Regions Keep Their Airports Thriving, Plus Special Reports on Air Ambulances and Award Winners
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OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE NEW ZEALAND AIRPORTS ASSOCIATION December 2019 REGIONS KEEP THEIR AIRPORTS THRIVING, PLUS SPECIAL REPORTS ON AIR AMBULANCES AND AWARD WINNERS Also in this edition ... Airports and communities – changing together as a new decade dawns ..... p2 Transport Minister says airports make “critical contribution” to the nation ..... p4 Arrivals and departures .................... p5 Climate change and airports – what should be our response? ......... p8 “We need to do more” – Minister James Shaw ..................... p10 Proactive planning to manage reverse sensitivities ......................... p11 Opening Southland by jet ............... p13 State-of-the-art Nelson Airport terminal opened .............................. p14 NZ Airports award winners ............. p16 Challenge and change on the West Coast for Kim Campbell ........ p19 Fostering a “critical cog” in Southland’s economy – Nigel Finnerty ............... p22 A life of service to airports, community and family – Garry Goodman ......... p24 Airways testing new drones management tools .......................... p26 Nelson Airport chairperson Paul Steere, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Nelson Airport chief executive Rob Evans officially open the new terminal (pictured below) in October Queenstown Airport brings parties together to promote safe drone use ........................................ p28 Safe and connected airport network underpins vital air ambulance services ........................ p29 Members rate issues and priorities ................................... p34 Knowledge sharing, networking and letting the hair down! ............... p35 Level 8, Midland Chambers, 45 Johnston Street, Wellington | PO Box 11369, Manners Street, Wellington 6142 | +64 4 384 3217 | nzairports.co.nz Airports and communities – changing together as a new decade dawns NZ Airports strategic advisor Bernie Walsh Lately I have been wondering, is it too easy for communities to take their local airport for granted? It is an interesting question for the I am confident our airport sector will So we imagine our airports will always times that we live in – as it could, rise to that particular challenge. be there – because they always in fact, be turned on its head as have been. Airports have always responded to the communities debate climate change changing demands and needs of There lies the challenge in being a responses and challenges. New Zealanders. taken-for-granted community asset. The “social licence” that is generated Understandably, airport users don’t by community support that enables Community expectations think much about how an airport’s us to operate airport businesses business, funding and regulatory Many of our regional and small airports sustainably can no longer be taken settings could change and impact were established in response to World for granted. Even when an airport its long-term viability to operate War II – and over many decades is situated in a growing and supportive successfully in today’s demanding and have adapted in an agile manner community, its reputation and competitive times. continuing development can still to changing circumstances and be subject to diverse forces of community expectations. Self-sufficiency matters local opinion. They remain an important part of what As all NZ Airports’ members know, to Community expectations of the social makes up New Zealand’s special exist, many regional airports rely on the and environmental responsibilities and places to live and visit. charges they levy on the airlines that behaviours of businesses are growing. use their services. Of course, these For many people, airports have played are passed on to passengers. But Airports will have to keep up – if they an important role in their growing up in they are modest charges, and they are want to remain a valued part of their a provincial community. thoroughly consulted with the airlines. communities. This was a common theme of much of the discussion at Momentous moments and serendipity When measured in 2018, the average the NZ Airports annual conference in are all part of the allure of airports – charge at regional airports was a October (see our stories and award because they are places of connection shade over $6 for a flight on a Dash 8 winners featured in this issue). for communities. Q300 plane. Auckland Airport has an education scholarship programme – “People in the communities we are a part of tell us that education is important to them,” it says. 2 NZ Airports Magazine | December 2019 New Zealand’s national network of airports delivers connectivity that Rotorua Airport’s Ride the Runway community event was a people value great success Even though the current charge- communities have already experienced were a symbol of connection, which setting framework is working well, the – they come and they go. formed an important part of Kiwi life. government has proposed changing Airports remain – even those smaller “It helps us maintain links with other it in the current draft Civil Aviation Bill, non-commercial ones that still struggle regions, but also with one another and also dropping the requirement to maintain their viability as part of – and in a country where half the for airports to operate as commercial our national network. NZ Airports population lives outside the main enterprises. Both of these steps would has strongly campaigned for those centres, it is vital to our well-being and be regrettable, and could lead to a airports too as a particular group prosperity that we are able to maintain greater burden on ratepayers, and that should qualify under certain those links,” she concluded. ultimately on communities. criteria for a small amount of ongoing Government funding. It is important that airports nurture and These communities need their airports strengthen the relationships they have This “belonging” nature of airports to remain as self-sufficient as possible. built with their local communities. We struck me strongly in the media reports They cannot afford a regulatory system have to constantly earn the support of political comments made at the that undermines that goal. we value. October opening of the new airport Regional airports have been working terminal in Nelson (see page 14). At the same time, people can too easily closely in a non-antagonistic way with Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese said take their airport for granted. We forget airlines for a number of years under the new terminal was “not a civic that it is a business and an asset that the existing legal framework. But building, but had the presence of one”. has to operate safely and sustainably. things change over time and who She congratulated the airport and all To do this, it needs a funding and knows what industry conditions, involved in the “ambitious project” regulatory framework that helps it do business strategies and attitudes will for completing the build to such a that well. drive the future Air New Zealand. What high standard. Common values we can be sure of is that it will always “One of the goals ... was to create a be the most powerful force in aviation building that feels like it belongs to us, Our communities can’t afford a system in the regions. a place we can celebrate who we are that will bring on delay, uncertainty and this does exactly that. The worry for NZ Airports is that and litigation. NZ Airports is actively campaigning to make sure the under the new proposed framework, “It feels like a familiar landscape and Government sees the sense in the airline’s already strong hand will feels like coming home,” she said. this view. become unbeatable – this could lead to Many other regional airports currently delays, refusals to pay and litigation as undergoing redevelopment are also Mayors around the country are the two parties fail to agree on some reflecting in their terminal designs that supporting us – 26 regional mayors, or all of the elements of airport costs. they are places that belong to regions airport board chairs and chief Which poses the question: why change – that they are gateways, the waharoa executives signed a letter to the a system that is working satisfactorily? – to a region. Minister of Transport . Places of belonging The regional community is getting Symbols of connection behind us on this issue – and that has Airports are grounded in their Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern who given us all a great sense of belonging communities. They “belong” to a opened the new Nelson terminal said to a common cause – supporting our place. Airlines – as New Zealand whether they were big or small, airports local airport. Level 8, Midland Chambers, 45 Johnston Street, Wellington | PO Box 11369, Manners Street, Wellington 6142 | +64 4 384 3217 | nzairports.co.nz 3 Transport Minister says airports make “critical contribution” to the nation Transport, Urban and Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford addressed delegates in Auckland at the NZ Airports annual conference in October. The following is what he said to over 300 conference attendees. Good morning everybody, So, right now, we are building a bus/rail year. That will stop at Puhinui – not it is great to be with you interchange at the Puhinui Rail Station immediately, but once we have the and I would just like which will provide, with an upgrade to third main rail line in place – and that to acknowledge, neither Steve State Highway 20B, a ten-minute rapid will give everybody in the Waikato [Sanderson] nor Adrian [Littlewood] connection between the rail network at region, who has access to the rail are here, but I just want to welcome Puhinui and the airport. network, again that ten-minute bus Adrian taking over as the chair of the connection to the airport. You will know also that we have Association – you have got a wealth got an inter-regional rail service for And of course, with our plans to extend of knowledge and I know he will do the Waikato that is starting up next the rapid transit network in Auckland. a great job being the leader and spokesperson for the industry, for you.