On Thursday, in his presentation of HB Airport’s plans for the coming fiscal year (Draft Statement of Intent for the 2025/26), the airport’s chief executive Nick Flack dropped a bombshell on Napier City Council’s proposed Ahuriri Regional Park.

Flack declared a very firm position that HB Airport was opposed to the Ahuriri Regional Park because of the airport’s already extremely high rate of bird strikes — 6 times the national average.

Bird strikes (anytime a bird hits an aircraft) are measured on the basis of strikes per 10,000 aircraft movements. The NZ average is 4 bird strikes per 10,000 movements. The HB Airport rate is 25 per 10,000 movements.

The planned Park envisions additional wetlands, which the airport fears would attract even more birds in proximity to the flight paths in and out of the airport.

“A bird strike can bring down a plane and when that happens, people die,” said Flack bluntly.

He also indicated the same concerns would arise around development of Ahuriri Station, the major land parcel adjoining the airport.

Asked if risk mitigation measures were available, Flack responded succinctly that in any safety analysis, the first and preferred option was to remove the cause.

Discussion around this indicated that it’s Air New Zealand that would effectively ‘call the question’ by pulling back flights if the strike rate was adjudged unsafe.

Both projects are strongly supported by Mana Ahuriri, which is now expected to purchase a 50% ownership of HB Airport from the Crown.

Talk about a clash of values and interests!

Safe operation of HB’s air portal to the world versus enhanced habitat for bird species.

Mana Ahuriri commented to BayBuzz:

“Bird strike rates at Napier Airport are a known concern. Mana Ahuriri has worked, and will continue to work, collaboratively with HBAL on this and other significant matters as we advance our Te Tiriti settlement aspirations.

“Ahuriri Regional Park is a joint initiative between council’s and Mana Ahuriri, with the primary goal of treating stormwater that currently enters Te Whanganui-a-Orotu untreated. As kaitiaki of Te Whanga, Mana Ahuriri fully supports this important project and remains mindful of various associated issues. This includes matters connected to airport operations, such as bird strikes, noise levels, and flight paths, all of which require careful consideration as we move forward. We will continue our work with respective experts, as we have done to date, to advise us on how best to clearly identify and resolve issues.”

Councillor Hayley Browne asked if HB Airport’s long term plans envisioned ultimately a move to Bridge Pa, a common suggestion that also relates to climate change and the airport’s obviously vulnerable low-lying situation.

Chief Executive Flack said no.

One wonders whether an actual bird strike-caused plane crash with loss of passenger (and perhaps nearby resident) life might trigger a review of that position.

Councillor Annette Brosnan spoke in defence of the Park proposal and its development process, saying that the risk of bird strikes was indeed deemed the greatest strategic risk to the project, but that avian experts consulted by NCC had assured that there would be no increased danger and risks could be mitigated.

Again, one wonders whether an actual bird strike-caused plane crash with loss of passenger (and perhaps nearby resident) life might trigger a review of that position.

This discussion did not deter NCC from deciding at its Future Napier Committee later in the day from initiating public consultation on the Ahuriri Regional Park design.

Proposed Ahuriri Regional Park

Every day, each one of us deals with risk … consciously or unconsciously. We drive a car or a bike on a busy highway. Or swim where we shouldn’t. Or smoke. Etc.

So, fellow risk-taker, how would you weigh up the potential risk to air safety (and possibly reduced plane service) posed by more birds against the laudable objective of enhanced biodiversity?

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37 Comments

  1. Move the airport to Bridge Pa! Not a show in whatever. The mere thought of another thing going to Hastings from Napier would give councillors sleepless nights and probably ulcers. It does make sense though – away from possible flooding and tsunamis, less chance of bird strikes, open up a huge area for more biodiversity and even residential development. But it would be a shift to Hastings and the screams would possibly aggravate the Hikurangi fault and cause said tsunami. But then again – in a disaster would the airport in Napier still be open? Or would Bridge Pa be the better option?

