Consultation begins on Airport Location study
We are seeking public opinion about the future of air transport in the Whangārei District.
We need to plan ahead and be ready for change in the air transport sector. Aircraft types and sizes may change in future, or Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) rules may change. Either of these could require the airport to shift from Onerahi, potentially some time in the 2030's.
The existing airport at Onerahi has a relatively short runway with smaller than usual safety areas at each end. We have looked at extending the safety margins, but problems with this option mean we must also consider new potential sites elsewhere in our District. We have permission from the CAA to continue using the existing Onerahi airport for the time being, giving us time to examine potential new sites.
We have identified three potential new sites: Ruatangata West, Ruatangata and One Tree Point West. From initial investigations these potential sites all appear to meet the required criteria including enough clear flat land for a runway, clear airspace at either end (ie no mountains or hills), land for the operational area a new airport would require, and relatively close links to state highways.
Now it's time to include the community in this study. Please take the time to examine each of the options, and share your perspective through the 'Have your say' options.
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Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
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