Nelson Airport and the Nelson Air Cadets have confirmed a deal ensuring a strong future for the youth development programme at the airport.
The new agreement sees the airport donate $40,000 to assist with re-fitting and updating the dated back wing of the building. It also includes a further commitment to a 10-year sponsorship totalling $25,000, in addition to effectively gifting the Cadets their Dakota Street building and entering into a long-term peppercorn rental ground lease.
The Cadets, a youth development programme with a focus on leadership, aviation, military skills, first aid and survival skills, have been operating from Nelson Airport since the 1940s.
Nelson Airport acting chief executive Simon Barr says the Cadets have a long and strong history at the airport, with historic occupation rights granted by the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
“In the fifties, the RNZAF passed administration of a World War II-era hangar on the airport site to the Civil Aviation Authority on the condition that the Cadets would continue to have unrestricted, free use of an annex to the building.”
Over time, ownership of the Hangar 2 passed to Nelson Airport Ltd. In 2008, tenant Air New Zealand expanded Hangar 2 and needed to take over the Air Cadet annex, so the Air Cadets were relocated at Nelson Airport’s cost to their current building on Dakota Street.
“There isn’t much in the way of documentation of the rights the RNZAF conferred to the Cadets back in the day, which has created some uncertainty for everyone around how long the arrangement was intended to last, and who is responsible for costs such as utilities bills and ongoing repairs and maintenance. We both agreed it was time to come to an updated agreement that protects the Cadets’ use of their current airport site and that provides clarity for everyone.”
Cadet Unit Commander, Flight Lieutenant Richard Greatrex, says the new arrangement is a win-win, and provides the foundation for a long and successful future for the Nelson Air Cadets.
“The airport is the perfect location for us, within a vibrant aviation hub. There is great access to a wide range of connections and learning opportunities for our cadets. Many of our cadets have a genuine love for aviation and are keen to pursue a career in the industry. Being at the airport gives exposure to a wide range of aviation roles – from the maintenance base, the control tower, the Airport Emergency Service, pilot training and so on. The ability to walk five minutes to another airport tenant and learn about what they do is a big reason this location works so well for us.”
Richard says the Nelson Air Cadets has 70 members, making it the fifth largest cadet unit in the country. It recently celebrated its 80th anniversary. Because the Squadron is run entirely by volunteers, Richard says “the value of having a secure, reliable base of operations can’t be overstated. I’d like to thank Nelson Airport for their enthusiasm and generosity in formalising this agreement for benefit of the next generations of cadets.”
Simon says the airport greatly values the presence of the Air Cadets at the airport and the deal aims to support them through a generous donation and effective gifting of the building.
Photo Caption: From left, Cadets committee hair Alison Blanchett-Sax, Flight Lieutenant Richard Greatrex and Nelson Airport acting chief executive Simon Barr.
Notes to Editors
About the Nelson Air Cadets
Air Cadets are part of the New Zealand Cadet Forces. Nelson’s unit is called No. 23 (Nelson) Squadron. Their mission is to develop and enable self-disciplined, confident and responsible young New Zealanders.
Cadet Forces are a non-profit organisation for the youth of New Zealand which has existed continually since 1864, and in its present form in a partnership with the New Zealand Defence Force and locally appointed community organisations since 1971, making it New Zealand’s oldest youth organisation.
The ground-lease and ownership of the building is being transferred to the Nelson Branch of the Air Training Corps Association of NZ, a community funded and volunteer run registered charity whose mission is to provide facilities for the Squadron.
More information is available at 23sqn.org.nz