Empowering Air Chathams
On March 9th, Air New Zealand delivers shocking news to Kāpiti residents and businesses. It announced the termination on April 3rd of flights from Kāpiti Airport to Auckland. It was bizarre, as 6 days earlier, on March 3rd, it had partnered with KCDC to hold an Open Day to advertise its Auckland flights. Attended by 2000 visitors including the mayors of neighbouring Horowhenua and Porirua.
Interviewed by national media, Mayor Guru expresses the anger of the people of Kāpiti, accusing Air NZ of betraying provincial New Zealand. Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones joins the fray and blasts Air NZ for letting down regions he is trying to build up.
"I am thoroughly unimpressed by Air New Zealand wanting to continually downgrade regional services whilst we are spending money to develop regional opportunity....Kaitia seems to have gone with the wind and now Kāpiti is a further casualty." (TV One News Mar 19, 2018).
Following a challenge by Mayor Guru on RNZ, Air NZ chief executive Christopher Luxon directly contacts Mayor Guru to look at ways ANZ could help with a regional airline taking up the route. Mayor Guru secures support of Minister Kris Faafoi and meets Minister Jones. Otaki MP Nathan Guy launches a petition organises public meeting. Council's CEO Wayne Maxwell and Mayor Guru, with full support of councillors, start negotiations with airline operators. Talks begin between KCDC, Kāpiti Airport, Air NZ and Air Chathams.
On July 2 a deal is secured with Air Chathams with an announcement of the first flight on August 20:
"From the minute it was announced Kāpiti flights were being withdrawn, I told Kāpiti to 'Watch this space'. Now all the hard work with business, community and government to rally support to attract and secure air services for our district has paid off." (Stuff July 2, 2018).
Within 113 days of Air New Zealand announcing its shocking news Mayor Guru and council were able to work with the Kāpiti community, the Kāpiti Chamber of Commerce, the Kāpiti Airport, Otaki MP Nathan Guy, Ministers Shane Jones and Kris Faafoi to secure a new provider. The airport may be privately owned but it's still seen as a public asset with a long community history.