Associate Regional Development Minister, Mark Patterson, has joined locals to celebrate the completion of Masterton’s $17.7 million Hood Aerodrome upgrade, marking a significant boost for Wairarapa’s aviation capability and regional development.
Mr Patterson said the aerodrome is now safer and better positioned to support the region’s aviation sector, economic development, and community needs for years to come.
“A series of essential improvements were completed at the aerodrome, including resurfacing and widening the runway, improving lighting, upgrading water and electrical networks for 27 new hangar sites, and building new access roads,” Mr Patterson says.
“This work secures the aerodrome’s long-term operational capability and has enabled it to meet Civil Aviation Authority certification requirements, which allows for larger aircraft to operate from the airfield, and positions the airfield for future tourism and economic growth.
“The region can now count on continued support for medical life-flight services, search and rescue operations, agricultural topdressing, aviation events, recreational flying, and pilot training.”
In 2020, Masterton District Council received a $10 million grant to upgrade safety and services infrastructure at Hood Aerodrome. The total value of the project was $17.07 million, which includes co-funding of $7.07 million from the Council.
In addition to the airfield upgrade, further work – supported by $954,000 from the government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) – has recently been completed to protect the aerodrome boundary from erosion and enhance flood protection. The project is one of 16 flood resilience initiatives in the Wairarapa co-funded by the government.
