.

Current Associate Minister of Transport James Meager, from the National Party, said he hoped the parties involved could reach an outcome that suited everyone.

“We do not want to see this airport closed,” he said.

“I want to fight for the retention of the airport,” Sophie Handford, Labour’s candidate in Kāpiti, told last week’s meeting.

The current local MP, Tim Costley, says the best solution is to keep the land zoned for airport use.

“This is our best way to win the battle for our community,” he posted online over the weekend.

“We want to keep our airport operational. We want to keep it zoned as an airport. We need to be united to put maximum pressure on the owners and potential new owners to ensure that happens.”

Photo: Aero South Pacific
Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com