As Air New Zealand continues to connect communities, it has announced its intent to continue its temporary Napier Hawkes Bay Airport (NPE) to Gisborne Airport (GIS) service.
The national carrier set up the connection in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, which caused havoc across the eastern provinces in the North Island of New Zealand.
The service was quickly initiated after the cyclone fractured state highways around Tairāwhiti and Hawkes Bay. The first flight took off on February 26th, with initial plans to operate until March 25th.
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Restarting on April 10
Air New Zealand announced today that it would continue the service for an additional eight weeks but will take a pause between March 25th and April 10th. The reasoning behind the break, as reported by Stuff.co.nz, “will allow the airline to secure the crew and aircraft required to continue operating the route for the eight weeks.”
The connection has proved a lifeline to connect communities throughout the East Coast, paired with transporting essential workers around the regions. Jason Dawson, Air New Zealand Regional Affairs Manager, reiterated the need for the service:
“With the road link still cut off, we’ve extended the service for as long as we can to ensure connectivity between the regions while the roading infrastructure is being repaired.”
Gisborne Airport runway intersection
The northeastern airport of Gisborne is unique in its own right, being the only airport in the Southern Hemisphere with a railway track that intersects the runway. This is part of North Island’s Palmerston North–Gisborne Line (PNGL), which has not seen scheduled passenger services since 2001.
Gisborne airport, located 4.2 kilometers (2.6 miles) from Gisborne city center, is a lifeline to keeping the region connected. Air New Zealand operates its Bombardier Q300 DHC-8 Dash 8 between Gisborne and Auckland International Airport (AKL) and Wellington International Airport (WLG), with multiple flights daily. Air Napier also operates services from Gisborne, with a connection to Napier.
The airport, owned by the Gisborne District Council, has leased its operations to Eastland Group for 15 years since 2004. The group also has options to extend the lease for 15 years.
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Renovation in 2018
In 2018, the airport received a $5.5 redevelopment enhancing the airport’s operations and facilities, which has inherited a strong influence from local iwi (tribes) and represents the region’s cultural and physical heritage.
The airport prides itself on being ‘New Zealand’s most sustainable airport terminal.’ Tairāwhiti’s terminal has been designed using the ‘Living Building Challenge principles.’ Where the terminal is now energy and water neutral, this initiative has identified the airport as having New Zealand’s greenest airport terminal. The redesign includes solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and rammed-earth walls.
Sources: Stuff.co.nz, Gisborne Airport
