Golden Bay Air receives first regional airline loan
Published: 25 February, 2026
Golden Bay Air is the first airline to receive a concessionary loan from funding ear-marked for at-risk regional air routes.
Photo credit: Golden Bay Air.
The airline will receive approximately $1.1 million from a $30 million package set aside by the government from the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF), designed to stabilise the sector and support regional routes in the short to medium term.
Golden Bay Air’s loan will ensure the regional airline can refinance existing aircraft debt and fund essential maintenance checks. This targeted relief will support it to maintain flights from Tākaka to Nelson, Karamea and Wellington.
The airline supports essential access to health care and emergency services, particularly when bad weather cuts off Tākaka Hill Road. It also serves as an important ‘gateway’ for visitors travelling to the Heaphy and Abel Tasman tracks and carries freight.
The RIF funding will help safeguard flights in and out of Golden Bay, improve the company’s operational reliability, and help keep businesses and people connected.
Kānoa has received several loan applications from other regional airlines and is working to fully allocate funds as quickly as possible.