The small town fighting for its airfield

X Stuff by Erin Johnson June 2, 2025

Tūrangi residents say their airfield is an important asset for the isolated town.

Facts

  • Taupō District Council is pulling out of involvement with a town’s airstrip.
  • The council decided Tūrangi Aerodrome is not of strategic importance.
  • But local residents think otherwise and have picked up responsibility for it.

A small North Island town is finding its way through a predicament over its airstrip.

“It was dropped on my plate,” Tūrangi resident Mike Fransham said of stepping in to operate Tūrangi Aerodrome in February, after Taupō District Council (TDC) decided to end its involvement with the airfield.

A roughly 1445m2 strip of land to the north of Tūrangi township, the aerodrome is used by fixed wing aircraft and helicopters, with some bringing in fly fishers keen to hook trout in the nearby Tongariro River.

Some of those using the aerodrome are guests at the luxury River Birches Lodge, a few minutes drive away.

“We have discerning clients and usually they’re coming from overseas and go from one luxury lodge to another,“ lodge owner Jason Bleibtreu told Stuff.

At the centre of the North Island, Tūrangi attracts visitors from around the country and overseas.

And just a few hundred metres from the airstrip, Tongariro Lodge general manager Guido Paseri said some clients fly in in their own small planes from other parts of the country.

“Our clients do use it and that’s really why certain clients come here,” Paseri said.

“For us, as a rural tourism operator, it is a great facility.”

Local Land Search and Rescue volunteers also use the aerodrome for training, Paseri said.

Retired commercial pilot Mike Fransham has taken over as operator of Tūrangi Aerodrome.Mike Fransham

But over the past six months, debate has arisen over who should take responsibility for the aerodrome.

A spotlight was shone on the subject last year, as the council’s lease for the land approached its end date

Part of a settlement process, the land is being returned from Te Kotahitanga o Ngāti Tūwharetoa to whānau, who will ultimately decide the land’s use. The council decided to exit the aerodrome when its lease expired in February.

Taupō Airport Authority (TAA), a council controlled organisation and the then designated operator, gave the Civil Aviation Authority notice to deactivate the aerodrome from February 27.

The Tūrangi Aerodrome land is part of a Treaty settlement process where the land is being returned to whānau.Google Maps

Tūrangi people were “gutted” at the decision, and felt there had been a lack of consultation, Tūrangi-Tongariro-ward councillor Sandra Greenslade said.

“You think about small communities, the minute you take something away from us, it’s gone forever.

“The reason we were given by the Taupō District Council was it was of no strategic value. We’re an isolated community, albeit on State Highway 1, but we’re in the centre of the North Island, surrounded by forest and mountains.

“Outdoor activities have become a really big thing in New Zealand, it’s huge around this area.”

Activities like mountain biking, fishing, hiking and skiing draw visitors to Tūrangi.David Long

Greenslade called on Fransham, a retired commercial pilot, who stepped in as a volunteer to operate the aerodrome on behalf of the Tūrangi Aero Club when the TAA exited.

A council spokesperson said the decision to pull out was based on information that the council, the TAA and its general manager, were all exposed to “unacceptable” risk if there was a health and safety incident at the aerodrome.

“The general manager of the Taupō Airport Authority had legal liability over the aerodrome despite having no jurisdiction of operations there.”

There was consultation with the landowners and the aero club was informed, they said.

Rather than “simply ceasing” involvement, the council is assisting with the transfer of responsibility for aerodrome operations, they said.

That includes TAA doing one more quarterly inspection, and the council mowing the grounds until the end of June.

After that, it’s all up to Fransham and the aero club, which has a community grant to help with costs.

Running the aerodrome was “relatively straightforward“, said Fransham, but he was disappointed the council will walk away from what he felt was ”basic infrastructure“, with value in an emergency.

Tūrangi Aerodrome lies to the north of Tūrangi township.Google Maps

Taupō District deputy mayor Kevin Taylor said the aerodrome’s location on the opposite side of the river from town, and in a flood zone, meant it was not important for emergencies.

“Tūrangi town centre has plenty of clear areas where a helicopter could land if needed,” Taylor said.

Looking forward, Greenslade thinks local responsibility for the aerodrome will have benefits.

“I expect the airfield to go from good to better. There’s been talk of putting hangers on there and renting them out. But that will be up to the new owners.”