Airport owners put on notice
15 August 2020
by Amanda Vickers, Candidate for Otaki
Social Credit is putting the owners of the Paraparaumu aerodrome on notice that should it have a say in government it would require the property to be sold to the crown or the council at a price similar to that which they paid for it last year.
“Unlike National, who have simply expressed "concern" that the airport is likely to be sold, we are determined to secure the future of the Coast’s airport along with all the benefits it brings to the surrounding area”.
“Social Credit has always said that strategic assets should be returned to public
ownership and Paraparaumu airport is one of those strategic assets”.
The purchase would be funded by using the country’s own bank, the Reserve Bank, which has proven that method of funding is viable, having just announced it is increasing its money creation to $100 billion dollars over the next two years.
The other option could be to provide an interest free loan to the Kapiti Coast District Council should they wish to purchase the asset instead.
The imminent closure of the Paraparaumu aerodrome would be an enormous loss to the Kapiti Community should its new owner, NZPropCo, close the air services.
NZPropCo is in the property development business and is part owned by London based merchant bankers and property developers Alvarium RE Limited.
It has little interest in the future of the land as an airport, and the purchase was made for the purpose of property speculation.
Kapiti airport is not only estimated to bring $4.3 million dollars per year to the Coast community, but it is convenient for residents to travel to Auckland, adding to the appeal of the coast.
It also provides an important emergency airport for Wellington should that be necessary and provides access should the coast be cut off from Wellington by earthquake or other civil defence emergency.
If NZPropCo believes the commercial benefit from retaining the airport is not profitable enough for them then the airport property should be returned to public hands for the benefit of the people of the Kapiti Coast.