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Christchurch Airport Wins Two New Zealand Awards Following Passenger Growth and Solar Farm Opening

The South Island gateway was named Large Airport of the Year while its Kōwhai Park project earned the Sustainability Initiative award.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Christchurch Airport won Large Airport of the Year and Sustainability Initiative of the Year at the 2026 NZ Airports Awards.
  • The airport served 6.85 million passengers during the financial year ended June 2026, up 7.1% year on year.
  • Recent developments include an expanded freight apron and terminal food and beverage and retail upgrades.
  • Kōwhai Park, developed with Lightsource bp and Contact Energy, opened in October with 150MWac generation capacity.

Christchurch Airport has taken two honours at the 2026 NZ Airports Awards, winning Large Airport of the Year and Sustainability Initiative of the Year as passenger traffic and investment in the South Island gateway continue to expand.

The awards, presented at the NZ Airports Hui in Wellington, recognise a year in which the airport handled 6.85 million passengers, added international connectivity and advanced terminal and airfield projects. The sustainability award went to Kōwhai Park, the airport’s large-scale solar farm developed in partnership with Lightsource bp and Contact Energy.

More passengers and a changing airport experience

According to the airport’s award announcement, developments over the past year include an expanded freight apron, upgrades to food and beverage outlets, retail and passenger facilities, and growth across domestic and international airline networks.

The 6.85 million passenger total also appears in the airport’s financial-year 2026 results, which report a 7.1% rise in passengers from the previous year. International passengers reached 1.76 million, an increase of 12.6%, while domestic traffic totalled 5.09 million, up 5.4%. For travellers, continued investment in the terminal and route network is intended to support greater choice and a more comfortable airport experience.

Justin Watson, Christchurch Airport’s Chief Executive, credited employees and the wider airport community for the result, highlighting the role of airline partners, border agencies, retailers and contractors in supporting daily operations and major improvements.

Kōwhai Park brings renewable energy into focus

The second award highlights a project whose significance extends beyond aviation operations. Kōwhai Park officially opened on 15 October 2026, with the airport describing it as the South Island’s largest solar farm. The project announcement places its generation capacity at 150MWac (168MWdc) and estimates annual production at 275GWh, equivalent to the yearly electricity demand of around 36,000 homes.

Developed by Contact Energy and Lightsource bp, the NZ$273 million installation includes approximately 300,000 solar panels. The airport is among the organisations set to obtain electricity through long-term purchase arrangements. While the farm’s output contributes to the wider electricity system, the project illustrates how airport land can accommodate infrastructure serving regional energy needs alongside aviation activity.

Momentum ahead of the summer season

The dual awards come as Christchurch Airport prepares for a busy southern summer and the arrival of additional international services. The airport is positioning further network development as an opportunity for tourism operators, exporters and businesses across Christchurch, Canterbury and the wider South Island.

In its statement, the airport emphasised that the awards reflect both operational performance and a longer-term strategy to improve connectivity and deliver economic and environmental benefits. Further information about travel and airport services is available from Christchurch Airport’s official website.

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