Airport upgrade to strengthen regional resilience
Published: 3 February, 2026
Wairoa Airport will receive a $4.2 million upgrade to help support the region’s growing needs, especially during emergencies.
Wairoa Airport - Wairoa District Council
Wairoa Airport is critical infrastructure for the area, supporting commercial air passenger services, vital health transport and logistics during extreme weather events.
The upgrade will extend and improve the runway’s operating capability, improving the area’s resilience and increasing potential for economic growth.
The upgrade will be funded with a $3 million grant from the Regional Infrastructure Fund and $1.2 million from the North Island Weather Events fund. Wairoa District Council, which owns and operates the airport, will manage the project and fund future maintenance.
The runway will be extended from 914m to 1,250m. Improvements will also be made to the airport’s drainage, lighting and fencing to enable 24-hour operation, along with upgrades to the airport’s vertical guidance systems.
Construction is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026. Around 20 to 25 full-time staff will be working on the project at its busiest point, with locals employed where possible.