Latest news with #ChristchurchAirport
Otago Daily Times
21 hours ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Helicopter-mad Harry steps up to the challenge
A love for all things aviation is driving young Harry Connolly to take part in the Back to Base challenge. Participants take on a fitness challenge this August to raise funds for the Canterbury Westpac rescue helicopters and the ROA mining rescue helicopter. Five-year-old Harry, from Akaroa, is mad for helicopters and planes. His favourite pastime is standing by the Christchurch Airport fence and watching aircraft take off. When he cannot see them in person, he watches YouTube videos of Emirates A380s and tracks planes on his flight radar app at home, while the lounge floor is littered with toy aircraft. Harry would love to one day get an invite to the helicopter base. 'Sadly, out our way we don't get a lot of flights, but when the helicopters come out, he gets all excited,' his mother Mikayla Connolly said. Harry's dream job is a pilot or an air traffic controller. He said he loves airplanes and helicopters because they 'fly in the sky'. Harry is a member of the Canterbury Plane Spotters Facebook group, which put up a post about the 'Back to Base' challenge. It said if participants raised $250 they would receive a helicopter medal for completing the challenge. Harry was all ears. After Connolly explained it was about more than just a medal and how important it is to give back to emergency services, Harry decided to sign up. There are four different distances available to participants: 9km, 49km, 97km and 155km. Harry opted for 9km, which is the distance from Christchurch Hospital back to base at the airport. Connolly put up the fundraiser last Sunday with a goal of $250. The target was cracked within 24 hours. Harry's goal has now been moved out to $1500. As of this morning, Harry had raised $1000. The Connollys are well aware of the importance of emergency services after their eldest son Logan had a febrile seizure as a baby. 'It was really scary at the time because it lasted a long time and we didn't know what it was,' said Connolly. She assumed the rescue helicopters would always be available, but at the time both were in Mt Hutt and unable to travel to Akaroa as the situation was not urgent enough. They ended up meeting Hato Hone St John halfway, which took Logan to Christchurch Hospital. Fortunately he was okay. 'I'm so passionate about making sure those services are available when people need them and that all does come down to money these days, doesn't it,' said Connolly. She has donated regularly to the rescue helicopters since then. Ensuring the choppers are well funded is important for Akaroa as it turns a 90-minute car ride into a 12-minute flight to Christchurch Hospital. Harry will complete the challenge by biking the length of Okains Bay beach and going for a few bush walks while on holiday in Hanmer Springs. Connolly hopes spreading the word on Harry's challenge will encourage other kids to do the same.
RNZ News
6 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Plane emergency at Christchurch Airport
Christchurch Airport. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon A plane has landed safely after an emergency at Christchurch Airport. Fire and Emergency (FENZ) said it was alerted at 4:30 on Thursday that there was an issue with an aircraft. One fire crew was called from Ilam. The plane landed safely and FENZ has left the scene. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
04-08-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Kōwhai Park Solar Farm Reaches ‘Golden Row' Milestone, Marking Major Step In Delivery
Press Release – Christchurch Airport The project is being delivered through a partnership between Lightsource bp and Contact Energy, in collaboration with Christchurch Airport. The solar farm is being constructed on a 230-hectare site at the airport, aligning with the airports broader ambitions … Christchurch, New Zealand, 4 August 2025: Construction of one of New Zealand's largest solar projects has reached a major milestone, with the installation of the first row of solar panels – known in the industry as the 'Golden Row' – now complete at Kōwhai Park solar farm. The project is being delivered through a partnership between Lightsource bp and Contact Energy, in collaboration with Christchurch Airport. The solar farm is being constructed on a 230-hectare site at the airport, aligning with the airport's broader ambitions to enable a renewable energy precinct and support New Zealand's decarbonisation goals. Installation of the first panels marks an important moment in the delivery of the 168MWdc solar farm, as the Golden Row milestone represents both the full installation and quality assurance of the first row of solar panels. With the process now validated and signed off, construction can safely and efficiently scale up – repeating this process thousands of times across the site. Once complete, the solar farm will generate enough renewable electricity to power the equivalent of more than 36,000 homes. Kōwhai Park reflects the shared commitment of all three partners to enable a more sustainable future for New Zealand. With their first project together in the country, Lightsource bp and Contact Energy are combining their global and local expertise to bring new large-scale renewables capacity online, helping accelerate the energy transition. 