11. JOHN HAYES (National—Wairarapa) Link to this
to the Minister of Defence
What updates, if any, can he give on the status of Whenuapai Air Base?
Hon Dr WAYNE MAPP (Minister of Defence) Link to this
Yesterday Cabinet agreed that Whenuapai would be retained as a permanent air base for the air force. This decision removes any uncertainty about the future of the Royal New Zealand Air Force at Whenuapai, and for the local community who have been very concerned about that facility. Cabinet also agreed to a programme of essential remedial work to reverse the previous Government’s last decade of neglect.
Hon Dr WAYNE MAPP Link to this
The most urgent need is to rebuild the infrastructure of the runway and the hard-standing areas. These have been neglected for a full decade and now have deteriorated. Other work will be required for fuel storage facilities, as well.
Hon Dr WAYNE MAPP Link to this
The previous Government had planned to vacate Whenuapai. However, it did nothing at all to vacate the base and kept extending the date from which it would vacate. That led to uncertainty and confusion about the future of the base. It also failed to undertake essential maintenance and has left a legacy, not just here but also elsewhere in the Defence Force, of run-down defence assets.