Whanganui District Council finishes $6.7m parallel taxiway at Whanganui Airport

Funding for the taxiway was split between Whanganui District Council and the Ministry of Transport.

Whanganui Airport’s boss says its new $6.7 million parallel taxiway will lead to “smoother, safer operations”.

Chief executive Sarah O’Hagan said the project, completed last week by Fulton Hogan, was a significant investment in Whanganui’s future.

“By improving taxiway infrastructure, we are enhancing safety for all airport users while also increasing operational efficiency at one of New Zealand’s busiest regional airports,” O’Hagan said.

Taxiways are pathways aircraft use between hangars, terminals, runways and other facilities.

Funding was split between the airport’s joint partners, Whanganui District Council and the Ministry of Transport.

In 2024, the Chronicle reported the council would build a partial parallel taxiway, phase one of the project, for $3.6m, a decision unanimously supported by elected members.

At the time, the ministry declined to provide its funding share because it deemed the project non-essential – a view shared by airport users Air Chathams and Aerowork.

Air Chathams’ planes are too large to use the taxiway.

However, Associate Transport Minister James Meager announced last August the Government would provide $3.35m to finish the entire taxiway, saying it would reduce the need for aircraft to backtrack on the active runway before take-off and after landing.

The partial taxiway ran from the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy‘s (NZICPA’s) hangar to the threshold of the main runway.

Wanganui Aero Club chief flying instructor Jonathan Mauchline said the full taxiway was “a bit of an asset to the airport”.

Wanganui Aero Club chief flying instructor Jonathan Mauchline. Photo / NZME

“In winter, the ground gets a bit soft, and this is a lot more all-weather,” he said.

“It’s also a lot better for night flying. We can taxi right down to the end without having to wait for aeroplanes.”

He said Fulton Hogan did a good job with the project and included offshoots to fuel pump stations.

“The airport is looking pretty smart at the moment, to be fair.”

Fulton Hogan resealed the airport’s main runway in 2023.

A full taxiway was a key recommendation in a 2019 aeronautical study, although there was no legal requirement to build it.

O’Hagan, also the council’s chief strategy officer, said the taxiway would improve safety and operational efficiency.

“Improvements include enhanced aircraft movement areas, reduced runway occupancy times and better separation between aircraft on the ground, resulting in smoother, safer operations for airlines, pilots and ground crews.”

NZ Airline Academy (NZAAL) director Celroy Mascarenhas said the taxiway had “come with a big price tag” but was, in his opinion, money well spent.

NZAAL has taken over NZICPA’s facilities at the airport, with NZICPA moving to the aero club until it closes mid-year.

“Air Chathams can’t use it but they are coming in three times a day,” he said.

“There are hundreds of other movements every day and [the taxiway] will make a world of difference.

“[Air Chathams] benefit from it in the fact that it keeps everyone out of their way and it decongests the whole place.”

Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily Whanganui District Council.