Passenger numbers through the Rotorua Airport have been rapidly increasing each year, such that the Board of Directors determined that the Airport must start a staged expansion as it had outgrown the old facilities.

The first phase included extending the runway and providing concrete aprons for the jet services, expanding the passenger lounges, rationalising the existing underground services, including stormwater drainage (the old terminal flooded) improving passenger drop off and pick-up and providing sufficient carpark space for rentals and the public.

Sigma was engaged to provide the architectural services to the new Ronayne Developments design / build 2000m² terminal, to design and oversee construction of the land side access and carpark.  This work involved a revised main entry off the State Highway, the ring road system with buspark and passenger dropoff, and the 472 space carparks.

This work completes the first phase and satisfies most of the existing demand.  The next phases are being staged over the coming years and will include additional lounges for the jet services, customs facilities for Trans Tasman flights, further runway extensions and further concrete parking aprons.

Peter Harrison
Dip. Arch. (Dist.), ANZIA, ARIBA
ARCHITECT