Owais Crawford
Whangārei Airport (WRE/NZWR) is a regional airport in Whangārei, New Zealand. The airport has a modern terminal building with comfortable facilities, including free WiFi and a cafeteria called Skyline Cafe. It offers scheduled flights to various destinations and supports skydiving, charter, and scenic flights. The airport has undergone upgrades and improvements to meet modern standards and accommodate larger aircraft. However, there are also plans and investigations for a potential new airport site due to limitations with the current location.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | Whangarei Airport |
| Airport Code | WRE/NZWR |
| Location | Onerahi |
| Terminal | Modern, air-conditioned building with free wifi and a cafeteria |
| Runway Length | Between 1200m and 1350m |
| Runway Upgrade | Completed in 2009 to accommodate larger aircraft |
| Services | Scheduled flights to Auckland, Wellington, Great Barrier Island, Tauranga, Whitianga, and Claris |
| Historical Significance | Established in 1939; served as a training base for RNZAF during World War II |
| Future Plans | Whangarei District Council is considering relocating the airport to a new site due to limited expansion options at the current location |
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What You'll Learn
Whangārei Airport's history and location
Whangārei Airport is located 4.6 miles southeast of Whangārei city, in the suburb of Onerahi, on the east coast of Northland in the North Island of New Zealand. The airport has a single terminal with two gates.
The first aerodrome in Whangārei was located on Pohe Island in the upper reaches of Whangārei Harbour. In 1928, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith landed his aircraft, the Southern Cross, on Pohe Island. However, this airstrip was built on boggy reclaimed land, leading to the search for a more suitable site. Another location considered was Kensington Park, but in May 1939, the current site was opened at Onerahi.
Shortly after the establishment of the airfield at Onerahi, World War II broke out, and the airport was taken over by the RNZAF as a training base, becoming the RNZAF Station Onerahi. Pilots practised bombing raids on the nearby Matakohe and Rat Islands. The airport initially had three grass runways, but it was later reduced to two runways (06/24 and 32/14) after the war and converted for public use. Some of the old airforce barracks remain today, having been converted into residential properties.
In 1948, National Airways Corporation (NAC) introduced twice-daily commercial flights between Whangārei and Auckland using Lockheed Electra 10-seat aircraft. Over the years, the airport has undergone upgrades to accommodate larger aircraft and improve passenger facilities. In 2015, work began to expand the aircraft taxiway, improve pathways, construct a second airport entry, and extend the car park. These upgrades were completed by mid-September 0216, ensuring the airport could maintain modern standards for the next 15 years.
However, due to the limited space for expansion at the current site, there are plans to relocate Whangārei Airport. The Whangārei District Council has investigated several potential sites for a new airport and purchased land for a possible future relocation. The existing airport is expected to undergo short-term refurbishments to facilitate air traffic demand until the new airport is operational.
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Services and facilities at the airport
Whangārei Airport is a busy regional airport with a range of services and facilities for passengers. The airport has a modern, air-conditioned terminal building with comfortable passenger facilities, including free wifi and a cafeteria called the Skyline Cafe. The terminal also features a glass walk-through tunnel to protect passengers from the elements when accessing the tarmac parking gates.
The airport operates frequent scheduled flights to various destinations, including Auckland, Wellington, Great Barrier Island, Tauranga, Whitianga, and Claris. Skydiving, charter, and scenic flights also operate from the airport. In addition, Sunair and Great Barrier Airlines provide scheduled services to Great Barrier and Tauranga, and Salt Air previously offered an "xpress" service to Kerikeri and Auckland, which has since been sold to Flight Hauraki.
Whangārei Airport offers a range of ground transportation options, including taxis, shuttles, and rental cars, making it convenient for passengers to continue their journeys. The airport has also undergone upgrades to improve the passenger experience further, including expanding the aircraft taxiway to accommodate larger aircraft and improving pathways outside the terminal and the taxi stand.
In recent years, there have been discussions about relocating the airport to a new site, as the current location may be too small to accommodate significant expansion to meet the requirements for larger aircraft. The Whangārei District Council is investigating potential new sites and seeking government funding for the move. However, in the interim, the existing airport will continue to operate and receive upgrades to facilitate air traffic demand.
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Air transport future in Whangārei District
Whangārei does have an airport, with a modern terminal building, free wifi, and a cafeteria. The airport operates scheduled flights to Auckland and Wellington, with additional flights to Great Barrier Island during the summer. Sky diving, charter, and scenic flights also operate from the airport.
