The Longer and Stronger Programme 

That’s why the New Zealand government funded the Longer and Stronger Programme in 2020 to increase the airport’s capacity, with an eye on the long-term viability and resilience of the Chatham Islands community.  

Key to this 6-year, $50 million project were extensive infrastructure upgrades that have allowed the airport to accommodate larger Code 4C aircraft (such as Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 passenger jets) and more frequent flights, including flights for freight and trade purposes. Delivered under challenging logistical and weather conditions, these upgrades included:

• Extending the sole runway from 1,360m to 1,850m
• Pavement strengthening 
• Increasing the apron area by 60%
• A new taxiway for larger aircraft 
• Lighting and safety improvements
• A new timber terminal building
• Redeveloping the existing terminal building through adaptive reuse.

Working closely with Chatham Islands Airport Limited, contractors, local trades, government agencies and local community groups, we harnessed our engineering smarts to bring this technically challenging project to life.

Aerial view of runway extension and taxiway works underway, March 2022.

Bringing it to life: Engineering for a harsh environment 

While a typical airport infrastructure upgrade must balance progress with maintaining regular operations, this project faced the added challenge of a uniquely remote location and harsh climate. 

Designing for remoteness

With the closest landfall over 800km away, the project team faced immediate constraints from limited supply chains and long shipping distances. This made bringing the building materials needed to deliver the airfield infrastructure and terminal upgrades on-site a huge challenge. 

This challenge was largely addressed by selecting locally sourced natural materials where practical (including basalt rock for the pavement layers and asphalt, and shellgrit), minimising the time and expense of shipping them across the South Pacific Ocean. A decision was also made early to hire local tradespeople where possible for logistical reasons, which had the added bonus of boosting the local economy and skills base. This included Chatham Islands-based building practitioner Leith Weitzel, of LWB Ltd, who guided the contractors involved in the terminal redevelopment component. 

Given the island’s wet and windy climate, close attention was paid to pavement material. Draining and subsoil improvement works were designed to dry out historically waterlogged areas over time, improving long-term pavement performance and reducing the need for costly future maintenance interventions.

A new terminal from across the ocean

Perhaps the most impressive and technically challenging aspect of the project was redeveloping the Airport’s existing terminal building – a modest structure built in 1982, and constructing a new terminal alongside it. More than just a building, to locals, the terminal represents their connection to the wider world; a lifeline both socially and economically. 

Rather than demolish the 1982 building, the project team decided to retain and repurpose it through a process known as ‘adaptive reuse’ – preserving a tangible part of the airport’s heritage while extending the useful life of an existing asset. This building was comprehensively refurbished to provide an improved check-in area, airport operations office and a flexible communal space for passengers and the local community.

The accompanying new timber terminal building - designed by Beca, features a dedicated departures lounge and provision for future security screening. Timber was specifically chosen for its lower-carbon profile and durability against the island’s harsh marine climate. 

Manufactured as prefabricated components by Fraemohs in Christchurch, the kitsets that form the new terminal building were transported via several shipments 800km across open ocean by Chatham Islands Shipping. These kitsets were then assembled on-site by Leith Weitzel of LWB Ltd, with support from local trades and subcontractors, all while regular airport operations continued! Factory prefabrication enabled greater quality control, reduced construction waste and faster assembly in an environment where adverse weather, limited shipping schedules and scarce specialist resources posed key risks to the project’s successful completion. 

While the runway extension and upgraded airfield infrastructure allow the airport to host larger planes and more frequent flights, the terminal is the crucial supporting piece that really brings the benefits of the Longer and Stronger Programme to life. 

Building while the airport stayed open

Safely maintaining existing operations while complex construction works proceed is a common challenge faced by airport projects worldwide. Chatham Islands Airport Upgrade was no different, and achieving this delicate balancing act was a result of the strong partnerships developed between all stakeholders.

Naturally, Health and Safety was paramount throughout the project, from the 2 years of civil pavement construction and asphalting works led by Downer, through to the subsequent structural terminal buildings works. 

Close attention was given to aviation-specific hazards, including foreign object debris, vehicle movements, airside access and secure storage of construction materials. Deliveries and higher-risk activities were coordinated around aircraft schedules wherever possible, to minimise disruption to scheduled flights which continued to operate throughout the duration of this project. Over the 137,660 total hours worked, we’re proud to report there were 0 lost time injuries. 

During the terminal works, detailed staging separated construction activity from airport operations and maintained safe access to the existing terminal building. Contractor inductions, toolbox meetings, task risk assessments, regular site inspections and ongoing coordination between the airport, Beca and LWB Ltd supported consistent control of site risks. Temporary barriers, signage and controlled access routes were also used to manage the movement of passengers, construction workers, vehicles and materials.

Downer Construction Team with Western Strip Construction Underway in Background, May 2022.

Community partnership 

Delivering a regional airport infrastructure project in such a remote, harsh environment like the Chatham Islands required technical engineering expertise, experience and sound judgement. Most crucially, it also required the direct support of the local community, trades, contractors and government agencies to make it all happen. The Chatham Islands Airport Upgrade project was a collective team effort in that regard. 

• Airport and project team: Chatham Islands Airport Limited (the client) provided governance and operational input throughout, while Beca acted as designer, project engineer and manager. This included working closely with airport staff to oversee the civil pavement extension and asphalting works, and integration of the new and existing terminal buildings to ensure the final design was practical, resilient and ready to serve the island’s future needs.

• Local trades and logistics: Christchurch-based Fraemohs manufactured and supplied the prefabricated new timber terminal building and offered specialist construction advice. Meanwhile, Local Licenced Building Practitioner (LBP) Leith Weitzel, of LWB Ltd, led the island-based construction team, supported by mainland-based subcontractors – responsible for assembling the new terminal and redeveloping the existing one. Chatham Islands Shipping transported the prefabricated new terminal components, materials and specialist equipment across 800 kilometres of open ocean, while Air Chathams supported the movement of contractors and personnel to the remote island.

• Government: Chatham Islands Council assisted through the consenting and building inspection processes, while the National Infrastructure Funding and Financing team supported Crown funding administration and project oversight.

• Community consultation: Hokotehi Moriori Trust and Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri Iwi Trust provided invaluable cultural advice and helped ensure the terminal's identity and narratives appropriately recognised the islands' people, history and natural environment in the final design. Wider community engagement also informed the project's sense of place and community use.

Official opening of the Inia William Tuuta Memorial Airport, new terminal building on 12 August 2026. By Hon. Mark Patterson - Minister for Rural Communities.

The new Chatham Islands Airport terminal was officially opened on 12 August 2026 by Minister for Rural Communities Hon Mark Patterson, marking the successful completion of a 6-year project that has strengthened the future of one of New Zealand’s most remote communities. It has transformed Inia William Tuuta Memorial Airport (as the airport is officially known) into a welcoming, modern gateway that honours its heritage, serves the island’s 620 permanent residents and is ready to face the whims of geography that have shaped the Chatham Islands for centuries.

Award wins & certifications

• NZ Airports Awards 2023 - Infrastructure Project of the Year (Small Airports)