Hamilton Airport is set for a major upgrade after securing a $6.5 million loan from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to extend its runway and strengthen aviation resilience across the Waikato and wider New Zealand network.
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones said the project would enhance the airport’s ability to handle a broader range of aircraft, improving both passenger and freight capacity. He noted the airport’s strategic location near major highways makes it an important hub for domestic and international transport.
The Waikato region, home to several of the country’s largest manufacturers and value-added primary exporters, relies heavily on robust freight links. The upgraded runway is expected to improve reliability, particularly during disruptions at other North Island airports. Jones pointed to a recent example where an international flight was diverted from Auckland to Hamilton due to adverse weather.
The project will extend the runway by 255 metres to a total length of 2450 metres, alongside upgrades to the apron, turning bay, and runway lighting systems. The improvements are also designed to support any future runway extensions.
Construction is expected to create up to 39 jobs, with a focus on employing local workers. Waikato Regional Airport Ltd, which is owned by five local councils, will contribute $3.3 million toward the development.
The government says the investment aligns with its goal of building a more resilient national aviation network.
Image credit: Will Drzycimski
Good idea. Sadly there isn’t enough fuel for the planes to fly to all the routes and the Greens, Labour decided to destroy the oil refinery and pipes.
6 million for 255m of seal?
Someone’s got there hand in the till, built a 300km highway for that price in the northern territory last year
It’s all the ‘Health & Safety’ BS combined with paying cuntsultants and the bureaucRat suckers for their consent extortions.
Parasitism is killing the host, i.e. the producing people of New Zealand.
It’s $6.5 million including koha. Lots and lots of koha.
It would be better to move the airport and runway to somewhere nicer than Hamilton.
$6 million = 30 extra metres of runway? 60 extra?
Typical Masonic construction company job quotations…I wonder who on the Hammie Council is related to the bidder(s)?
Maybe this is going to be a reliever / feeder airport for foreign military ‘operators’, much like Mena, Arkansas…in the event the main International Airports and harbours end-up with 5-10 kilo-tonnes of the Great White Flash…!
Note to Lex Luxon and Nicola: STAY OUT OF THE WAR, AND GET MARSDEN POINT OPERATING NOW AND PROCEED WITH OIL & GAS DRILLING, PUMPING AND REFINEMENT!
Also- STOP DESTROYING THE FREEZING WORKS, AND FOOD PROCESSING PLANTS.!
& BTW- don’t event THINK about outlawing Victory Gardens, and Farmer’s Markets under the totalitarian regime known as ‘food safety’
When will the government place price caps on food, commodities, and petrol????
STOP TAKING ORDERS FROM YOUR WEF / WHO / NWO MANIPULATORS- YOU WILL ANSWER TO US INSTEAD!!!
And don’t even THINK ABOUT LOCK-DOWNS BASED ON THE LACK OF PETROL THAT THE UNIPARTY HAS CAUSED- WE’RE NOT BUYING THAT COVID-STYLE BULLSHIT EVER AGAIN!!!
The public wants to see an itemised account.