Latest news with #QueenstownAirport
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
First build in Frankton commercial subdivision
A graphic render of a campervan hire and sales building now going up near Queenstown Airport. PHOTO: SUPPLIED A campervan hire and sales business will tenant a new building emerging from a greenfields site between Hawthorne Dr and Queenstown Airport. It's the first build in a 64-lot commercial subdivision for which Remarkables Park Ltd completed roading and services a couple of years ago. Site works began in April on the one-hectare site at 9 Purple Ash Ave, a new road accessed from Red Oaks Dr and Hawthorne Dr. Expected to be completed by the middle of next year, it'll consist of an 800sqm workshop, 200sqm of rental space and a 400sqm showroom, along with 35 outside carparks. The tenant has yet to benamed. The project's one of the first by MTM Investments, an Auckland-based developer with a strong Queenstown connection. One of its directors, former Remarkables Park Group business strategy director Johnathan Chen, says it's developing the building for a campervan business operator. Chen, who's a director of the entity behind the nearby Research & Innovation Centre, says MTM's exploring other opportunities in the area, including residential and visitor accommodation development. "We've had a pretty keen interest in Queenstown for a while."
Otago Daily Times
21-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
End of Sounds Air route raises concerns
There is concern Sounds Air quitting Wanaka may open the way for plans to have larger planes flying in and out of the town. Wānaka Stakeholders Group chairwoman Meg Taylor said Sounds Air's cancellation of its Wanaka-Christchurch route was due to similar operational costs that had caused Air New Zealand to reduce or pull out of several regional routes. "It's hard to make such routes pay even with turboprops," Ms Taylor said. "Which is why we are nervous that an agenda still exists to develop Wānaka Airport for larger aircraft." The airport's owner, Queenstown Airport, says jetliner travel is not on its governing body's radar. Sounds Air announced yesterday it was quitting its three daily flights between Wanaka and Christchurch from September 28, due to increased passenger levies it said would cost it an extra $305,000 a year and push the price of tickets between to the two centres from $350 to at least $500. Managing director Andrew Crawford said the company could no longer afford it and felt it had been forced to drop the route after five years of fighting for a solution. "Costs are out of control and since Covid, costs have double and tripled." The Civil Aviation Authority had introduced a 145% increase on passenger levies, he said. "Even then [$500 is] not enough. There is only so much people can pay, so it just has to stop. "They [CAA] are all the time holding their hands out saying give us more, give us more — and at some point you just can't," he said. The problem was not passengers, as they had never had more in the company's history, he said. Ten staff would be made redundant and the planes used on the route, which took nine passengers at a time, sold. "I wouldn't be surprised if other airlines follow," Mr Campbell said. The Wanaka Stakeholders Group is an Upper Clutha community group that has been actively involved in discussions and legal challenges regarding the future of Wanaka Airport and its potential development for commercial jet services. In May, the group launched its own proposal for the airport, advocating for a development model centred on strong local input. Ms Taylor said it would be interesting to see if the Queenstown Lakes District Council still wanted to push ahead with plans to expand Wanaka Airport and have larger commercial flights in and out of it given that there would now be no scheduled commercial flights from it. The required certification involved spending more than $11 million at the airport as well as a more expensive management structure, she said. Queenstown Airport manager of sustainability and corporate affairs Sarah Irvine said jetliner travel was not on the governing body's radar. "Our strategy is 100% not that." Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Glyn Lewers said the announcement from Sounds Air was disappointing for air connectivity to and from Wānaka. "Some in the community really relied on this service and I certainly feel for the staff who will lose work as a result of this decision." Interim Queenstown Airport chief executive Todd Grace also said the axing was disappointing. "We share in the disappointment that this popular connection between Wanaka and Christchurch will be withdrawn. The Sounds Air team has worked hard to build a highly valued service and we know this will be missed by the local community."
