Reimagining New Zealand's Airports
At a glance
New Zealand is entering a new era of opportunity. One where the infrastructure we build today can shape a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient future. At the heart of this transformation are our airports. Often seen as places of transit, they are fast becoming strategic anchors – spaces that connect people, place, culture and economy.
As international travel rebounds, domestic tourism thrives and regional connectivity becomes more important than ever. Airports are poised to do much more than move people from one place to another. They can become symbols of national identity, platforms for climate leadership, hubs for innovation and catalysts for local development.
Greener gateways
New Zealand has bold aspirations for a low-carbon future. Tomorrow’s terminals will lead by example, designed with circular thinking and built for net-zero operations. Innovative projects are already underway, with Christchurch Airport positioning itself as a global leader in decarbonised aviation, preparing to support hydrogen and electric aircraft. Examples like this showcase New Zealand’s environmental leadership to the world, strengthen our green economy and help meet our emissions targets.
At a local scale, timber construction (like that seen in New Plymouth and Hawke’s Bay) is reducing embodied carbon while creating buildings that feel rooted in the whenua (land). Airports of the future will embody the values of kaitiakitanga – protecting what matters for future generations.
Smarter travel
As technology continues to evolve, so too do the expectations of today’s travellers. The airports of the future will deliver smarter, more intuitive experiences – where biometric screening, contactless check-ins, autonomous baggage handling, and predictive crowd-flow management work together to minimise delays, reduce stress and make journeys more seamless from the moment people arrive.
Behind the scenes, digital twins and real-time data from IoT sensors will optimise energy use, security, maintenance and even cleaning schedules. These technologies will also allow for more agile responses to disruption, making airports safer and more resilient.
But the biggest leap may come from designing terminals that are flexible. As electric aircraft, drone freight, and electric vertical take-off and landing aircrafts become reality, airports must be ready to evolve.
GHD has been leading the way in developing Vertiports in the UAE at Dubai Airport, including holistic design services and cutting edge engagement in aerial taxi support.
The airport of the future isn’t just about moving people. It’s about connecting culture, place, environment and community. It’s a chance to reimagine the first and last impression of New Zealand for every traveller.”
Celebrating culture and place
Our airports are often the first and last impression visitors have of New Zealand – and for thousands of Kiwis, they’re part of daily life. That makes them powerful places to reflect who we are as a nation, sharing the stories of mana whenua, the whenua (land), and the pride of our local communities.
Rotorua Airport shows what this can look like in action. The terminal redevelopment was guided by a vision to create a signature building that welcomes and farewells travelers while reflecting the unique identity of the region. Geothermal heating, indigenous design elements, and locally sourced materials all come together to create a space that feels genuinely of its place.
More than functional, the terminal embodies Rotorua’s natural beauty and cultural heritage, delivering a travel experience grounded in identity, belonging and maanakitanga (respect, generosity, and care), for which the region is so well known.
By co-designing with iwi and engaging local communities, we can create spaces that reflect the full richness of Aotearoa’s cultures and values. When visitors step into an airport that feels unique and authentic, they connect more deeply to the region they’re entering. For locals, it’s a source of pride.
Cleared for take-off
New Zealand faces natural hazards unlike anywhere else – earthquakes, rising sea levels and heavy rainfall events. That’s why resilience must be woven into every new terminal design.
Wellington’s base-isolated structures and Christchurch’s post-earthquake rebuild are showing what this looks like in practice. But resilience is more than structural – it’s operational too. Backup power, distributed energy, emergency response systems and robust water infrastructure all play a role in keeping airports functioning when they’re needed most.
Future terminals will be designed as community lifelines, able to pivot quickly during crises, support civil defence responses, or provide continuity for essential services.
Local roots fuelling national flights
Airports are vital to regional development and economic growth. A thriving regional airport can unlock new tourism opportunities, improve access to services, and enable local industries (like agriculture, logistics, and tech) to reach global markets.
Taupō is a great example of how local investment delivers national value. GHD was engaged to deliver the design and construction of the Taupō Airport terminal, providing structural and building engineering services. With Taupō District Council striving for the district to be “the heartbeat of the North Island,” it was essential that the terminal act not only as a gateway to the community but also reflect the identity and aspirations of the region. The result is a terminal that supports connectivity, boosts local pride, and contributes to New Zealand’s wider aviation network.
There’s also a lot we can learn from what’s happening across the Tasman. In Perth, for example, many visitors’ first experience of Western Australia is via the new 8.5 km Airport Line, which links the airport with the city’s eastern suburbs and the wider rail network. It’s an example of how integrated transport infrastructure can strengthen regional access, reduce road congestion and make the airport experience more seamless and sustainable. As New Zealand continues to reimagine its airports, embedding stronger multimodal connections, particularly in fast-growing regional centre’s, will be key to futureproofing our aviation network.
This regional lens is essential. New Zealand isn’t one-size-fits-all. Auckland’s mega-terminal will look very different to a boutique terminal in Invercargill or Taupō. But the principles – sustainability, smart technology, cultural expression, and community collaboration – remain constant.
Designed together
Perhaps most importantly, the future of airport design in New Zealand is being shaped by partnership. Councils, airports, airlines, iwi, government agencies, and the private sector are coming together to co-design solutions that reflect shared values and long-term thinking.
This collaborative approach creates better outcomes, not just technically, but socially and culturally too. It helps support airports to become spaces that bring people together, create opportunities and strengthen the threads that connect us all.