Representatives of the Tarras community remain undeterred in their opposition to plans for an international airport in their town, despite being denied the chance to present a case against expanding New Zealand’s air travel sector to the government.

Sustainable Tarras, a group formed after Christchurch International Airport Ltd (CIAL) proposed a new airport for the area in 2020, has actively opposed the airport proposal as not environmentally sound.

Group spokesperson Suze Keith was outside parliament in Wellington last week, hoping for a chance to ask the government to halt the development; however, the group’s concerns were to remain unheard. 

“We were asking to meet relevant ministers while in Wellington with good rationale for not developing the airport, but we were declined,” she said. 

Sustainable Tarras say the message they had hoped to deliver is clear cut; a government invested in both airports and the national airline can’t support the industry’s expansion while pushing for a 50 per cent emission reduction goal by 2030. 

The government holds a 25 per cent share in CIAL; Sustainable Tarras want it and the 75 per cent stakeholder Christchurch City Council to put a stop to the Tarras proposal.   

“In New Zealand, aviation accounts for 12 per cent of all CO2 emissions, and if we incorporate other harmful aeroplane emissions, this could double its warming impact”, Suze said.  

“It’s a contentious discussion about aviation’s contribution to climate change. It will be a tough conversation that needs to be handled with care and in an inclusive way.”

Sustainable Tarras says while hundreds of thousands of dollars continue to be spent on the airport proposal, the group will continue to represent the majority view of the Tarras community that the airport should not proceed. 

CIAL continues developing plans for a future airport on the 750-hectare block of land it purchased outside Tarras.