Hon James Meager
Associate Minister of Transport

Fast-track approval has been granted to a significant Wellington infrastructure project which will safeguard the International Airport’s long-term operations, protect critical assets, create two kororā (little penguin) colonies, and generate hundreds of jobs.

Associate Transport Minister James Meager says the Wellington International Airport Southern Seawall Renewal project, valued at more than $100 million, will renew and maintain the airport’s ageing southern seawall and bring significant regional benefits.

“This is a major long-term resilience project for the capital, with enabling works commencing this year to upgrade 400 metres of the airport’s southern seawall,” Mr Meager says.

“Renewing and strengthening sections of the existing southern seawall will improve its resilience to coastal processes and extreme weather events, while supporting the airport’s continued safe operation.

“Two new penguin colonies will also be created to support habitation and breeding. It will include purpose-built nestboxes, wind shelter and vegetation to provide suitable habitat. They will also be fenced to protect from dog attacks and disturbance by people.

“Importantly, this project will deliver major economic benefits for local communities, through the creation of 114 jobs annually throughout the construction period. The project has a strong estimated cost-benefit ratio of 2.6, with gross benefits of up to $690 million forecast.”

Wellington International Airport Ltd lodged its application in October 2025, with approval taking around six months following the commencement of the independent expert panel.

“This is yet another common-sense Fast-track decision. Wellington Airport facilitates annual expenditure of $3.9 billion, supports more than 14,500 full-time equivalent jobs, and contributes around $2 billion in GDP to the region’s economy annually. This project will help protect and future-proof this important asset,” Mr Meager says.

Notes:

· This is the 22nd project approved through the Fast-track approvals process.

· For more information about the project: Wellington International Airport Southern Seawall Renewal

Fast-track by the numbers:

• 22 projects approved by expert panels.
• 17 projects with expert panels appointed.
• 47 projects currently progressing through the Fast-track process. 26 active substantive and 21 referral applications.
• 47 projects have been referred to Fast-track by the Minister for Infrastructure.
• 149 projects are listed in Schedule 2 of the Fast-track Approvals Act, meaning they can apply for Fast-track approval.
• On average, it has taken 118 working days for decisions on substantive applications from when officials determine an application is complete and in-scope.

Fast-track projects approved by expert panels:

• Arataki [Housing/Land]
• Ashbourne [Housing/Land]
• Ayrburn Screen Hub [Infrastructure]
• Green Steel [Infrastructure]
• Homestead Bay [Housing/Land]
• Bledisloe North Wharf and Fergusson North Berth Extension [Infrastructure]
• Drury Metropolitan Centre – Consolidated Stages 1 and 2 [Housing/Land]
• Drury Quarry Expansion – Sutton Block [Mining/Quarrying]
• Kings Quarry Expansion – Stages 2 and 3 [Mining/Quarrying]
• Maitahi Village [Housing/Land]
• Milldale – Stages 4C and 10 to 13 [Housing/Land]
• Pound Road [Housing/Land]
• Rangitoopuni [Housing/Land]
• Ryans Road [Housing/Land]
• Southland Wind Farm Project [Infrastructure]
• Sunfield [Housing/Land]
• Tekapo Power Scheme – Applications for Replacement Resource Consents [Renewable energy]
• Takitimu North Link – Stage 2 [Infrastructure]
• Waihi North [Mining/Quarrying]
• Waitaha Hydro [Renewable energy]
• Waitākere District Court – New Courthouse Project [Infrastructure]
• Wellington International Airport Southern Seawall Renewal [Infrastructure]

Expert panels have been appointed for:

• Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project
• Bream Bay Sand Extraction Project
• Central and Southern Block Mining Project
• Delmore
• Downtown Carpark Site Development
• Foxton Solar Farm
• Haldon Solar Farm
• Hananui Aquaculture Project
• Kaimai Hydro-Electric Power Scheme
• Lake Pūkaki Hydro Storage and Dam Resilience Works
• Mahinerangi Wind Farm
• Mt Iron Junction
• Northwest Rapid Transit
• State Highway 1 North Canterbury - Woodend Bypass Project (Belfast to Pegasus)
• Stella Passage Development
• The Point Mission Bay
• The Point Solar Farm

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