Dargerville RNZAF airfield

[steve]

I just returned from a northland holiday and checked out the two Dargerville airfields. From infomation on this site re: RNZAF landing field was located on the Pouto side of the harbour.

Do we have any info on the airstrip south of the present Dargerville airfield on the main higway (approx 12km south) towards mangatoroto.?

I noted a WW2 style barracks building on the airfield. Maybe it was moved there...not sure?

[Bruce]

That airfield will be Ruawai NZRW (actual location is at a place called Raupo). 717m Limestone strip, home to the Otamatea Aero club. This field was built in the 1960s, during wartime much is this area would have been too swampy to do much with. The "barracks Block" clubhouse came from elsewhere.
I have flown into Ruawai on several occasions, the strip is only 6m wide, with long grass right up to the edges when I was there - a good challenge!

[steve]

Many thanks Bruce for that...I will have to check out the Pouto side for relics of the landing strip used by the RNZAF in ww2