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Wellington International Airport

  1. Business / Trading Name: Wellington International Airport Limited (trading as Wellington Airport).

  1. Company number: 396240

  1. NZBN: 9429039443755

  1. Entity type: NZ Limited Company (Ltd)

  1. Business classification: I522020 – Airport operation

  1. Industry Category: Aviation / Air Transport (airport operations within the Transport, Postal and Warehousing sector)

  1. Year founded: 1990 (incorporated 25 September 1990)

  1. Addresses: Registered & Physical Office – Wellington Airport Terminal, Stewart Duff Drive, Rongotai, Wellington 6022; Postal – PO Box 14175, Wellington 6241.

  1. Website URL:

https://www.wellingtonairport.co.nz

  1. LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wellington-international-airport-limited

  1. Company Hub NZ URL: https://www.companyhub.nz/companyDetails.cfm?nzbn=9429039443755

  1. NZ Companies Office URL: https://app.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/396240

  1. Social Media URLs: Facebook – facebook.com/WellingtonAirport; Twitter – twitter.com/WLGAirport; YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/user/TheWellingtonAirport .

  1. Ultimate Holding Company: Infratil Limited (via subsidiary NZ Airports Limited owning 66%).

  1. Key Shareholders: Infratil Limited – 66% (held through its wholly-owned subsidiary NZ Airports Ltd) and Wellington City Council – 34%.

  1. Leadership: Board Chair – Rachel Drew; Chief Executive – Matt Clarke (appointed 2022). The Board of Directors includes Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau (appointed 2022) and Wayne Eagleson (former Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister), reflecting a mix of local government and political connections.

  1. Staff: Approximately 130 employees (as of early 2020, 127 staff were supported by the wage subsidy). Current staff include specialists in aviation operations, infrastructure, and corporate affairs.

  1. Staff that have held previous government roles: Several senior figures have government backgrounds. Jenna Raeburn (General Manager Corporate Affairs) is a former ministerial advisor in the Beehive and political campaign operative, and is married to Cabinet Minister Chris Bishop. Board member Wayne Eagleson served 12 years as Chief of Staff to Prime Ministers John Key and Bill English. Tory Whanau (Board, Mayor of Wellington) was previously Chief of Staff of the Green Party’s parliamentary office. These revolving-door relationships highlight the airport’s ties to government insiders.

  1. Past Employees: Former Chief Executives include Steven Fitzgerald (CEO until 2011, departed to Infratil’s management firm Morrison & Co) and Steve Sanderson (CEO 2012–2022, oversaw a decade of expansion before stepping down). Both moved on to other roles in the infrastructure sector. Previous board members have included former Wellington Mayor Andy Foster and longtime Infratil executives.

  1. Clients: Not applicable. Wellington Airport does not serve external “clients” in a consulting sense; it directly serves airlines, travelers, and commercial tenants. (The airport handles ~5 million passengers per year, functioning as a public transport infrastructure.)

  1. Industries/sectors represented: Aviation and transport infrastructure (airport operations) with significant involvement in tourism and regional economic development. Wellington Airport positions itself at the nexus of the aviation industry and the Wellington regional economy, advocating on behalf of air connectivity and tourism growth.

  1. Publicly Disclosed Engagements: The airport’s interactions with officials are occasionally documented. For example, in May 2024 Wellington Airport’s CEO and lobbyist met with the Minister of Commerce at Parliament to discuss regulatory issues. The airport regularly makes submissions on policy – e.g. through the NZ Airports Association, it appealed a Commerce Commission regulatory decision in 2024 that could affect airport revenues. Wellington Airport also publicly campaigned for a longer runway, securing a commitment of $150 million from regional councils in 2015 and seeking central government support (ultimately unsuccessful). Its consultations with local government are often public; in 2020, WIAL formally requested Wellington City Council underwrite a $75 million share issue to bolster the airport during the Covid-19 crisis.

  1. Affiliations: Wellington Airport is a member of the New Zealand Airports Association (industry body representing NZ airports). It collaborates closely with regional economic and tourism agencies (given its importance to Wellington’s economy). Airport executives are active in business groups – for instance, WIAL’s Corporate Affairs GM Jenna Raeburn sits on the board of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce’s Business Central division. The airport also partners with local councils for community initiatives (see Community Awards below).

