Latest news with #MarkMorgan
1News
7 days ago
- Business
- 1News
Hamilton Airport international terminal gears up for take-off
Hamilton Airport is gearing up for its first international boarding call since 2012 ahead of overseas flights returning on June 16. The refurbished terminal included full border controls, a new duty-free store and a café. The first Jetstar flight from Sydney touches down in Hamilton in less than two weeks, and would operate three return flights a week to the Gold Coast and four to Sydney. Hamilton Airport chief executive Mark Morgan said the region had "matured" in the last 10 to 20 years. "It's the fastest growing city, the importance of the upper North Island, connectivity, we have 1.3 million people within about an hour and a half drive time of this airport." ADVERTISEMENT NZ Airports Association chief executive Billie Moore said the addition of services out of the Waikato centre was a "fantastic milestone". "The business activity in the aviation market can only be a good thing in terms of adding some dynamism that we haven't seen for a while in New Zealand with the dominance of the national carrier." She said she was hoping for "potential pressure" and other ideas for market growth. "What this means is more choice for Kiwis, you can have more selection around how you might travel and people are able to travel closer to home."
Scoop
03-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Blessing Marks Milestone For Hamilton Airport
Press Release – Hamilton Airport The terminal will officially open for business on Monday, June 16 when the first Jetstar flight from Sydney touches down in Hamilton, before boarding passengers and flying back across the Tasman that afternoon. A blessing was held at Hamilton Airport today to thank contractors and border agencies and welcome new staff involved in the airport's refurbished international terminal. The cultural ceremony reflects the importance of whakapapa of the land and acknowledges the renewal of the terminal building to welcome overseas visitors. The terminal will officially open for business on Monday, June 16 when the first Jetstar flight from Sydney touches down in Hamilton, before boarding passengers and flying back across the Tasman that afternoon. From then on, Jetstar will operate three return flights per week between Hamilton and the Gold Coast and four between Hamilton and Sydney. The June 16 flight will be the first time there has been trans-Tasman flights in and out of Hamilton in 13 years. Waikato Regional Airport Ltd chief executive Mark Morgan said this morning's blessing acknowledged the hundreds of people who had contributed to a major regional project. 'The lead contractor was Livingstone Building Ltd but a number of Waikato-based sub-contractors were involved. Today is about recognising everyone who has played a part in delivering an international terminal that Hamilton and the Waikato can be really proud of,' Morgan said. 'It's been a huge job delivered within a tight timeframe. Not finishing it on time was simply not an option.' The refurnished terminal includes provision for full border controls provided by government agencies including aviation security, customs, MPI and immigration along with support from police and health services. Travellers will have access to a new duty-free story and café. It also includes a new domestic jet service lounge, which when required, can be entirely separated from international facilities. A further 300 additional car parks have been developed, including for use by 60 new airport-based staff. The terminal upgrade is part of a $7 million investment needed to ready the airport for international services and allow for the ongoing growth in passenger numbers. The refurbishment was delivered with no disruption to passengers and no extension of the existing building. The terminal will be used by around 120,000 international passengers arriving and departing each year who will pour $45 million per year into the regional economy. From June, Jetstar will become the fourth carrier to operate from Hamilton Airport, joining Air New Zealand, Sunair and Originair. The airport already handles around 360,000 passengers annually with more growth forecast. Just last week, Air New Zealand announced domestic jet flights between Hamilton and Christchurch will resume in September, marking the return of a domestic jet service after 25 years.
Scoop
03-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Blessing Marks Milestone For Hamilton Airport
Press Release – Hamilton Airport The terminal will officially open for business on Monday, June 16 when the first Jetstar flight from Sydney touches down in Hamilton, before boarding passengers and flying back across the Tasman that afternoon. A blessing was held at Hamilton Airport today to thank contractors and border agencies and welcome new staff involved in the airport's refurbished international terminal. The cultural ceremony reflects the importance of whakapapa of the land and acknowledges the renewal of the terminal building to welcome overseas visitors. The terminal will officially open for business on Monday, June 16 when the first Jetstar flight from Sydney touches down in Hamilton, before boarding passengers and flying back across the Tasman that afternoon. From then on, Jetstar will operate three return flights per week between Hamilton and the Gold Coast and four between Hamilton and Sydney. The June 16 flight will be the first time there has been trans-Tasman flights in and out of Hamilton in 13 years. Waikato Regional Airport Ltd chief executive Mark Morgan said this morning's blessing acknowledged the hundreds of people who had contributed to a major regional project. 'The lead contractor was Livingstone Building Ltd but a number of Waikato-based sub-contractors were involved. Today is about recognising everyone who has played a part in delivering an international terminal that Hamilton and the Waikato can be really proud of,' Morgan said. 'It's been a huge job delivered within a tight timeframe. Not finishing it on time was simply not an option.' The refurnished terminal includes provision for full border controls provided by government agencies including aviation security, customs, MPI and immigration along with support from police and health services. Travellers will have access to a new duty-free story and café. It also includes a new domestic jet service lounge, which when required, can be entirely separated from international facilities. A further 300 additional car parks have been developed, including for use by 60 new airport-based staff. The terminal upgrade is part of a $7 million investment needed to ready the airport for international services and allow for the ongoing growth in passenger numbers. The refurbishment was delivered with no disruption to passengers and no extension of the existing building. The terminal will be used by around 120,000 international passengers arriving and departing each year who will pour $45 million per year into the regional economy. From June, Jetstar will become the fourth carrier to operate from Hamilton Airport, joining Air New Zealand, Sunair and Originair. The airport already handles around 360,000 passengers annually with more growth forecast. Just last week, Air New Zealand announced domestic jet flights between Hamilton and Christchurch will resume in September, marking the return of a domestic jet service after 25 years.
