Thousands at Rotorua Airport Open Day
4 April 2014
More than 10,000 people attended the Rotorua Airport and Baytrust Open Day last Sunday [30 March] to see static displays, the Police Armed Offenders Squad, planes, helicopters, fire trucks, a Coastguard boat and much more.
The Open Day was held to celebrate the airport's 50th anniversary, to highlight the work of Baytrust Rescue Helicopter, and to showcase the range of activities that take place at the site and the people and organisations who work there. A plaque acknowledging traditional landowners Ngati Uenukukopako Iwi was also unveiled.
Airport chief executive, Alastair Rhodes, said he was thrilled with the turnout at the Open Day.
The airport is a key part of Rotorua's infrastructure and we wanted to invite the public through the gates so they could learn more about what goes on at their airport, including some of the areas that are normally tightly secure.
Our Airport connects whanau, friends, businesses and communities with New Zealand - and the rest of the world. Its great to see so many people taking an interest in what goes on here.
A number of small aircraft were also on display at the Open Day, including several which had travelled from Tauranga, and as far away as Gisborne, just for the day. Airways New Zealand waived their landing fees for the day to encourage people to take part.
John Pheasant, (74 years) flew his Tiger Moth from Tauranga to take part in the Open Day - 50 years to the exact day that he first flew it into Rotorua Airport.
On that day, 30 March 1964, the former aircraft engineer flew his Tiger Moth from New Plymouth, to Tauranga, Rotorua and then back to New Plymouth.
The Terminal hadn't been officially opened then, so I landed on the old airstrip, stepped over the fence and went to the pub for a lemonade! It looks a bit different now, says Mr Pheasant.
He says he wanted to take part in the 2014 Open Day just for the heck of it.
Rotorua International Airport is owned by Rotorua District Council and managed by a CCO (council controlled organisation).