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Community Engagement Extended For Future Of Wānaka Airport
Following a successful first round of community engagement, Egis has extended the timeline of the independent review into the future of Wānaka Airport to ensure all voices are heard.
As part of this review, Egis is working closely with the Queenstown Lakes District communities and key stakeholders to understand their perspectives on travel, lifestyle values, and aspirations for the future of the regional airport.
In June, Egis hosted two in-person community sessions in Wānaka, complemented by an online feedback platform that remained open until Tuesday, 15 July 2025. Participants will also have the opportunity to provide further input during a second round of consultation.
In response to public and stakeholder feedback requesting more time for input, Egis has extended the period for the 2nd round of online engagement to run for four weeks. The next round will be from 25 August to 18 September 2025 via letstalk.qldc.govt.nz/wanaka-airport-future-review. This will be supported by two in person drop-in sessions on Friday 29 August and Saturday 30 August 2025 (venues and times to be confirmed soon).
The extension will allow Egis to carefully process all feedback from the first phase and incorporate community insights into a series of future scenarios for Wānaka Airport. These scenarios will be presented during the second round of engagement for further community input.
Kerr Forbes, Aviation Lead for Egis in Australia and New Zealand, said: «We’ve heard clearly from the community that they value this opportunity to be involved, and they want more time to contribute. Extending the engagement period is part of our commitment to a genuine and transparent process. Listening to the community and stakeholders is essential to shaping a future for Wānaka Airport that reflects local values, priorities and vision.»
Wānaka Airport, in New Zealand’s Otago region, is owned by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and operated by Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) under a management services agreement. In July 2024 QLDC signalled its intent to develop a long-term plan for the Wānaka Airport and engaged Egis to undertake the Wānaka Airport future review.
This review will explore the airport’s long-term role, its economic impact, and its integration into New Zealand’s broader aviation network.
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