Whanganui Airport lands national infrastructure award
Published on 29 October 2026
Whanganui Airport's new parallel taxiway has received national recognition, taking out the Small Airport Infrastructure Award at the 2026 New Zealand Airports Awards in Wellington last week.
The award recognises the successful delivery of the project, which was completed in April this year, on schedule and under budget.
The $6.7 million project was jointly funded by Whanganui District Council and central government, with each contributing half the cost. Construction was carried out by Fulton Hogan.
The project was undertaken to improve safety. Previously, aircraft often needed to travel back along the active runway after landing or before taking off. The new parallel taxiway reduces the time aircraft spend on the runway, lowering the potential for conflicts between aircraft and improving overall safety and efficiency.
The improvements are particularly timely given the airport's high level of activity recently – with more than 73,000 aircraft movements recorded in the 12 months to September 2026.
Whanganui Airport Joint Venture Chief Executive, Sarah O'Hagan, says the award is a significant achievement for the airport and everyone involved in the project.
"This was a major investment in the future of Whanganui Airport, so it's really pleasing that we've been able to complete the work on time and under budget.
"Fulton Hogan did a fantastic job on the construction, and we're also thankful for the vital support MCERT has provided in helping us achieve this.
"With aircraft traffic continuing to grow, this investment puts Whanganui Airport in a much stronger position to meet future demand. It's an important improvement that will benefit Whanganui for many years to come."
The award follows further positive news for the airport, with its latest financial results showing a substantial improvement in operating performance with a surplus before depreciation and significantly increased total income compared with previous years.
Speaking at the council's most recent Council Controlled Organisations and Economic Growth Committee meeting, James Turner from MCERT, the council's government partner in the airport, acknowledged the progress being made.
"We've built a really strong relationship with our partners at the council over the past few years. It's pleasing to see Whanganui Airport making such good progress towards becoming more financially sustainable.
"This recent award recognises the significant investment that's been made in the airport's infrastructure and shows what can be achieved when local and central government work together constructively. It's another positive step towards putting the airport on a stronger footing for the future."
The infrastructure award is the airport's second in three years, having also won the Small Airport Infrastructure Award in 2024 for its runway resurfacing project.