Wigram Aerodrome NOW CLOSED is a former
Royal New Zealand Air ForceThe Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force. It was formed from New Zealand components of the British Royal Air Force, becoming an independent force in 1923, although many RNZAF aircrew continued to serve in the Royal Air Force until the end of the 1940s...
base located in the
ChristchurchChristchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of Christchurch.The city was...
suburb of
WigramWigram is a suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand. Technically called Wigram Park, the second half of its name is rarely if ever heard. The suburb lies close to the industrial estates of Sockburn and the satellite retail and residential zone of Hornby...
. It is named after
Sir Henry WigramSir Henry Francis Wigram was a British-born New Zealand businessman, politician and aviation promoter. He is best known for his role in developing a public transport system in Christchurch and as a key player in the establishment of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.-Early life and business:Wigram...
. Originally home to the RNZAF Central Flying School (CFS), it was decommissioned in 1995 following the CFS' relocation to
RNZAF OhakeaRNZAF Base Ohakea is an operational base of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Opened in 1939, it is 22 km west of Palmerston North, near Bulls in the Manawatu...
two years earlier.
Wigram Aerodrome maintained its aviation character, with several aviation businesses using its facilities. These included Pionair Private Aircharter, Christchurch Parachute School and Christchurch Flying School.
Three
Air Training CorpsThe Air Training Corps or ATC is one of the three corps in the New Zealand Cadet Forces, the other two being the New Zealand Cadet Corps and Sea Cadet Corps. It is funded in partnership between the RNZAF and communities, and its members are civilians. Members have no obligation to head into the...
units, and a
Cadet CorpsThe New Zealand Cadet Corps , is one of the three corps in the New Zealand Cadet Forces, the other two being the Air Training Corps, and Sea Cadet Corps. There is no reference to the Army within the official title of the NZCC, but an army theme is used for the NZCC. All of its members, from the...
unit also occupyed a building within the aerodrome.
Christchurch's Air Force MuseumThe Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum or Air Force Museum of New Zealand as it is now known, is an air force museum located located at Wigram, the RNZAF's first operational base, in Christchurch, in the South Island of New Zealand...
is located at the northern side of the aerodrome. It houses a large collection of aircraft and interactive displays, and is one of only two such museums in New Zealand.
Wigram Airfield CircuitWigram Airfield Circuit was a temporary motor racing circuit at Wigram Aerodrome, Christchurch, New Zealand. The airfield is a former base of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. It is named after Sir Henry Wigram. The temporary circuit was 3km with a 1.3km main straight...
was a temporary motor racing circuit at the Wigram Airfield. The temporary motor racing circuit was 3 km (2.1 mile) long and considered as the oldest motor race circuit since it had been racing in 1949.
Closure
On the 9th of July 2008
Television 3 NewsTV3 is a commercial television station in New Zealand broadcasting via analogue to most of the country, and on Sky Network Television's and Freeview's satellite & terrestrial platforms. It began broadcasting on 26 November 1989, the first privately owned television network in the country...
broadcast a
news item (video) stating that
Ngai TahuNgāi Tahu, or Kāi Tahu, is the principal Māori iwi of the southern region of New Zealand, with the tribal authority, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, being based in Christchurch and Invercargill. The iwi combines three groups, Kāi Tahu itself, and Waitaha and Kāti Mamoe who lived in the South Island prior...
, the owners of the aerodrome (acquired as part of a
treatyThe Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840, by representatives of the British Crown, and various Māori chiefs from the northern North Island of New Zealand. The Treaty established a British governor in New Zealand, recognised Māori ownership of their lands and other...
settlement claim) are to close Wigram Aerodrome by February 2009. The airfield is to be developed into housing, whilst the historic control tower and hangars are to remain as they are heritage protected buildings.
Wigram airfield officially ceased operation as an airfield at 00:00 Sunday 1 March 2009 NZ Local time. Runway closure X markers are now in place on the sealed 03/21 and grassed runways. The grass runways 03/21 and 13/31 have posts and wires across them. Cattle are also loose on the former runways. No aircraft can use this airfield anymore. The airspace above is now controlled by Christchurch Tower
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