  1. Sponsorships / Collaborations: The airport sponsors a wide range of community and cultural initiatives. Major sponsorships include the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards (honoring volunteer groups across the region), as well as iconic events and charities such as the Life Flight Trust air ambulance, the New Zealand Festival of the Arts, World of WearableArt (WOW) show, Fringe Festival, CubaDupa street festival, Wellington on a Plate culinary festival, Beervana, and Surf Life Saving competitions. These sponsorships serve to entrench the airport’s positive community profile and connections with local leaders. Wellington Airport also collaborates with airlines on marketing (e.g. joint promotions for new flight routes) and with Tourism New Zealand on travel campaigns.

  1. Events (held or organised by this organisation): Notably, Wellington Airport co-hosts the annual Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards in partnership with the region’s five local councils. This high-profile event (with ceremonies in each council area and a regional finale) is organised by the airport to celebrate community volunteers. The airport also holds stakeholder briefings and public open days on occasion (such as consultations for its runway extension proposal). It has hosted events like the Christmas Tree Festival for charity and business networking functions (e.g. Wellington Chamber of Commerce “After 5” events at the airport).

  1. Political Donations: None disclosed. There are no public records of Wellington International Airport Ltd making donations to political parties or candidates. (Given 34% council ownership, direct party donations would be highly scrutinised. Infratil Ltd, the majority shareholder, also appears to avoid direct political contributions.) However, individuals associated with the airport have political links. Any political giving linked to the airport is indirect or via owners, not by the company itself.

  1. Controversies: Wellington Airport has faced several public controversies:

    • Runway Extension Saga: For much of the 2010s, WIAL pushed to extend the runway ~300m for long-haul flights, sparking opposition from community groups concerned about cost, noise, and safety. The airport spent millions on studies and a resource consent bid, backed by council funds, and secured in-principle funding commitments from local councils. Opponents (e.g. Guardians of the Bays) called the process “protracted and costly for ratepayers”. After legal challenges over safety requirements, WIAL withdrew its consent application in 2018, a retreat hailed by critics as the end of a costly venture.

    • “Wellywood” Sign Dispute: In 2010–2011 the airport proposed erecting a giant “Wellywood” sign on a hillside to celebrate Wellington’s film industry. The plan drew strong local backlash – polls showed 64% of Wellingtonians opposed – and even a legal threat from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for trademark infringement. A city councillor sought a judicial review of the secretly approved consent. The controversy embarrassed the airport’s leadership. Ultimately WIAL shelved the idea and instead installed a “Wellington” sign with a different design in 2012.

    • Flight Path Changes: In 2022 Wellington Airport and Airways NZ altered flight departure paths, prompting noise complaints from residents under new flight tracks. A community group took High Court action in 2023 to challenge the flight path change on environmental and procedural grounds. WIAL has opposed the judicial review, insisting the changes are for safety, but the court case (ongoing) has generated negative publicity about consultation and noise mitigation.

    • Governance Conflicts: The airport’s governance has raised eyebrows: in 2023 it was reported Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau missed several airport Board meetings, renewing debate about political appointees’ attendance. More significantly, ethics experts have pointed to perceived conflicts of interest — notably that the airport’s key lobbyist (Jenna Raeburn) is married to a Cabinet Minister (Chris Bishop). This situation has been criticised by commentators as a potential conflict requiring careful management.

    • COVID-19 Relief vs Dividends: Wellington Airport drew criticism during the COVID-19 pandemic for accepting nearly $0.9 million in wage subsidies while historically paying substantial dividends to shareholders. (In 2019 it paid a $13.9m dividend; none was paid in 2020 during the crisis.) Although such subsidy uptake was lawful, it fueled debate on whether corporate aid was justified, given Infratil’s resources. The airport defended its actions as necessary to retain staff during an unprecedented aviation downturn.

    • Consumer Complaints: The airport has occasionally been reproached for high parking fees and for introducing a controversial drop-off charge. It has also sparred with Air New Zealand over landing fee increases. These issues, while lower-profile, have drawn public ire in the Wellington region’s talkback and media as examples of “monopoly” behavior.

