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Aerodromes to be developed at Ruatoria and Te Araroa
www.gisborneherald.co.nz/local-news/20200220/project-runways-aerodromes-to-be-developed-at-ruatoria-and-te-araroa/Feb 20 2020
Commercial flights in and out of Ruatoria and Te Araroa are on the horizon, with aerodromes to be developed in both isolated East Coast communities.
Funding from the Provincial Growth Fund's Whenua Maori allocation for the two aerodrome projects was announced earlier this month.
However, following inquiries by The Gisborne Herald, one of those projects, which is not on Maori-owned land, will no longer receive funding through the Whenua Maori allocation.
But the Ruatoria aerodrome project still qualified for and would receive a Provincial Growth Fund grant, a Provincial Development Unit (PDU) spokesperson said.
The aim for both projects is to develop grass airstrips to a state where they can be registered on the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) used by pilots, the spokesperson said.
The AIP registration would generate “opportunities for tourism and economic activity by private aviation visitors”.
In Ruatoria, the airstrip is owned and operated by Ruatoria Papa Rererangi Charitable Trust, which has been granted $100,000.
The airstrip, off Thatcher Road, is home to the local aero club, which is set to celebrate its 60th anniversary next month.
The trustees are Dan Russell of Puketiti Station, near Te Puia Springs, and Mahanga Maru.
Mr Maru referred all questions on the project to the Provincial Development Unit, noting that the trust was still negotiating its funding contract with the unit, which administers the Provincial Growth Fund.
In an interview on Radio Ngati Porou last year, Mr Maru said the trust was thinking about the next 25 years and working on a master plan for the aerodrome.
The PDU spokesperson said the trust had signalled that in the future it intended to submit another funding application for the runway to be sealed.
Meanwhile, the aerodrome in Te Araroa will be a joint venture between Te Rimu Trust and Eastland Group, which have been granted $99,775.
The aerodrome is being developed on a block of the trust's coastal land beside East Cape Manuka Cafe, which is on State Highway 35, with Eastland Group managing the project.
In addition to tourism and business activities, the trust and Eastland Group are highlighting the aerodrome's potential to improve access for medical flights and during civil defence emergencies, when roads may be blocked.
In a statement, Eastland Group business development manager Alice Pettigrew said the aerodrome would be developed at no charge to the community.
The company, which operates Gisborne Airport, was donating time and management expertise, the trust was providing free labour, and the grant would be used to cover costs.
The aerodrome is expected to open within six months.
Te Rimu Trust also received a grant of $871,495 to convert up to 25 hectares of farmland into a citrus orchard.
Chairman Richard Clarke said the orchard was part of the trust's programme to phase out stock on its 240ha estate at the top of the East Coast, with close to 100ha to be planted in natives.
Support for Ruatoria Aerodrome
July 23 2019
www.gisborneherald.co.nz/local-news/20190723/support-for-ruatoria-aerodrome/Farmers, contractors, police, fire service staff, educators and Ngati Porou representatives attended a public meeting last week in support of the Ruatoria aerodrome.
Held at Radio Ngati Porou the aim of the public meeting was to gauge the depth of community support for upgrade, maintenance and ideas for the future of the aerodrome. The facility is a community icon, a vital resource for search and rescue operations, firefighters, police operations, forestry and for the delivery of machine parts, said Ruatoria Papa Rererangi Trust chairman Dan Russell.
An Eagle Flight Training representative said the Ruatoria aerodrome would provide more opportunities for trainee pilots.
Keeping the aerodrome in operation was a challenge but he welcomed the community’s ideas and support.
“The aerodrome has been kept afloat by private trusts since I became involved in 1995.”
The Ruatoria Papa Rererangi Trust has applied for a Provincial Growth Fund contribution to the cost of upgrading the aerodrome.
The trust plans to register the Ruatoria aerodrome with AIP (Aeronautical Information Publication) New Zealand so the site becomes more widely known, said Mr Russell.
Among those attending the meeting was long-standing Ruatoria Aero Club member, Hughie Hughes. The 85-year-old recalled local shop owner Theo Meredith used a bulldozer to level a paddock for the aerodrome and later dragged the club-house across the river.
Mr Hughes paid special tribute to the late Desmond Williams who bought the aerodrome and put it into a trust for the community. Trained in flying Tiger Moths, Mr Hughes said his interest in aviation was as strong as ever.
He fully endorsed the trustees’ strategy, he said.
“It was a great turn-out and we received positive support for our aerodrome plan,” said Mr Russell.
Trustees plan to hold an open day and “Fly-In” next March to celebrate more than 60 years of operations at Ruatoria aerodrome.
Ruatoria runway plans
July 2019
www.gisborneherald.co.nz/local-news/20190717/ruatoria-runway-plans/Plans to upgrade an aerodrome that was built in Ruatoria in the 1960s will be outlined at a public meeting tomorrow.
Ruatoria aerodrome trustees invite input on the plan that includes a proposal to seal the runway and to install lights that will help fixed wing and helicopter operations to carry out medivac and flight training operations.
The aerodrome is a crucial transportation resource for the coast, says trustee Mahanga Maru.
“There was an aeroclub there in the ‘60s and local farmers use it to fly to and from Ruatoria. It’s like any asset — it needs upgrading to bring it up to standard. It’s a critical piece of infrastructure for the coast. Itinerant top-dressers use the facility but it needs work and a plan.”
Brought up in Ruatoria, Mr Maru fell in love with flying at an early age because of people involved and the aero club activities at the Ruatoria aerodrome, he says. He now holds a commercial pilot’s licence.
The public meeting will be held at Radio Ngati Porou tomorrow at 3pm. The trust invites people to attend to discuss the Ruatoria aerodrome development plan.
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