'The solar farm brings our vision to life, using airport land in new ways to support a low-emissions future for our region. We're excited to hit this milestone, which marks another step towards a cleaner energy future reflecting the strength of the partnership driving it,' said Justin Watson Christchurch Airport CEO. 'We're thrilled to see the progress at Kōwhai Park – the first solar farm as part of our joint venture partnership. It demonstrates the impact that can be achieved through effective, strategic collaboration in advancing New Zealand's renewable energy future,' said Mike Fuge, Contact Energy CEO. Adam Pegg, Chief Operating Officer for Asia-Pacific (APAC) at Lightsource bp, commented: 'This is a significant moment for our team and our partners. We're proud to be working with Contact Energy and Christchurch Airport to bring this project to life. It's a great example of what can be achieved when industry leaders come together with a shared focus on delivering practical, long-term solutions for decarbonisation.' Engagement with the local community and wider stakeholders remains a priority as the project progresses, with a focus on ensuring the development delivers lasting economic and environmental value for the region. About Lightsource bp Lightsource bp is a leading developer and manager of global utility-scale onshore renewable and energy storage solutions. Our purpose is to deliver affordable and sustainable power for businesses and communities around the world. Our team includes over 1,200 industry specialists, working across 19 global markets. We provide full scope development for our projects, from initial site selection, financing and permitting through to long-term management of projects and power sales to our clients. Lightsource bp was fully acquired by bp in 2024. Read more here. About Contact Energy Contact Energy is one of New Zealand's largest energy generators and retailers. We have more than 645,000 customer connections with electricity, gas, broadband and mobile plans. We operate 11 power stations across New Zealand, using geothermal, hydro and thermal energy to generate electricity. Contact is building renewable energy at pace, investing $2.3billion into renewable energy projects over the past four years, including three new geothermal power stations, a grid-scale battery and solar farm. About Christchurch Airport About Christchurch Airport: Christchurch Airport is the main gateway to the South Island of New Zealand, serving as a hub for both domestic and international flights. The airport is committed to delivering world-class services, enhancing the region's connectivity, and fulfilling the economic prosperity of New Zealand.
RNZ News
15-07-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Fog causes disruption at Christchurch Airport
Fog caused disruption at Christchurch Airport this morning. Photo: Supplied Fog has caused disruption at Christchurch Airport this morning with dozens of flights cancelled or delayed. A Christchurch Airport spokesperson said about 10 flights have been cancelled, and another about 20 delayed. The spokesperson said there was still limited visibility at the airport, however, the fog was starting to clear. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
25-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
More China-Chch flights this summer
Photo: Creative Commons China Southern Airlines is expanding its passenger service over summer when it returns to Christchurch Airport. One of the world's major passenger carriers, headquartered in Guangzhou, will start the summer season in November with a 26% boost in capacity and a longer operating window, including the Chinese New Year. The Guangzhou-Christchurch route will go from five flights per week to a daily service from December 18 until March 3. More than 60,000 seats across business, premium economy and economy cabins will be available, as the airline celebrates a decade since it first touched down in Christchurch operating a single charter flight in 2015. Since then, the airline has flown more than half a million passengers to the South Island. The airline's return is expected to provide a faster route for local exporters flying out high-value produce such as cherries, salmon, and other fresh goods into the Chinese market and onto Asia and Europe. Christchurch Airport's GM aeronautical development manager Gordon Bevan said the service would increase capacity for passengers and freight. 'The belly of the aircraft delivers huge value for South Island businesses getting their premium goods to global markets,' he said in a statement. As well as the appeal of flying New Zealand passengers on connecting flights to other destinations, the South Island is home to more than 20,000 Chinese residents, mostly living in the Christchurch area. ChristchurchNZ chief executive Ali Adams said China Southern's service was valued by the city, especially during Chinese New Year. ''For so many in our Chinese community it's an important bridge home. It's a chance to be with loved ones, honour cherished traditions, and feel close to family, even across great distances. It also deepens the cultural and economic bonds between Christchurch and China in a truly meaningful way.' China is New Zealand's third-largest tourism market, with nearly 170,000 holidaymakers visiting last year.