  1. Other information of note: Wellington City Council, which owns 34% of WIAL, has periodically considered selling its stake to free up capital. In 2024, the Council formally consulted on a proposal to sell some or all of its airport shares (as part of long-term budget plans). This has proven politically contentious – the prospect of foreign or private buyers raised public concern about losing local influence over the strategic asset. No sale has occurred to date; the debate highlights the airport’s importance to the city and the balancing of commercial and public interests. Additionally, Wellington Airport operates several subsidiaries: Whare Manaakitanga Ltd (a hotel venture), Wellington Airport Noise Treatment Ltd (noise mitigation for homes), and Meitaki Ltd (a captive insurance vehicle). These speak to the broader business interests around the airport. It’s also notable that Wellington Airport is New Zealand’s third-busiest airport and has at times lobbied to be designated as an alternate long-haul gateway. Finally, the airport benefited from government infrastructure funding in the past (for example, transport links improvements through the “Let’s Get Wellington Moving” programme), illustrating its integration into public infrastructure planning.

  1. Recipient of Wage Subsidy Scheme: Yes. Wellington International Airport Ltd received government wage subsidies during the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak. In the initial round (April 2020) it was paid $892,759.20 to support 127 employees. A further subsidy of about $1.4 million was taken in the 2021 resurgence. These funds helped offset the drastic revenue loss when passenger volumes plummeted by ~99% during lockdown. The airport’s acceptance of subsidies – and subsequent financial recovery – has been scrutinised, but it did comply with all government criteria. By late 2020 the company had reduced staff and costs to adapt. No wage subsidies have been taken since 2021 as air travel rebounded.

Sources:

[1] Wellington International Airport Ltd – Annual Report 2024, p.23 (ownership structure), Wellington Airport / NZX, https://www.wellingtonairport.co.nz/documents/4242/WIAL_Annual_Report_FY24.pdf

[2] Wellington airport reports strong full year profit, RNZ News, 28 May 2020 (ownership breakdown and profit figures), https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/417759/wellington-airport-reports-strong-full-year-profit

[3] Wellington International Airport Ltd – Business summary (NZBN 9429039443755), BusinessCheck, https://www.businesscheck.co.nz/ltd/9429039443755/ (incorporation date, company number, status)

[4] Wellington Airport Noise Management Plan – Appendix (Company No. 396240), Wellington Airport, 2018 (confirms company number), archived PDF on wellingtonairport.co.nz

[5] NZ Airports Association – Company Hub listing (NZ Airports Ltd ultimate holding company), CompanyHub.nz, snippet via Bing (Infratil Ltd as ultimate holding)

[6] Search result for Wellington Airport address, CompanyHub.nz, snippet via Bing (postal and premises addresses for WIAL)

[7] Wellington Airport – LinkedIn profile (company description, sponsorships, employees), LinkedIn.com, https://nz.linkedin.com/company/wellington-international-airport-limited

[8] Wellington Airport – Contact InfoPages, Scoop.co.nz, 2011 (social media handles and contact info), http://info.scoop.co.nz/Wellington_Airport

[9] Wellington Airport – Wikipedia, updated 2023 (ownership history and context), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington_Airport

[10] Wellington City Council report: WIAL Shareholder Support (public-excluded), 23 Apr 2020 (Council underwriting request due to Covid), Wellington.govt.nz, PDF – Item 4.1, pp.1-2, https://wellington.govt.nz/-/media/your-council/meetings/council/2020/april/iro9980-item-2-report-to-council–wellington-international-airport-li.pdf

[11] Wellington Airport – Consolidated Annual Report 2024 (Council considering sale of its 34% stake), Wellington Airport, p.2, https://www.wellingtonairport.co.nz/documents/4242/WIAL_Annual_Report_FY24.pdf

[12] NZX Company Analysis: Wellington International Airport Ltd (overview of operations, passengers, sale to Infratil in 1998), NZX.com, https://www.nzx.com/companies/WIA/analysis

