It is rare that political opponents agree on an issue, particularly in the shadows of a looming election, however saving Kāpiti Airport has achieved that rare unison.
Labour’s candidate for Kāpiti, Sophie Handford, is calling for council, the community and mana whenua to work together on a long-term plan for Kāpiti Coast Airport, saying the Government has left the airport with fewer protections than it should have.
The privately owned airport has faced ongoing uncertainty, with its owners exploring housing development on the site, and Air Chathams ending its Kāpiti to Auckland service in July. Ōtaki MP Tim Costley told a public meeting this week the owners planned to close the airport. Asked on stage (at two public meetings) if they want to see the airport retained as an airport candidates for Greens (Melody Willis), Progressive (Michael Walker), NZ First (Penny Gaylor), National (Tim Costley), Labour (Sophie Handford), and Opportunity (Luke Ross) were all adamant the airport should remain an airport.
“This isn’t a political issue. Kāpiti locals have made it clear they want to keep this important asset. A decision this significant for our district shouldn’t rest with a private company alone,” says Handford.
“Kāpiti Airport supports aeromedical services, provides an important backup when Wellington Airport is affected by weather or a natural disaster, and has real potential for future electric aircraft. If we lose it, it would be very hard to ever get an airport back in Kāpiti.”
Handford raised concerns that the airport had missed out on key protections. The new Emergency Management Act, passed two months ago, lists 21 airports as essential infrastructure, but Kāpiti Coast Airport is not one of them.
“The Government had a clear opportunity to protect Kāpiti Airport and didn’t take it. Twenty-one airports made the list, and ours wasn’t one of them,” says Handford.
“With land elsewhere in Paraparaumu and the wider district already zoned for thousands of new homes, we don’t need to give up this strategic site. But we can’t simply hope for the best and leave the outcome to chance.”
Hanford says, “I’d like to see Council, the community, and mana whenua come together on a plan that works for Kāpiti as a whole. I’ll stand with the community and use every tool I will have in Parliament to help get that outcome.”
Costley says Kāpiti Airport should be saved. “We don’t want out-of-town developers trying to make a buck off the back of Kāpiti locals.
He says news that the owner of Kāpiti Airport, Kāpiti Airport Holdings Limited, advised Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) it no longer wishes to operate the airport is the worst news and a day locals have been hoping wouldn’t come.
“Our airport is critical in emergencies. It is listed in the civil defence plan as a ‘major hub of operations.’ LifeFlight planes use it frequently when Wellington airport is closed due to maintenance, weather or wind. Without Kāpiti Airport they would have to drive patients from Palmerston North.”
Costley says he is holding a public meeting next Thursday 29th to demonstrate the community’s strong support for the airport. “This is a chance for our community to demonstrate their strong support and for councillors to say they will stand up for what our community want. We can remind the current (and any future) owners that they can sell the land but they can’t change the zone to make money for their out-of-town shareholders at our local expense.
The public meeting will be held: – 6pm, Thursday October 29th, – Kāpiti Landing, on the grass/gravel by the roundabout on the corner of Kāpiti Road and Friendship Place.