27 Mar 2018

Kāpiti locals fear loss of flights will jeopardise airport

1:12 pm on 27 March 2018

A vote to preserve the future of the Kāpiti Coast Airport will be made this week.

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Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller

Air New Zealand plans to cut its daily service from Paraparaumu to Auckland early next month.

It's been met with stiff opposition from the local community and politicians have also criticised the move.

At a Paraparaumu-Raumati Community Board meeting tomorrow night, member Bernie Randall plans to put forward a recommendation that the airport be promoted for its convenience, as well as a key location in the event of a natural disaster.

Ideally, he wants Air New Zealand to continue its service because it offers links to other local and international destinations.

"If flights are not being maintained there, it could be commercial pressure to ask for it to be rezoned and we may lose the airport completely," he said.

Mr Randall said that could be a real possibility if the economics don't stack up, because the land is privately owned.

He said if his recommendation was approved by the community board, it would be sent to the district council for consideration.

"It will go to the council ... will then have a determination of whether they support the resolution, or modify it, or just note it," he said.

Air Chathams has expressed interest about picking up the service, but said a final decision would not be made until possibly next week.

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