[13] RNZ News – Wellington Airport ownership and subsidiaries (RNZ, 28 May 2020), https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/417759/ (66% Infratil via NZ Airports, 34% WCC; lists WANT Ltd, Whare Manaakitanga Ltd, Meitaki Ltd)

[14] The Tourism Ticker – Wage subsidy recipients (WIAL: 127 employees, $892,759.20), TourismTicker.com, 20 Apr 2020, https://www.tourismticker.com/2020/04/20/wage-subsidy-which-operators-got-the-most/

[15] Guardians of the Bays – media release on runway extension withdrawal, Wellington.Scoop, 15 Apr 2019 (calls to end support for project after WIAL withdrew consent), http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=117303

[16] “US legal action threatened over Wellywood sign”, RNZ News, 24 May 2011 (Hollywood Chamber warns WIAL; local opposition stats; councillor Helene Ritchie’s comments), https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/76021/

[17] Beehive Ministerial Diary – Hon. Andrew Bayly, May 2024 (entry for 23/05/2024 meeting with Wellington Airport reps), Beehive.govt.nz (Proactive release, PDF)

[18] The Democracy Project – “Ministerial conflicts of interest under scrutiny” (Bryce Edwards analysis, mentions Bishop/Raeburn), The Integrity Institute, 30 Nov 2023, https://democracyproject.substack.com/p/ministerial-conflicts-of-interest (mirrored at goodoil.news)

[19] NZ Herald – “Bill English’s chief of staff Wayne Eagleson quits”, Newstalk ZB/NZ Herald, 25 Sep 2017 (Eagleson’s background), https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/bill-englishs-chief-of-staff-wayne-eagleson-quits/7FF5Q4IY2AOGGPLZDOFD66D2RY/

[20] The Spinoff – “Selling influence: meet the lobbyists shaping NZ politics for a fee” by Asher Emanuel, 12 Feb 2018 (profiles Jenna Raeburn and Neale Jones), https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/12-02-2018/ (Raeburn’s career from Beehive to lobbying)

[21] BusinessDesk – “High Court action against WIAL flight path changes postponed”, BusinessDesk Infrastructure, 9 Oct 2023, https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/infrastructure/high-court-action-against-wellington-international-airport-flight-path-changes-postponed (community judicial review of flight paths)

[22] RNZ News – “Airports Association to appeal Commerce Commission decisions over asset values”, 1 Feb 2024, https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/508160/ (Airports Association/WIAL appealing regulator’s rules, quoting Billie Moore)

[23] NZ Parliament – Ministerial List (Hon Chris Bishop’s portfolios), Parliament.nz, updated Jan 2025, https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/papers-presented/current-ministerial-list/

[24] Wellington.Scoop – “Council paying almost $2m more to help plans for longer airport runway”, 18 Dec 2014, http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=74034 (WCC funding for runway consent, quotes Deputy Mayor Justin Lester)

[25] Tourism Ticker – “Infratil committed to Wellington Airport, prefers council stay in”, 21 May 2024 (discusses WCC shareholding consultation), tourismticker.com, paywalled summary.

[26] Wellington Chamber of Commerce – “About us” (Board/Council members, listing Jenna Raeburn and her role), wecc.org.nz/about-us

[27] Integrity Institute (Bryce Edwards) via The BFD – “NZ’s Ministerial Conflicts of Interest Under Scrutiny”, 1 Dec 2023, https://thebfd.co.nz/good-oil-news/ministerial-conflicts/ (highlights Jenna Raeburn’s employment at Wellington Airport as an example requiring conflict management)

[28] Wellington Airport – “Community Awards” page, wellingtonairport.co.nz/community-hub/community-awards/ (explains the partnership with councils for volunteer awards)

[29] NZ Herald – “Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau missed half of airport board meetings”, NZ Herald, 30 June 2023, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/wellington-mayor-tory-whanau-missed-half-of-airport-board-meetings-in-past-year/JNMH3EX2KZBL7N6Z2S4UYTZKVA/

[30] Newsroom – “Ministerial conflicts register leaves room for speculation”, Newsroom (Laura Walters), 29 Nov 2023, paywalled, (criticizes vagueness of conflicts disclosure, referencing Bishop’s case)

Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz

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