Kaitāia Airport upgrade moves ahead with new partnership group and delivery milestones

The kaupapa to future-proof Kaitāia Airport has taken several important steps forward, beginning with the formation of an Advisory Group that will give iwi/hapu, community users and elected members a formal voice as the project unfolds.

Far North Holdings Ltd (FNHL) will continue to operate the aerodrome and deliver the Council-funded Upgrade and Resilience Programme, but the new group adds a layer of oversight and forward-thinking advice. It will champion community perspectives, keep a watching brief on milestones, risks and budgets, and shape “next-step” initiatives that fall outside the core upgrade—such as a study into reinstating the cross-wind runway or plans to refresh the terminal. Recommendations from the group will go to the Far North District Council for decision.

A draft membership list, bringing together iwi and hapū delegates, FNHL executives, councillors and key Council staff, was circulated last week; confirmation is expected in early June. Once membership is locked in, the group will meet four times a year, dovetailing its hui with FNHL’s own reporting cycle so members see the latest information rather than last quarter’s headlines. The inaugural session, pencilled in for late June, will adopt the Terms of Reference, note FNHL’s refreshed programme schedule, scan the risk register—especially items that still need funding— receive an update on procurement, and rank the next-step projects for recommendation to Council. By meeting regularly and shining a light on ideas that sit beyond the current upgrade, the Advisory Group will help steer the airport toward the future locals want to see.

To keep the wider community informed, Council has launched a plain-English monthly newsletter. Landing in inboxes during the final week of every month, each edition pulls back the curtain on Advisory Group discussions, construction progress, emerging risks and any works that may affect travellers or neighbours. Think of it as a rolling progress diary—brief enough to read over a coffee, detailed enough to keep everyone in the loop.

Behind the scenes, Council and FNHL have also formalised how the project will be delivered. The Funding Agreement sets out every element of the upgrade, from the mill-and-fill of the main runway through to new drainage, fuel facilities, airfield lighting, security fencing and apron pavement. A supporting project-management agreement was fully executed on 28 March 2025, giving FNHL clear delegation to procure and manage the works on Council’s behalf. Design work is now well under way, with procurement documents scheduled to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025 so that the bulk of construction can run through the coming summer.

With the governance framework in place, the funding pathway confirmed and design teams moving apace, the Kaitāia Airport Upgrade is set to transition from planning to delivery—keeping Northland’s northern gateway safe, resilient and ready for growth.

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