Reuse, recycle, repurpose at Taupō Airport

Taupō’s existing airport terminal will soon be replaced by the much larger new building rising up to take its place, but the Taupō Airport Authority is making sure that as much of it as possible will be repurposed instead of heading to landfill.

Acting airport manger Kim Gard said the new terminal build was going very well, with the roof on and the interior starting to take shape. The new terminal is on track to be completed later this year.

“The construction is really taking shape now and our local contractor Watts Construction are doing a great job,” Ms Gard said.

“The new roofline is impressive and the new terminal is going to not only make for a much better user experience for locals but a welcoming introduction to our district for visitors.

“The current terminal has served us well but is not able to handle the passenger volumes we are expecting to see in coming years. Receiving funding from Central Government, Waka Kotahi and Taupō District Council has been instrumental in creating a remarkable asset for our district.”

Chris Johnston of the Taupō Airport Authority agreed that the existing terminal had played an important role in establishing Taupō Airport and was pleased that it would not be destined for landfill.

“We’ve been working with local company Shelter Architects – formerly Stephenson and Turner – to repurpose and recycle as much of the old terminal as possible,” Mr Johnston said. “The contractor we’ve chosen is aiming to recycle and repurpose up to 85 percent of the existing terminal, with things like steel and aluminium being recycled, concrete crushed and used in construction, and items like the internal timber lining reused.

“We’ve also been approached by members of the community who are interested in reusing some of the materials and we’re keen to try and accommodate that.”