KEY POINTS:
What is being billed as one of the country's biggest air shows is facing delays through red tape before its take-off.
Time is running out for the organisers of next month's inaugural Wings and Wheels over Waikato to gain consent for their planned sideshows during the three-day event at Hamilton Airport from March 7.
A promotional brochure says about 150,000 people are expected at the show, which is understood to be the first of its kind to be held at the airport since 1999.
The show will include aerial displays by fighter aircraft, the New Zealand Warbirds Association and a fly-in by the world's second-biggest cargo plane, a C-17 Globemaster.
But the Waipa District Council has said the organisers have left it late to get the consent needed for a big part of the event.
Although aircraft takeoffs, landings and static displays are accepted activities at the airport, consent is required for car racing, displays, rides, stands and the sale of goods and food.
This could put the brakes on the wheels part of the show where organisers want to display hundreds of classic and vintage cars and hot rods and hold a big outdoors expo.
The council's communications adviser, Niki Davidson, said proof of written consent from key stakeholders including Hamilton International Airport, local businesses and property owners was needed before consent could be granted.
"It's the promoter's responsibility to get the information and give it to the council - until then we can't process the application."
Ms Davidson said resource consent or a certificate of compliance for the event could take up to 20 working days to be granted, although the council could possibly fast-track this.
The news could be worrying to the thousands of ticket holders who have paid between $40 and $155 for their passes, and for stall owners, because under the event's terms and conditions there will be no refunds if the show does not go ahead.
The show's website states there will be no refunds should the event "be closed by any local or national authority, due to traffic congestion, overcrowding or any other operational requirements and considerations".
A stall owner, who did not want to be named, was concerned about the consent issues. "It's interesting an event as big as this has got these concerns at the moment," he said.
But show promoter Ken Ross was adamant yesterday the event would go ahead as planned. "There should be no impediment to the air show progressing," he said.
Resource consent was not required for the show, Mr Ross said, as a certificate of compliance had been granted.
But this was disputed by the council, which said it had yet to receive an application for one.
