Auckland Hobsonville Airport

The closure was a result of military consolidation and urban development pressure. The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) rationalized its operations, consolidating its Auckland-based units at the nearby RNZAF Base Whenuapai, which had superior facilities including longer, paved runways suitable for modern aircraft. Hobsonville's role became redundant, and its prime waterfront location was identified by the government as ideal for large-scale housing development to address Auckland's growth.

The former airport site has been completely transformed into a large, master-planned residential suburb named 'Hobsonville Point'. The development features thousands of homes, parks, schools, commercial areas, and a popular weekend farmers market. The original runways and most airfield infrastructure have been removed and replaced with streets and green spaces. However, a significant effort was made to preserve its heritage; several original military buildings, including hangars, barracks, and the officers' mess, have been restored and repurposed into cafes, community facilities, and commercial premises. A coastal walkway follows the shoreline where the seaplane ramps were once located, and a commuter ferry service now operates from the wharf.

Hobsonville Airbase (former ICAO: NZHB) holds major historical significance in New Zealand's military and aviation history. Established in 1928, it was the RNZAF's primary seaplane and flying boat base for decades. During World War II, it was a vital station for maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare, and air-sea rescue operations, flying aircraft like the Consolidated Catalina and the iconic Short Sunderland. The base was also a major centre for aircraft assembly, repair, and technical training. After the retirement of the Sunderland flying boats in 1967, the base was formally amalgamated with Whenuapai to form RNZAF Base Auckland. However, it continued to host various units, notably helicopter squadrons (such as No. 3 Squadron with its UH-1 Iroquois and Westland Wasp helicopters) and support services until its final decommissioning.

There are zero prospects for reopening the site as an airport. The land has been irrevocably redeveloped into a high-density residential community. The aviation infrastructure has been entirely removed, and the land is now one of Auckland's fastest-growing suburbs. Reopening is physically, economically, and politically infeasible.