Has Matarangi Airfield closed for good?

[c100driver]

I noticed this NOTAM about the closure of Matarangi NZAG.

A2357/10 FROM: 23 DEC 2010 06:00 TO: 31 JAN 2011 06:00
AD CLSD

There was a rumour about the receiver taking possession of the airfield but I have not had any confirmation of this.

It will be a sad day if another airfield is turned into houses!

[NZFlyingKiwi]

First Mercer now Matarangi - not looking so good for airfields in the Auckland area! :(

[lilflyboy262]

Mercer is closed?!
Amazing what you miss when you leave the country for a while

[NZFlyingKiwi]

Yes, it's also up for sale if you're interested. ;)

[27/09]

A2357/10 FROM: 23 DEC 2010 06:00 TO: 31 JAN 2011 06:00
AD CLSD


Perhaps some influential holiday maker wanted peace and quite while at the beach for the summer. :E


First Mercer now Matarangi

Hadn't heard about Mercer, if true it's a bit surprising, though I had heard that the whole operation was running under administration or what ever it's called. Perhaps the people owed the cash want their cash back.

not looking so good for airfields in the Auckland area!

If you ask me there's not much loss if Mercer closed, BUT Matarangi is a different story. I'd be a bit pissed if I had a place there. I did hear a long while back that there was a plan to reposition the strip at Matarangi, I don't know if that ever happened, perhaps that's what's going on now.

[NZFlyingKiwi]

There's a bit more information regarding the current state of affairs at Mercer here: Air Park - Mercer Airfield (http://www.airparkstrust.org.nz/index.php?page=mercer-airfield)

Matarangi always seemed like it had a lot of under-utilised potential, given how popular and seemingly successful Pauanui Beach is, Matarangi seems like it could be developed in a similar way. I guess it all comes down to what the local residents want though.

[c100driver]

NZUN was developed with the airfield as a core asset with aircraft access to houses lining the airfield.

NZAG was never intended to do the same, in fact the airfield was planned to be moved a few KM's away so the runway could be subdivided for more housing.

Shame it is all goes to the development of more sections!

[LocoDriver]

OK,
heres the good oil.....

Mercer.
In liquidation, tenders closed 16th Dec, reserve was not met.
Liquidators talking to 'interested parties'....
..

Matarangi
also in liquidation ................. funny that, all these property companies....
An aviation consultant has to do a 'risk assessment' for the receivers, we expect it will open again soon.....BUT, for how long is anyones guess.

We can only wait and see......Both are notamed as closed, but plonkers i saw, and heard today, landed on both...not wise.

Hope this helps,

cheers!


:ok:

[ZKMike]

Yep...plonkers.

Flew over there on Saturday...2 aircraft on the ground oddly enough parked right beside a large white cross on the threshold. Wonder who did their BFRs?

Very frustrating...had to pick up a couple of people who were staying within 100 metres of the strip but they had to be taken to Whitianga so I could collect them from there. Had a chat with the nice lady from Mercury Bay Aero Club who confirmed the issue with NZAG was in fact the Hanover stouch....oh well

Grrrrr

[phillip444]

Matarangi Beach Estate is in Receivership, not liquidation. The Receiver was advised by one of his legal advisors, that he was at risk because there was no health and safety plan for the airport and he could be sued if a child got hit by a plane while crossing the strip. Nonsense of course from some Univesity graduate no doubt, probably charged at $600 per hour. Almost every airport in New Zealand does not have such a plan but the Receiver (understandably) said bugger that I will close the airport and have no risk. Short sighted really as Matarangi is isolated and there are plenty of potential buyers of their unsold sections who can fly in there or would use one of the commercial airlines eg Sunair, Christian Aviation to fly to and from Auckland. So all quite anti for sales.

Re the planes landing there, they are not plonkers really, the area is now a paddock not a strip, there are hundreds of private owners who land daily on unregistered paddocks and that is what those who care to land at Matarangi are doing. The fact that it is not officially a registered airstrip is meaningless other than for the commercial guys, and thats a pity. Cheers

[LocoDriver]

Philip444, I dont know where you got your info from, but it is not correct.

The owner(or owners representative) has closed Matarangi airfield, paddock, or whatever you want to call it.

CAA have notamed it as closed.
Even a paddock needs the owners permission before you can land......

The arrogance of pilots using it, and even parking next to the big white cross at the threshold, is beyond belief.
Aviation can do without these self opinionated plonkers....

If an aircraft had had a prang there, the insurance companies, and caa would have a field day.

Rules are in place for reasons, and they apply to all.

:ok:

[phillip444]

I think Locodriver has spent too long sitting at the front of one of those big airships and is out of touch with recreational flying. Matarangi has been notamed as closed by Christian Aviation at the request of the Receiver (not liquidator) of MBE, apparently the airfield will open again soon as Dave from Christian Aviation is preparing the appropriate H @ S report which will give the Receiver comfort that they are not liable for anything.

