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Post by nzompilot on Jul 9, 2008 18:42:10 GMT 12
Just seen on 3 news - Ngai Tahu will close Wigram in 7 months. the protected hangars and tower remain but everything else will go. How will this effect the Airforce Museum?  ?? |
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Post by sleemanj on Jul 9, 2008 18:44:54 GMT 12
Yes saw that too. An extremely sad day for New Zealand aviation.
Damn National who made it available, damn Ngai Tahu who decided they want it, and damn the CCC who let them have it. Damn them to hell.
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Post by corsair67 on Jul 9, 2008 19:02:55 GMT 12
They're all offspring of unmarried mothers!  |
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Post by beagle on Jul 9, 2008 19:05:54 GMT 12
You would have thought that the Govt would have made some sort of proviso with the sale.
This was the birth place of the Air Force.
GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
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Post by corsair67 on Jul 9, 2008 19:10:57 GMT 12
Beags, don't blame the Maoris in general - blame National, Labour and Ngai Tahu Ltd.
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Post by nzompilot on Jul 9, 2008 19:12:39 GMT 12
National f*&$@#d up this - Labour F*&%$#d up the combat strike force lets hope in the future if Whenuapai is ever sold off its done properally and kept as an airport.
But definately not a good day for all.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 9, 2008 20:41:07 GMT 12
Sadly this comes as no surprise. The owners have been planning the airfield's closure for some years now. I was told about it on my visit to the museum in Feb 2004, and again in April 2006, and both times the locals there were expecting it to be within the next six months. More building of houses is planned right across the old aerodrome I was told.
As for the hangars and tower will remain but everything else will go, what else is left? Not much. It's all housing now. I believe No. 1 Officer's Mess, one of the few buildings saved from the bulldozer, is now privately owned so they cannot touch it (I think... hope). No doubt the gymnasium will be demolished, not sure though.
My understanding is that Ngai Tahu does not own the land or buildings that the Air Force Museum occupy, that is the Museum's and it reportedly safe. That includes the three hangars and two Stores buildings in that area I believe.
The Musuem also owns some land adjacent which we knew as the '40 acre field' when it was an RNZAF Base. That land was gifted by Lady Wigram from what I recall, and she apparently tied it up legally so it could not be used for anything else. She tried to do so with other parts of the airfield but the Government lawyers undid all her express wishes with a few pen strokes and the base was cast into history. Sir Henry and Lady Wigram must be rolling in their graves. We need more politicians with his vision and generosity to the country. Today they only think of themselves. It's sickening that Wigram donated all that land as well as two fighters for the express purpose of the aerial defence of NZ and now we don't even have aircraft that can defend NZ in any way like he intended despite all the advances in technology since 1923. Is that progress?
You're also forgetting a major party in the demise of Wigram as a base in the blaming game above, the Air Staff chair warmers of the time at Disneyland in Wellington who really and truly screwed the pooch when they chose to close that base.
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Post by sleemanj on Jul 9, 2008 20:54:05 GMT 12
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Post by 30sqnatc on Jul 9, 2008 21:06:43 GMT 12
Interesting announcement but I guess now that 10 years has elapsed and the second condition has not come to fruition "This deal will ensure that an airfield will remain on the site for at least 10 years and, provided it is commercially viable, for as long as 50 years."
Paul
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Post by mumbles on Jul 9, 2008 21:21:58 GMT 12
Saw the smug development spokesman say something aeroplanes making the environment too dangerous as development encroached.
Lord save me from the ignorant.....
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Post by nzompilot on Jul 9, 2008 21:22:24 GMT 12
Well one thing it means, is any new additions to the museum will never fly again, as they will have to be dismantled to be trucked into the museum. I wouldn't want to have to take something apart, move it, put it back together, fly it, then repeat the process to get it back to the museum.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 9, 2008 21:35:02 GMT 12
The museum has a strict non-flying policy anyway, and has done almost forever. That's why their Avro 626 was transfeered to CFS's RNZAF Historic Flight while it was flying, and then back to the Museum when it was grounded. This does however mean the end to the joyrides that the Museum used to promote with various Wigram based operators such as the owners of the Stearman and the Tiger Moths over the years, not to mention the DC-3. It also means the end of Wigram Open Days having a flying element, unless they are to be based at Harewood and do their displays above house rooftops.  |
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Post by corsair67 on Jul 9, 2008 22:15:43 GMT 12
I know Tony Sewell (the Ngai Tahu spokeman), and I have lost a lot of respect for him and the people he represents over their money hungry development of Wigram.
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Post by yak2 on Jul 9, 2008 22:30:06 GMT 12
Very sad. Had the pleasure of visiting the museum a couple of times and was impressed with the 'atmosphere' of the set-up. A number of buildings have a similar look and feel to RAAF Point Cook which itself went thru a period of expansion prior to WW2. Fortunately, after spending (ie.wasting) $40m with consultants etc. , that wonderful airfield is now preserved from housing development. It is very difficult to build a new airport anywhere these days, so it appears extremely short sighted to close one down.
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Post by globemaster on Jul 9, 2008 22:47:19 GMT 12
Agreed , Another money hungry maori tribe. Never had, never will have any respect for the fukkers flock. A week ago I decided to admire our Aviation history and went to the museum and was told this was to happen shortly with everyone being extremely upset. The runway is apparently too strong to be dug up so will become a boulevard for Christ sake ! Most of the guys at the museum I talked to considered it an awful joke and after seeing that News article tonight well. Does anyone know that if we protest and hold the development off for a few years the field will become historic and therefore by law not able to be destroyed? So sad when the museum is finally doing so well with the Andover inside and the P40 about to take shape. Man this fully makes me pissed ! I'll chuck up some photos here of me visit if anyones interested? And perhaps I'll email them to Nar Thau or whatever they call themselves and state my opinion  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 9, 2008 23:21:07 GMT 12
Let's please not turn this into a racial issue. We cannot blame an entire tribe or race for the stupid decisions of greedy people at the top.
It seems odd that museum staff were surprised, as several people I've talked to down there were very much expecting this long ago.
Please do post your photos onto the preservation board, I'd love to see what's happening down there, especially with the P-40E, and see how they've managed to squeeze the Andover indoors.
How are the renovations going too?
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Post by globemaster on Jul 9, 2008 23:21:29 GMT 12
Doesnt this just speak Wigram...  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 9, 2008 23:24:26 GMT 12
Great photo!
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Post by 30sqnatc on Jul 9, 2008 23:29:08 GMT 12
Pity it's not been listed with Historic Places. I've just checked 'Wigram' but no hits.
Paul
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Post by sleemanj on Jul 9, 2008 23:46:07 GMT 12
Interesting announcement but I guess now that 10 years has elapsed and the second condition has not come to fruition. Today as an airfield it doesn't pay perhaps but in another 10 or 15 years I'd hazard a guess that would have changed. One day the CCC (and maybe even Ngai Tahu) will regret that it let a ready made "domestic airport" right on the doorstep go without a fight, there are city's worldwide that would kill for such an opportunity I'm sure. |
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