Air Force could operate from wigram grass - Museum

[sleemanj]

At least until the flightpath becomes unsafe due development.

www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/thepress/4665771a6530.html

The museum plans to use 37 hectares it owns in front of its building to create a small grass landing strip for the [ Red Checkers ] until the thousands of houses planned for the rest of the 250ha airfield encroach on the flight path.

[avenger]

Last ditch attempt to save Wigram fails

tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411365/2044170

Aug 28, 2008 6:39 PM





A last ditch campaign to keep Christchurch's historic Wigram Airfield open appears to have failed, for now.

The city's council has approved a zoning change that will allow owners Ngai Tahu to put houses on the site.

But that decision has many in the community angry.

Wigram Airfield is where fighter pilots trained for WW2 and where the first ever transtasman flight touched down.

Fast forward 80 years, and there are passionate pleas from those who do not want to see Wigram Airfield close.

"It's the holy grail of aviation sites in New Zealand, given pilots have died on that airfield and adjacent areas. Its sacred ground, " says Chris Rudge, Southern Soaring.

Opponents to the zoning change are fighting Ngai Tahu's plans to convert 84-hecatres to housing, knowing a council decision to re-zone the land was effectively a done deal.

However they say they won't give up their fight, putting together a petition signed by nearly 4000 people including some Ngai Tahu members, to stop the changes.

It was presented to the council calling for it to delay its decision, but councillors argue the horse has bolted and it can't wind back the clock.

Ngai Tahu says Wigram is just not viable as an aviation park and that it will work to respect the rich heritage as it develops the area.

But some community members don't believe they will.

"Ngai Tahu are always seen to be proactive with regards to the history of their own culture. In this case it seems to be that they are totally ignoring the history of New Zealand as an entire country," says Steve Campbell, New Zealand Flying School.

[flyjoe180]

I think we have to face facts here, that Wigram will be built on and aviation there will cease. Mr Campbell makes a very valid point in that last paragraph. Will NZ aviation be compensated in the future?