  2. I have always thought having the airport where it is​, is not a good financial risk investment for HB. To date it is has had a lot more potential risk investments made on the site. If and when a large wave destroys the whole site, is an investment gamble with important infrastructure that would cripple HB’s air transport and trading businesses.The saying is “​Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” when this basket has a high potential for the bottom to drop out of it at any moment due to being very wet. So my thoughts have always been​, move the airport to Bridge Pa, purchase more land surrounding it, and invest sensibly for the ever growing popular HB region​.The changing climate has and for ever will increase insurances for all, do we keep “risk building” and creating “risk loss investments”, to increase insurances even more for HB folk. At present there is no insurance company that is solely there for high risk infrastructure and building placement. Maybe that’s where a new insurance company, solely to cover high risk investors, a user/owner pays due to location. It could be called “High Risk Insurance NZ” “HRINZ, sounds a tad like a shortened modern slang for Horrendous, well i’m thinking that’s what the cost will be to all insured.
    Regards to all
    T.Man
    ​

  3. Air New Zealand have already recently cut back certain flights for HB Airport. (Perhaps a financial decision?). I’ve asked what type of bird is involved in bird-strikes, and from what I’ve learned, it’s mostly field-type birds like starlings and Spur-Winged Plovers. Not the sort of birds you would find in a wetland but on an airport green patch. Contacts have mentioned there is a plan in the pipeline to control geese?
    I understand the new wetland will be full of the type of plant that filters/cleans the stormwater, not showing open water spaces.
    Yes, there are many conflicting interests involved in this issue.
    The primary purpose of the Ahuriri Regional Park is the ‘polishing’ wetland for untreated Napier city stormwater, in an attempt at improving the water quality flowing into the already polluted/sedimented estuary.
    Another risk is the survival of Ahuriri Estuary, as a threatened native bird habitat and a fish nursery for our ocean species.
    As the excitement rises about all the ‘development’ proposed on the estuary borders, (4-lane extension on Expressway across estuary, airport business park extending down to main estuary channel, towers/landings on estuary channel, housing near bittern habitat, solar farm danger for arriving migratory birds mistaking it for water, not to mention the construction disturbance of all these), bringing more people, cars, and disturbance closer to the Wildlife Refuge, our local ‘special place’. Ahuriri Estuary’s existence may become a distant memory down the track. Where do our priorities lie?

    1. I cannot believe any member of council would jeopardize the possibility of Napier becoming an International Airport in the future and instead are prepared to allow high density housing and more wetlands close by attracting more birds
      Who will except the blame if a plane does crash from a bird strike
      causing unnecessary deaths

      1. Has anyone been in a plane, speeding down the runway about to take off, then suddenly the breaks go on you get shoved into the seat in front of you, the pilot then says we are going back to the terminal due to a bird strike. I have and believe me it’s scary as shit, if I wasn’t visiting family I would of quite happy got off the plane. So no I don’t think there should be more birds bought into that area.

  4. I strongly support the extension of Hawkes Bay Airport Runway to accomodate international flights, thus surrounding lands near by would be required.
    This upgrade will significantly boost tourism and trade in the region,bringing
    numerous economic benefits and growth .

    1. I’m not aware of any proposed runway extension. It’s about business park extension, from my understanding. Why is there so much empty ‘business park’ land closer to the terminal?

  5. Move the Airport, no brainer, forget the parochialism, safer in the coming climate crisis and a win win with an amazing wetland estuary for wildlife.

    1. It’s not a no brainer
      The cost alone makes moving the airport a non starter given no one will want to pay for it
      The airports going no where so suck up like most up have too for traveling Hastings hospital

      1. Which is exactly why HB is a backwater area – the good old Napier/Hastings parochialism is still alive and well.

        1. R u serious….you hot it in one. And parochialism is why HB has no new hospital. I cannot believe people are even talking about the stupidity if moving the pure sessence of HB. The airport

    2. The cost of Establishing an International Airport in the Hastings Area. Is nothing compared to loss of life and reputation should a water foul cause engine failure. Plus medical emergency flights would be closer. To regional Hospital.

    3. Bridge Pa long had an airport before Napier
      Problem here is no one is thinking Hawkes Bay
      Got get over one city in favour of of another
      Get with growth otherwise Hawkes Bay will get left behind
      Bruce

  6. Its a no brainer. Move the airport to Bridge Pa safer ground. More focus should be on future. Sea levels. Development between Napier and Hastings. Express way 4 lanes. Acess easier in Bridge Pa. Development area for industrial storage.

  7. Its hard to imagine with global warming that the airport have recently done the multi-million dollar investment in infrastructure. So close to the sea just doesn’t seem to make sense. However, that is what they have done and there is no way they are going to move. Also why is Mana Ahuriri allowed to develop the land for residential use given the same problem… global warming, flooding, tsunami etc? That doesn’t make sense either. If you don’t stop the bickering the airport will disappear all together… just like Massey University went to PN when Hastings/Napier couldn’t agree on where it should be! Learn from history people!! Napier is not that needed by the rest of NZ. You might think we’re a big player with clout, but we are not, we are just a pimple on the landscape.

    1. Another earthquake in Napier, like in 1931 might find the airport go back to where it came from, nature will prevail and resolve the issue for all concerned, in time.

