Queenstown business leaders: Give us our airport back

Queenstown airport was built up over 75 years by the community. Photo / Supplied

A high-powered group of Queenstown business and community leaders want "our airport back", arguing the sale of a quarter of Queenstown's airport to Auckland International Airport this month was settled before the community knew about it.

Auckland International Airport said on July 8 that it was investing in a 24.99 per cent shareholding in Queenstown Airport by subscribing for new shares for $27.7 million. It has an option to increase the holding to 30 per cent to 35 per cent at any time up to June 30, next year.

The Queenstown Community Strategic Assets Group wants to dismantle the deal and is seeking legal advice.

Spokesman John Martin, a property magnate, said the feeling in the town about the deal was strong and it would be a major issue in local body elections.

The group comprises two ex-mayors, Warren Cooper and John Davies, and local business identities Phil Dunstan, Graham Smolenski, Ken Matthews, Alastair Porter, Barry Thomas and others.

"There is strong interest in seeing the deal dismantled," Martin said.

"We would prefer to have 100 per cent community control going forward."

The deal was settled before the community knew about it, he said.

"We want the airport owned 100 per cent by the community as it was, the community being our local council," Martin said.

The airport was built up over 75 years by the community and it was the community's lifeline and an integral part of the town, Martin said. "We are currently taking legal advice and we will be acting on that advice. Our advice so far is very strong and we will be taking action," he said.

Martin said the businesspeople involved did not have, or seek, a financial interest in the asset. "We are not doing it for any other reason than it is town business and this community should own its own strategic community asset," he said.

Queenstown Airport directors drove the deal, Martin claims in the Mountain Scene newspaper.

His group put their concerns to Mayor Clive Geddes and council boss Debra Lawson on Monday.

- NZPA