Collaboration is front and centre for Kaitāia Airport upgrade

Last week Far North District Council (FNDC) officers met in Kaitāia with representatives of Ngāi Takoto, Te Paatu, Patukoraha and Ngāi Tohianga, joined by airport operator Far North Holdings and Councillor Hilda Halkyard-Harawira.

The gathering confirmed how the partners will work together during the life of the upgrade programme, agreeing to convene a monthly “Partnership Team” meeting from July to review designs, procurement steps and any issues needing a joint steer.

Because that technical kōrero now has its own rhythm, the first meeting of the wider airport-user forum—bringing airlines, the aero club, regulators and other stakeholders to the table—has been rescheduled to Friday 25 July 2025. The forum will meet quarterly, sitting neatly alongside the monthly partnership hui.

Far North Holdings June status report shows the upgrade remains on programme and within its $5.4 million budget. Field inspections and condition surveys have wrapped up, and Beca’s design team is translating that data into construction drawings that will lift the main runway and apron back to a fit-for-purpose standard for airlines, emergency services and private operators alike.

Keeping the aerodrome open and safe during the works is a top priority: Far North Holdings will walk operators through the staged construction plan at its Safety & Security User Group in July. The first work packages—fencing and drainage - will be reviewed by the Partnership Team next month before going to market in the third quarter, with specialised tasks such as airfield lighting and runway surfacing to follow.

The collective momentum signals a clear path from planning to delivery, ensuring Kaitāia Airport remains resilient and ready to serve the Far North for decades to come.