  8. The Hawke’s Bay airport was originally advised to be in Bridge Pa for safety reasons (look into the history, Air NZ & councilors).

    Please move it to Bridge Pa and make it an international airport. Think of our regions growth and needs. A win win for people & the Ahuriri swamp lands.

    1. Bridge Pa is a beautiful place with an almost untouched rural environment. Home to equestrian centre’s, orchards, and Maori History. It is the front door to much if what is good and clean about HB. It’s an eclectic mix of HB ‘lifestyle’. Leave things as they are.

  9. HB Airport is in the wrong place. Sealevel rise, tsunami risk, earthquake risk, biodiversity conflicts are cumulatively no longer acceptable.
    As much as I don’t look forward to having an airport as a neighbour out here at Bridge Pa, it’s the logical place to look at moving our regional airport to. Bonus for wine industry would be free bird-scaring!

  10. Bridge Pa is a beautiful place with an almost untouched rural environment. Home to equestrian centre’s, orchards, and Maori History. It is the front door to much if what is good and clean about HB. It’s an eclectic mix of HB ‘lifestyle’. Leave things as they are.

  11. I can already see the headlines, “Residents up in arms” the noise and traffic volumes etc etc etc be warned NCC, you will be in for a REPEAT of the Te Mata Mushroom scandle! where residents bought and moved into houses with the smelly Mushroom Farm over the back fence!! where is Te Mata Mushroms now??? yes Takapau!! you either scrap this stupid idea, or you carry on and move the Airport, in 30 years the Airport land is going to be a wetland or lake due to global warming, there is the old saying from when I was a kid “put brain into gear before hand in pocket” no doubt that doesn’t apply to the modern generations???!!!

    1. The Mushroom farm is Not in Takapau. It is still in Havelock. They don’t grow the smelly ones anymore.

  12. As a rate payer I’m not interested in a wetland and nor do I expect to front foot a billion dollar project like this in the name of Te Tiriti……you can use your payouts for what ever you like but don’t expect the community to chip in! We’re all broke enough as it is, councilors involved had been think about where there votes will be coming from next year!

  13. Stuff this Iwi nonsense about Ahuriri Park.I agree withthe last person,who said in 30 yrs the airport will be soggy mudpuddle.We all know it was a mracle called an earthquake that gave us th land to build one on.Move the damn thing inland away from the sea edge..Bridge Pa?Clive?I dont trust Nature and one gd big shake will destroy the tarmac and infrastructure and then how will we all get out of here??

  14. Bridge Pa airstrip is 1 km, Christchurch is 3 km and Auckland 3.6 km. To create added value to an international Hawkes Bay airport the Bridge Pa area needs a major redevelopment with roads in tunnels under the air strip. With councils, especially NCC, keen to close public service venues (I-Site, Aquarium), moving the airport is well over the budget. And so is the Ahuriri Reginal park – who is going to use it? Is a 20 million on a park really justified, when even exiting venues can’t be maintained? In any case, safety trumps all other considerations, and the airport is Napier’s link to the outside world. Or are we expected to take the bus to Auckland Airport? Or do we want our MP’s traveling for an extra day each week by taking the bus to Wellington?

  15. In the unlikely event of a natural disaster taking out the Napier Airport the Bridge Pa option will be difficult with the proposed residential development being considered right next door at the Hastings Golf Club.

  16. I have it in good authority that HBRC advised the Airport it should move from the site it is at and it refused. Yes, I’d be happy if it moved. No more planes flying over peoples houses so low they look like they will crash. No more excessive noise, fumes and pollution right on our doorstep. Nick Flack wants to put in an 8km buffer around the airport so planes can fly as low as they like. Watch the Hearing Stream 3 PDP youtube videos! That is almost the whole radius of Napier! If you aren’t affected now, you will be. Bird strike will be the least of your worries.

  18. Has anyone else noticed the noise changes and health effects from flights over properties in Hawke’s Bay, Wairoa and Gisborne since Airways, in conjunction with HBAL and other airports changed the flight paths without consulting with the public affected? Next step is an 8km buffer around the airport, with 24-7 flights over all of Napier. Thoughts on that?

  19. I love flying over people’s houses in my plane ZKEPA. Better than flying over Timaru. HBAL looks after us pilots. Enjoy my noise.

  20. Those NPR32 and NPR34 flights from Air Napier do fly quite low over properties don’t they. Did they always do that?

  22. FourSquare Britomart owner ZKROW (Finbar Airways Limited) hands up contributing to the Napier air noise pollution. Money talks.

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