Scoop
02-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Blessing Marks Milestone For Hamilton Airport
A blessing was held at Hamilton Airport today to thank contractors and border agencies and welcome new staff involved in the airport's refurbished international terminal. The cultural ceremony reflects the importance of whakapapa of the land and acknowledges the renewal of the terminal building to welcome overseas visitors. The terminal will officially open for business on Monday, June 16 when the first Jetstar flight from Sydney touches down in Hamilton, before boarding passengers and flying back across the Tasman that afternoon. From then on, Jetstar will operate three return flights per week between Hamilton and the Gold Coast and four between Hamilton and Sydney. The June 16 flight will be the first time there has been trans-Tasman flights in and out of Hamilton in 13 years. Waikato Regional Airport Ltd chief executive Mark Morgan said this morning's blessing acknowledged the hundreds of people who had contributed to a major regional project. 'The lead contractor was Livingstone Building Ltd but a number of Waikato-based sub-contractors were involved. Today is about recognising everyone who has played a part in delivering an international terminal that Hamilton and the Waikato can be really proud of,' Morgan said. 'It's been a huge job delivered within a tight timeframe. Not finishing it on time was simply not an option.' The refurnished terminal includes provision for full border controls provided by government agencies including aviation security, customs, MPI and immigration along with support from police and health services. Travellers will have access to a new duty-free story and café. It also includes a new domestic jet service lounge, which when required, can be entirely separated from international facilities. A further 300 additional car parks have been developed, including for use by 60 new airport-based staff. The terminal upgrade is part of a $7 million investment needed to ready the airport for international services and allow for the ongoing growth in passenger numbers. The refurbishment was delivered with no disruption to passengers and no extension of the existing building. The terminal will be used by around 120,000 international passengers arriving and departing each year who will pour $45 million per year into the regional economy. From June, Jetstar will become the fourth carrier to operate from Hamilton Airport, joining Air New Zealand, Sunair and Originair. The airport already handles around 360,000 passengers annually with more growth forecast. Just last week, Air New Zealand announced domestic jet flights between Hamilton and Christchurch will resume in September, marking the return of a domestic jet service after 25 years.
The Guardian
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘Welsh is a living, breathing language': joy as Port Talbot hosts Eisteddfod yr Urdd
One of the poems pupils from the local school performed at this year's Eisteddfod yr Urdd held a particular significance for the Port Talbot audience. Y Ffatri'n Cau, or The Factory Closing, tells the story of the despair engulfing a man who has lost his job, and finds the future is now 'yn rhoi clep yn ei wyneb' – a slap in his face. The south Wales town, one of the most deprived in the UK, is still grappling with the closure of the blast furnaces at Tata Steel, which shut down in September after more than 100 years, costing nearly 3,000 jobs. The sense of injustice was inflamed by the UK government's decision last month to step in to save the Scunthorpe steelworks in Lincolnshire from a similar fate. 'It's been a rough time for the community lately,' said Mark Morgan, a Welsh language teacher at the English-medium Ysgol Bae Baglan, speaking at the Eisteddfod site at Margam country park on Tuesday. 'The steelworks closing came right after Covid, back to back blows. 'That is one of the reasons everyone is delighted the Urdd Eisteddfod came to Port Talbot this year. It's been very fulfilling for the children and everyone else, all the volunteers, to channel their energy into something positive and imaginative that encourages them to be proud of who they are and where they come from.' Eisteddfod yr Urdd is an annual celebration of Welsh language and culture for young people that travels to different locations each year over the spring half-term holiday featuring poetry, singing, dance, instrumental and composition competitions. This year's theme is Dur a Môr, or steel and sea, in a nod to the area's industrial history; the chairing of the bard, the most important event in the week-long event, will involve a new ceremonial chair made from the last virgin steel the town produced. 'People think of Port Talbot as just industry and the M4, but there's lots more Welsh history here. Aberafan was the home of the Lords of Afan,' said Llio Maddocks, the Urdd's artistic director, referring to the medieval Welsh princes. Urdd o Bawb, or Urdd for Everyone, an initiative launched to celebrate the organisation's centenary in 2022, has made entry free for low-income families, cut membership fees from £10 to £1, and involves free shuttle buses from Port Talbot station. Most of the Port Talbot community do not speak Welsh as a first language, but according to Urdd Gobaith Cymru, this year there are more Welsh learners competing than ever before, including 36 English-medium schools taking part for the first time. There was also a record number of entrants overall – 120,000 – before competitors for the final week were whittled down to 15,000. 'One of my favourite parts of the week is seeing parents in the audience just thrilled and proud of their kids speaking Welsh even if they don't,' said Maddocks. 'We are here to show that Welsh is a living, breathing language and provide a space for that to thrive outside the classroom.' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Tuesday brought relentless wind and rain to Margam park, but thousands of families in waterproofs and wellington boots still braved the elements to watch the performances and mill around in the festival atmosphere. Carys Mugford, a teacher at St David's Catholic primary school in the Gower, who learned to speak Welsh fluently during a sabbatical programme in 2019, said the opportunity to bring a group of six- to 11-year-olds to perform in one of the dancing competitions and get more familiar with the language was welcome. 'About 60% of the kids at our school speak English as a second language, and I've found they're often more enthusiastic about Welsh because they're already familiar with having to get to grips with another language,' she said. 'It's wonderful to show that Welsh language and culture is for everyone.' Harri, 12, a year seven pupil at Ysgol Bae Baglan who performed several poems and made a presentation to a Welsh government delegation with three classmates, said he was glad the Eisteddfod had come to Port Talbot this year. 'It's great to have visitors coming to Port Talbot,' he said. 'It is really exciting to compete and show what we can do.'
