ODT Cartoonist Nails It

A cartoon in this weekend’s ODT supplement says it all.

Christchurch Airport is not “reading the room”.

At a meeting with business people in Wānaka last week, Christchurch Airport project lead Rhys Boswell claimed that the plans for a new airport would bring loads more visitors to the region, and the influx of additional visitors would somehow help locals pay for the infrastructure and services which the region needs. “The level of […]

“No new airports” protest at parliament

New Zealand Aviation Growth Needs Curbing Now – Protesting The Airports Authority Annual Briefing Tuesday, 28 March 2023, 10:04 pm – Sustainable Tarras Inc. A small collective of people will be braving the southerly front in Wellington today, protesting outside Parliament (Tuesday, March 28 at 5pm) to draw attention to the greenwash of the aviation […]

Three profs. present caution to CHC Council

Three leading New Zealand professors briefed Christchurch City Councillors at the full council meeting this morning, advising that they should heed the “significant body of evidence” which confirms that building a new international airport at Tarras is a “very bad idea.” The main issues raised included serious economic impact for Christchurch ratepayers, negative climate impacts, […]

Leading academics: “No to tarras”

Eleven of New Zealand’s leading academics have written an open letter to business leaders and politicians stating that the proposed new international airport in Central Otago “should not proceed”, as it runs against prevailing research. The letter, sent on Tuesday, has been signed by professors from Otago, Canterbury, Lincoln, Victoria, Massey and Auckland Universities. Signatories […]

Airport execs confirm no shareholder approval required for tarras

The following is our media release published Tuesday 13th September 2022 relating to written confirmation we received from Christchurch Airport that they don’t need shareholder approval for projects up to half their current asset value. Media Release – Tuesday 13th September 2022 Christchurch Airport confirms “no specific shareholder approval will be required” for international airport […]

“Stonewalled, shut out and disrespected” by Christchurch Airport

Read our media release, published Tuesday 13th September 2022 in response to Christchurch Airport’s refusal to answer questions about the proposed Central Otago Airport. Media Release – Tuesday 13th September 2022 “Stonewalled, shut out and disrespected”: Christchurch Airport CEO’s refusal to answer community group’s genuine concerns A community group which has been seeking answers from […]

CHC Airport CEO continues to stonewall community about tarras

Christchurch Airport CEO, Malcolm Johns, has continued to refuse to answer a set of reasonable and important questions about the proposed Central Otago Airport at Tarras. The questions, first asked in November 2021, were updated and sent to Johns. SCOA received the now standard reply which was a combination of “we don’t have answers yet” […]

The trouble with offsetting aviation emissions

An interview this morning on Radio New Zealand’s Nine to Noon show with Prof. James Higham of the University of Otago. Prof. Higham is a highly regarded expert in sustainable tourism. He is asked about airline offsetting and carbon reduction. His responses are unequivocal, fact based, and will make very difficult listening for those currently […]

Just how real is “low carbon aviation”?

In recent months, people in the aviation industry have been talking up the bright future of “low carbon aviation”. We thought it might be time to see what commentators are saying about how real, achievable and proximate a low carbon aviation future might be. Below, we’ve listed recent news items which speak to this point. […]

CHC airport CEO refuses to answer questions about Tarras

Christchurch Airport CEO, Malcolm Johns, has flatly refused to answer a set of reasonable questions put to him about Tarras by Stop Central Otago Airport. Johns, paid an annual salary of $896,000 to preside over the airport company owned 75% by Christchurch City Council, and 25% the Government, has instead referred the group back to […]

CHC airport applies to ORC to lower environmental hurdles for new airport

It came to our attention earlier this month that Christchurch Airport had lodged a submission with the Otago Regional Council to make significant changes to ORC policy documents, largely to water down environmental protections, allow for biodiversity loss and more easily facilitate a major industrial development at Tarras. The wording was carefully chosen and submitted […]

ODT: Christchurch Airport’s “reprehensible and Greedy proposal” is “like a horror movie”

Since Christchurch Airport published their recent runway options report, media coverage has reflected significant concern from people around Central Otago, and indeed New Zealand. They tend to echoes our concerns. Today’s Editorial in the Otago Daily Times summed up what many of us are thinking. This is very well written, and most definitely worth a […]

Runway report: our initial response to media

We’ve received plenty of media interview requests recently. But when the Wānaka App sent us some written questions today, we decided to answer with as much detail as possible. We thought we should share these with members of Stop Central Otago Airport. Our answers are below, for your information, with some small additions for clarity. […]

Christchurch Airport releases runway options

On 24 September 2021, exactly 15 months after news of the new airport was broken by local journalist Peter Newport of Crux, Christchurch Airport finally released some slightly more detailed information. The “Preliminary Aeronautical Assessment”, a carefully produced 41 page brochure-style document, laid out some key “initial” findings. In our view, they’re not good for […]

Say NO to a new international airport

You may have heard about plans for a new international airport in Tarras, Central Otago. It’s being planned despite strong community opposition, no true need for it and massive concerns about the environment and the future of several local communities it will impact. The planned airport is being pushed ahead by Christchurch Airport, who secretly […]