Christchurch city councillors and ratepayers will not back Christchurch International Airport Ltd’s plan to spend millions of dollars on an international airport at Tarras. Christchurch Airport is majority owned by the Christchurch City Council — via the holding company. Councillors only learnt of the Tarras proposal in July after the airport company had secured 750ha at a cost of $45million. Holding company chief executive Paul Munro said last week, Christchurch Airport was an independent stand-alone commercial business operating at arm’s-length from the council. Cr Yani Johanson also acknowledged the decision to buy land at Tarras for an airport was made by the airport company and not the council.

Source: Otago Daily Times August 30, 2020 16:30 UTC