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Christchurch Airport has been named the Platinum Category Winner of the Airports Council International’s Green Airports Recognition 2025, recognising the airport’s leadership in building a clean energy future through its solar farm Kōwhai Park.
The airport was one of only four airports globally to receive Platinum recognition, the award celebrates the airport’s role in establishing a major joint venture between Contact Energy and Lightsource bp to develop Kōwhai Park solar farm, currently under construction on the airport campus.
With 300,000 panels across 230 hectares, the project will generate enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of 36,000 homes. Kōwhai Park is the cornerstone of the airport’s wider ambition to create a clean energy hub that supports decarbonisation across the region and helps others meet their sustainability goals.
Airport chief executive Justin Watson says the Airports Council International recognition reflects the airport’s long-term commitment to sustainability.
“Kōwhai Park shows what’s possible when you combine vision with the right partners.
“Contact Energy and Lightsource bp bring world-class expertise, and this partnership is creating something we can all be proud of.”
Construction started this week with first piles to hold the solar panels being placed in the ground. Kōwhai Park’s first stage is just the beginning of a long-term plan to support renewable energy projects such as green hydrogen and storage technologies.
The award also acknowledges other key sustainability milestones, including the arrival of New Zealand’s first fully electric fire truck and the airport’s Level 5 Airport Carbon Accreditation status.
Sustainable transition leader Claire Waghorn says the airport is proving that even critical emergency services can be powered sustainably.
“We’re building a future where safety and sustainability go hand-in-hand. We’re proud to lead the way and we are delighted to be able to announce this award on World Environment Day, June 5.”
As the Southern Hemisphere’s only Level 5 ACA airport, Christchurch Airport continues to set the standard for climate leadership in the aviation sector.
The airport’s commitment to people, planet and place reaches far beyond energy generation. It includes real and measurable action across climate, biodiversity, circularity, water conservation and sustainability leadership.
Smart, electric mobility: The airport has introduced a new suite of high efficiency charging stations dedicated to powering electric ground service vehicles. These vehicles, used to tow luggage containers and push back aircraft, now operate with lower emissions, reduced noise, and improved energy use, supporting cleaner operations where it matters most.
Hydrogen innovation: In partnership with Fabrum, we’ve also established an airport world-first hydrogen test facility at Kōwhai Park to support the development of green hydrogen technologies for aviation and beyond, further cementing Christchurch’s role as a hub for clean energy leadership.
Cleaner aircraft turnaround: Thirteen of the airport’s 15 aircraft gates are now equipped with direct power connections, allowing aircraft to plug in while parked instead of using diesel generators or their own auxiliary power units. This reduces fuel use, cuts emissions, and improves air quality.
Resource Recovery: The airport’s award-winning sorting station processes waste generated in the domestic terminal. It has significantly reduced the waste sent to landfill, showing how better design and smarter systems can drive real environmental results.
EV leadership: The airport precinct is home to one of the South Island’s biggest EV charging hubs, and the airport’s entire corporate fleet is electric.
Global knowledge sharing: The team is helping shape the global conversation on climate action and Claire Waghorn, sustainable transition leader, presented Christchurch Airport’s sustainability approach to more than 800 delegates at the ACI World General Assembly in Riyadh.
Wildlife protection: More than 500 native lizards were safely relocated from the Kōwhai Park construction site to a custom-built habitat on airport-owned land, supported by 20,000 native plantings and predator-proof fencing.
Bird conservation: In collaboration with the South Island Wildlife Hospital, at-risk bird eggs are rescued from airside areas, incubated, hatched, and released into the wild, helping native species like the Banded Dotterel and Pied Oystercatcher thrive.
