Wigram Airport

The closure was a multi-stage process. The primary driver was the closure of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Base Wigram in 1995 as part of a nationwide defence force review and consolidation of operations to RNZAF Base Ohakea. After the military departure, the airfield remained open for civilian use, primarily by the Canterbury Aero Club and other general aviation operators. However, the land was sold by the government to the iwi-owned development company Ngāi Tahu Property for large-scale residential and commercial redevelopment. The continued operation of an active airfield was incompatible with the plans for the new suburb, leading to its final closure to all air traffic in 2009 to allow for construction.

The former airport site has been completely transformed into a large, modern residential suburb named 'Wigram Skies'. The development, undertaken by Ngāi Tahu Property, includes thousands of homes, parks, retail areas (such as 'The Landing' town square), and a primary school. The runways and most taxiways have been removed and built over. However, a significant effort was made to preserve some of the site's heritage. Several original buildings have been repurposed, including the former Officers' Mess which is now a restaurant and bar, and the original control tower which stands as a historical landmark within the new community. The most significant remaining aviation-related facility is the Air Force Museum of New Zealand, which continues to operate from its original location on the edge of the former airfield, serving as a key cultural institution and a link to the site's past.

Wigram Airport holds a pivotal place in New Zealand's aviation history.

- **Foundation:** Established in 1923, it was purchased from the Crown by Sir Henry Wigram, a visionary parliamentarian and businessman, to serve as a base for the Canterbury Aviation Company's flying school. He later gifted the aerodrome to the government for air force purposes.

- **Birthplace of the RNZAF:** It became the first operational base of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) upon its formation in 1937. For this reason, it is often referred to as the 'birthplace' of the RNZAF.

- **WWII Training Hub:** During World War II, Wigram was a crucial training centre. It was the home of the No. 2 Service Flying Training School and trained thousands of New Zealand and Allied pilots as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme.

- **Post-War Operations:** After the war, it continued as a major training base, housing the RNZAF's Central Flying School (CFS) and later the Pilot Training Squadron (PTS). It also supported navigation and aircrew training.

- **1953 Air Race:** Wigram was the finish line for the famous 1953 London-to-Christchurch Air Race, a major international event that captured global attention.

- **Civilian and Museum Use:** Alongside its military role, it was home to the Canterbury Aero Club for many decades. In 1987, the Air Force Museum of New Zealand was established in historic hangars on the base, preserving the nation's military aviation heritage. The museum remains on-site to this day.

There are zero prospects for the airport to reopen. The land has been permanently and extensively redeveloped with residential housing, commercial buildings, roads, and other suburban infrastructure. The original runways are gone, and the land use has been irrevocably changed from aviation to urban development, making a return to airport operations physically and legally impossible.