Sense of Urgency Prevails as Airport Nears Completion

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 38, 18 May 1965, Page 1

Sense of Urgency Prevails as Airport Nears Completion

With the target date set for the opening' of the new Taupo airport — July 5 is the final decision, though it is hoped to make it operational sooner if possible — there is a sense of urgency among those interested in this new amenity. Already, businessmen talking making use of the air service for guicker transport and communications.

An improved airmail service to ten districts th rough out New Zealand is planned by the Post Office. These will include Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua and Masterton in the North Island and Christchurch, Dunedin, Gore, Alexandra, Timaru and Oamaru in the *South Island. Mail will close at Taupo just prior to the arrival of the two daily flights out of the airport at 9.45 (southbound) and 4.05 p.m, (northbound). South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand (Spanz) have scheduled these flights as the initial service to Taupo. At the same time, it is hoped groups and organisations wili take advantage of the charter services for conferences, ski-ing and fishing weekends.

I Scheduled flights will be made Sunday to Friday inclusive. The chairman of Spanz, Mr J. F. Johnston, was ) among a number of Spanz | shareholders who attended ' a meeting in Taupo on the weekend, along with Cap- ' tain R. D. Daniell, the general manager of the company, and the assistant general manager, Captain R. A. L. Anderson. Shareholders and directors took an interest in the progress of the runway sealing and later paid tribute to the initiative of the district in realising its ambition to have its own airport. "I was extremely impressed with the siting and general condition of the new Taupo airport, which is closer to the centre of town than most airfields in the country," said Mr Johnston yesterday.

"Pilots have expressed very favourable comments on the operating conditions likely to be encountered and expect that Taupo airport will be available when other Bay of Plenty airfields are elosed in north-east-erly weather. "This will assist in maintaining regular services. "I greatly admire the people of Taupo for their initiative in getting the airport established, and feel that it will be a tremendous boon to your community," he concluded.