12. RUSSELL FAIRBROTHER (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Transport
What Government action has enabled several territorial local authorities to operate their airport infrastructure more effectively?
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Transport) Link to this
The Government has decided that two joint-venture airports, Hawke’s Bay and New Plymouth, will be given the option to corporatise if our council partners wish. The airports will remain in public hands, and the company structure will provide clearer governance and enable the airports to borrow for investment, if necessary. This paves the way for more active decision-making by the boards about these important community assets.
This is of great interest to many New Zealanders who live in provincial New Zealand. The remaining five airports in Whangarei, Whakātane, Taupō, Wanganui, and Westport will continue to be operated as joint-venture airports with more active Government involvement and assistance. This means we will have a better understanding of the issues in relation to each airport and what is needed from the Crown. The Government has appropriated almost $4 million to cover its share of historic losses and the necessary upgrades of infrastructure and facilities. This includes $227,000 for a new terminal at Westport, $526,000 for resealing the runway at Wanganui, and $1.1 million for the Taupō runway, subject to final costs.
Chester BorrowsCan the Minister confirm that the $803,000 recently released for Wanganui Airport is just the Government share of past losses as a 50-50 partner, and what guarantee is there that the Government will pay the estimated $470,000 in back interest payments, or does she expect Wanganui ratepayers to cover the cost of this Government not paying its bills, as it expected the taxpayers of New Zealand to cover the $800,000 election over-spend until it was shamed into its yet unfulfilled pledge to pay the money back?
That is a very good question, because that member might want to ask why a National Government set out to sell off the airports, then set out not to honour the money that ought to have been put in. This Government has promised money to cover those historic losses and to work with those local authorities to ensure they can continue operating their airports.