The Government is giving $5.4 million for urgent maintenance and upgrade works for Kaitāia Airport after the airport’s long-term future was guaranteed in August.
The funding is for urgent maintenance and upgrade works, safeguarding the airport’s future and acknowledging its importance to the Far North’s regional resilience, Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis said in announcing the money.
The funding will come from the National Resilience Plan, a $6 billion fund established to support infrastructure resilience after significant weather events.
“Kaitāia Airport is a critical resource for Te Tai Tokerau’s communities but is in dire need of urgent upgrades to stay operational, which this funding will allow. This is an important investment in regional resilience,” Davis said.
The airport land was offered to Ngāi Takoto as part of their Treaty settlement in 2012, on the condition that airport operations would continue. Ngāi Takoto intend to purchase the airport land as part of their Treaty settlement provisions and have been working with hapū of Ngāti Kahu, who also have interests in the airport land, to finalise the agreement.