However, the future of air transport in the Whangārei District is uncertain, as the current airport faces challenges due to its limited space for expansion. The Whangārei District Council has recognised that the existing facility has a lifespan of only 10-15 years, and a runway extension to accommodate larger aircraft would be prohibitively expensive, potentially costing around NZD 140 million.
In response, the Council has purchased land northwest of Whangārei as a possible future site for a new airport, with the intention of "future-proofing" council assets. Three potential sites – Ruatangata West, Ruatangata, and One Tree Point West – are currently under consideration, all of which meet many of the criteria for a new airport, including clear flat land for a runway and clear airspace.
In the interim, the existing Whangarei Airport will receive upgrades to facilitate air traffic demand until a new airport is operational. This includes improvements to the aircraft taxiway, pathways outside the terminal, and the car park. The work, completed by mid-September 2016, is expected to keep the airport modern and acceptable for the next 15 years.
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Incidents at Whangārei Airport
Whangārei Airport has been the site of several incidents over the years. On February 9, 2007, a Robinson R22 helicopter crash-landed in Whangārei Harbour during a training exercise. Fortunately, both individuals on board escaped without injury, and the accident was attributed to the failure of the rotor's drive belt.
Another incident occurred on July 2, 2010, when a Cessna 172 aircraft leased by Skydive Ballistic Blondes crashed onto Church Street at the beginning of runway 24. In this case, the pilot escaped unharmed, but the plane sustained extensive damage. The cause of the crash was determined to be engine failure during the approach.
Beyond these specific incidents, Whangārei Airport has faced challenges due to its limited expansion capabilities. The current site has constraints that make significant expansion difficult, prompting the Whangārei District Council to explore relocating the airport to a new site. The council has identified potential locations that offer more space and meet the criteria for a new airport, including clear flat land for runways and unobstructed airspace.
The history of Whangārei Airport dates back to the late 1930s. The first aerodrome was located on Pohe Island in Whangārei Harbour, but it was built on boggy reclaimed land, prompting the search for a more suitable location. In May 1939, the current site in Onerahi was opened, and with the outbreak of World War II, it became a training base for the RNZAF. The airport played a role in pilot training, with nearby Matakohe Island and Rat Island serving as practice targets for bombing raids.
Over the years, the airport has undergone various upgrades to accommodate larger aircraft and improve passenger facilities. Runway extensions, terminal improvements, and the addition of a second airport entry have been implemented to meet modern standards and demands. However, the limited expansion potential remains a challenge, driving the ongoing discussions and plans for a potential relocation of the airport in the future.
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Potential relocation of the airport
Whangārei Airport, located in Onerahi, currently services Air New Zealand, which offers several flights daily to Auckland and a direct flight to Wellington from Monday to Friday. Great Barrier Airlines also operates from Whangārei Airport, flying to Great Barrier Island every Friday and Sunday during the summer.
However, the Whangārei District Council is investigating moving the airport as the current site cannot be expanded significantly to accommodate larger aircraft. A runway length of between 1200 and 1350 metres is required to accommodate aircraft likely to be in use beyond the next ten to fifteen years. According to the 'Whangarei Airport Strategic Study', the existing facility has a "life span of only 10-15 years", and adding a runway extension would potentially cost the council approximately NZD 140 million.
In 2014, a site at the former location of Port Whangārei was considered, but a move was deemed unlikely due to operational requirements and cost. In December 2020, the Whangārei District Council purchased a piece of land northwest of Whangārei for NZD 7 million as a possible future site for a new airport. As of March 2021, the Council was investigating three possible sites and seeking NZD 150 million in government funding for the relocation.
The three sites under consideration, Ruatangata West, Ruatangata, and One Tree Point West, appear to meet many of the criteria a new airport would require, including enough clear, flat land for a runway and clear airspace free of obstructions. If a new site is selected, several years of work will be required to determine ownership, seek government contributions, and address any environmental and cultural heritage issues that may arise.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there is an airport in Whangārei.
Air New Zealand, Sunair, Salt Air, Great Barrier Airlines, and Flight Hauraki are some of the airlines that operate from Whangārei Airport.
Whangārei Airport has a modern terminal with free Wi-Fi, a cafeteria called the Skyline Cafe, and a glass walk-through tunnel to protect passengers from the weather.
Yes, the Whangārei District Council is investigating moving the airport as the current site is too small to accommodate larger aircraft and meet future demands. In 2020, the council purchased land northwest of Whangārei as a possible future site for a new airport.