Otago Daily Times
18-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Best in business to be celebrated
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES Good sorts, top-notch small businesses and the best employer have been added to the categories for this year's 2degrees Queenstown Business Awards — entries for which have opened. Organised by the Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce, the awards, held every second year, highlight the innovation, resilience and community spirit that define the Queenstown business landscape. Chamber CEO Sharon Fifieldsays they're also a chance for businesses to reflect, recharge and revel in their achievements. "This year's awards are all about celebrating the incredible journey our local businesses have been on. "We've seen remarkable growth, creativity and grit — and now it's time to shine a light on that." There are 10 categories this year, including three new ones — small business of the year, sponsored by Queenstown Airport, employer of the year (RealNZ) and the 'good sort' award (Hamish Walker, of Walker & Co Realty). The latter category recognises individuals who go above and beyond in business standards, ethics, community involvement and helping others. Good sorts can be nominated by the public — a judging panel will select the finalists, and a winner. Returning categories are: Excellence in sustainability and environmental business practice (Destination Queenstown) Excellence in innovation (Polestar) Excellence in marketing (Shotover Creative) Excellence in community contribution (SkyCity Queenstown) Excellence in professional services & business solutions (Lane Neave Lawyers) Excellence in customer experience (Kingpin Queenstown) Judges will select winners of those categories, and the Supreme Award winner, while the public gets to choose the winner of the Mountain Scene People's Choice Award. Entries are open until September 15 and are available to all businesses and non-profits in the Whakatipu — chamber membership isn't required. Finalists will be announced on October 16, and winners revealed at a gala dinner in Queenstown's CBD on November 8. For more info, or to enter, see
RNZ News
31-05-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Flight to Dunedin unable to land due to high winds
Strong winds have buffeted some flights around the country today including causing a rocky approach at Queenstown Airport. Photo: 123RF High winds have made it challenging for passengers aboard flights in some parts of the country today. An orange strong wind warning was in place for Hawke's Bay, from Napier southwards and the Tararua District until 10pm on Saturday night. A similar warning was in force until mid-afternoon for Southern Fiordland, Southland, Stewart Island, Clutha and Dunedin. And Wairarapa was under a strong wind watch until mid-afternoon. At least one flight had to return to Auckland on Saturday morning after being unable to land in Dunedin. Passengers said it was a rocky approach to Queenstown Airport because of the winds. It comes after a tornado hit Hamilton on Thursday night, damaging houses in Nawton including throwing a trampoline into powerlines. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Airport CEO reflects on top-flight tenure
His tenure having started unpromisingly with no passengers due to the Covid lockdown, Queenstown Airport chief executive Glen Sowry is leaving almost four years later feeling like he has ''done everything I needed to do in my tenure''. Mr Sowry - who is finishing in the middle of next month - said the timing of his departure was right as the groundwork had been laid for five or six years of development that would ''ensure the airport's fit for purpose for decades to come''. He said the airport was the only one in New Zealand ahead of pre-Covid passenger numbers, standing at ''about 112%''. ''And our dividend last year [$19.6million] was about 150% up on pre-Covid.'' The dividend returned $14.7m to the 75% majority shareholder, Queenstown Lakes District Council. Mr Sowry said when he arrived the board felt there was work to be done in terms of the airport's social licence. ''There'd been clearly plenty of noise and concern expressed in the period leading up to Covid around what the airport was proposing in terms of growth.'' He said he employed two strategies. Firstly, he had ''just an awful lot of coffee catch-ups and just listening to people''. ''It became very clear I'm not going to please everyone, but we wanted to understand everyone's perspective and ensure we had a balanced and pragmatic approach to how the airport was going to operate going forward. ''I like to think we've got that balance somewhere near right.'' The other strategy was a commitment to operating within existing noise boundaries, out to 2032, while the 10-year strategic plan was developed. The airport had also reduced its emissions by more than 70% since 2019. The largest contributor to this being the shift from a diesel boiler to electric. He said another highlight in his tenure, was the installation of arresting beds at each end of the main runway to stop aircraft overshooting. Mr Sowry believed they had ''a very constructive, respectful relationship'' with 25% shareholder Auckland International Airport — ''they certainly don't overreach'' — drawing on their experience and knowledge. A former round-the-world sailor, who was recently elected chair of the NZ Olympic Committee, Mr Sowry said he would remain in Queenstown, aside from some sailing in the Mediterranean. ''I've been quick to tell people I'm not retiring, I'm too young for that. I'm not just going to play golf.'' His successor Shane O'Hare, currently chief executive at Tasmania's Launceston Airport, will take over the role in September.