In the meantime the strip is a paddock, it is not a registered strip and if that is what a commercial operator needs to land on then they cannot use it. For a private pilot it is a very good paddock and the Receiver is not attempting to enforce any closure, quite frankly they don't care as long as they are not liable.

Actually I have seen third and fourth level charter operators landing on a huge range of unregistered strips with paying customers on board, so they could possibly continue to use it as well.

In the meantime locodriver you stick to your heavy flying, you will be safe there with plenty of tarmac and rules you can comply with. Cheers

[philipnz]

Pic I took yesterday. You can see from the roads that there is no long-term future for the airfield in it's current location.
http://www.sundreamer.co.nz/matarangi.jpg

[c100driver]

Der,

It is an airstrip with closed markers on it.

It is NOTAMed as closed.


In the meantime the strip is a paddock, it is not a registered strip and if that is what a commercial operator needs to land on then they cannot use it. For a private pilot it is a very good paddock and the Receiver is not attempting to enforce any closure, quite frankly they don't care as long as they are not liable.

Paddock or not Any NZ registered aircraft, helicopter etc requires the landowners permission to land on unless in an emergency they use the powers of the P in C in the NZ Civil Aviation Act.

[LocoDriver]

Phillip444

I am not a driver of 'heavies'
i am a flying instructor, with 40 years in GA.- that includes charter flying,parachute dropping, glider towing, charter work, etc etc, and landing in 'paddocks', with students, as approved by the paddock owner and insurance company.

I am well aware of whats happening with Matarangi, and yes, i also know Dave, and yes, i am very familiar with Matarangi myself.

C100driver reinforced what I said, it is closed by notam, end of story.
Airstrip or paddock, it cant be used at present.

:ok:

[c100driver]

91.127 Use of aerodromes
(a) No person may use any place as an aerodrome unless that place is suitable for the purpose of taking off or landing of the aircraft concerned.
(b) No person may operate an aircraft at an aerodrome unless—
(1) that person complies with any limitations and operational conditions on the use of the aerodrome notified by the aerodrome operator;

The CAA ACT defines an Aerodrome as,

aerodrome—
(a) Means any defined area of land or water intended or designed to be used either wholly or partly for the landing, departure, and surface movement of aircraft;
and
(b) Includes any buildings, installations, and equipment on or adjacent to any such area used in connection with the aerodrome or its administration:

The aerodrome operator has NOTAMed it closed so it is closed. If you intend to land on a paddock it then falls under the ACT definition of an aerodrome

[Propstop]

What a shame as I, with a mate would take turns at circuits and bumps in a C180 for an hour or so before going back to Ardmore. I expect it is the price of progress where housing estates are more value than a nice airstrip.
VERY SAD.:{

[mattyj]

don't worry about those roads..they've been there for years and the developers wouldn't have a penny to scrape together for a bucket of sand right now

[c100driver]

MATARANGI (NZAG):

A0203/11 FROM: 29 JAN 2011 20:12 TO: 20 FEB 2011 09:00
AD CLSD

The NOTAM has been reissued out to 20 Feb, so there might be hope yet?

[Flyboystan]

The airfield is now notamed opened.
A group has formed to run the airfield and landing charges are payable.
Fencing/signage has been improved .Refer to current notams.
For regular users a one off payment can be made.:ok:

[NZFlyingKiwi]

Mercer is also likely to be open again shortly.

[27/09]

I can see why there's a bit of interest in the re opening of Matarangi, but Mercer????? What's at Mercer that would justify re opening it?

[Sqwark2000]

MATARANGI (NZAG):

A0829/11 FROM: 21 APR 2011 06:08 TO: 30 JUN 2011 19:00
MATARANGI AIRFIELD IS NOW OPERATED BY MATARANGI AIRFIELD LTD,
P O BOX 43 WAVERLY 4544
PRIOR PERMISSION REQUIRED BEFORE USE
PEDESTRIAN ENTRANCE NGAIO RD GOLF COURSE END HARBOUR ENTRANCE CLOSED
FEES APPLY:
20 DOLLARS PRIVATE :eek:
75 DOLLARS COMMERCIAL :eek::eek:
PHONE ROGER DICKIE TEL 0274 428 687
DAVID BROWN TEL 021 751 466
REF AIP NZAG AD 2-52.1

S2K

[NZFlyingKiwi]

I can see why there's a bit of interest in the re opening of Matarangi, but Mercer????? What's at Mercer that would justify re opening it? I guess we'll find out soon enough!

...and yeah, not too keen on the $20 landing fee at Matarangi when Pauanui and Whitianga are cheaper and much nicer fields. Still, I'd rather see an airfield live on with expensive landing fees than lose yet another one to residential development.

[Da Bird]

Just found this thread and thought I would update. Matarangi Airfield is closing 27 December 2014 and from what I have been told, houses will be built on the airfield. Just glad I didn't buy a place there.