of the terminal building and facilities, made the airport capable of handling international flights to Australia. Following the upgrade, Air New Zealand announced that it would begin flights between Rotorua and Sydney on 12 December 2009, the service being partially funded by the Rotorua District Council. To coincide with the introduction of international flights, the airport was renamed Rotorua International Airport. The flights across the Tasman initially operated twice weekly (on Tuesdays and Saturdays), but dropped to one flight a week during off-peak months before winter services were suspended entirely in 2014. In October 2014, the Rotorua District Council decided, in conjunction with Air New Zealand, to stop subsidising the service as they felt that the amount they were funding, which equated to around $1 million per year, could be better spent on other initiatives. Therefore, it was announced that flights to Sydney would cease, and the final international flight from the airport was on 25 April 2015. Following the discontinuation of international flights, the airport stated that it was going to focus on strengthening domestic routes and was specifically interested in initiating non-stop flights to Queenstown. Controversy The expansion of Rotorua Airport to an international airport has encountered both strong opposition and support from locals. Critics cite concern over on-going debt servicing and operating costs, anticipated noise levels, the destruction of natural forest and privately owned planted trees to accommodate the newly lowered flight path, and potential safety issues. The Ngati Uenukukopako tribe, whose marae is located at the northern end of the runway, have taken a complaint to the New Zealand Human Rights Commission, and residents at the southern end of the runway continue to resist the Airport Company's programme to enforce cutting of trees which have been a longstanding feature of the area. Airlines and destinations Statistics See also List of airports in New Zealand List of airlines of New Zealand Transport in New Zealand List of busiest airports in New Zealand References Further reading Rotorua airport takes off (3:46) (TVNZ) 2007-05-28 Virtual airborne tour of Rotorua (The New Zealand Herald) 2007-04-04 Rotorua Airport Battle (6:05) (TVNZ) 2006-10-13 Flights to Australia due next Christmas (The Daily Post) 2005-12-09 International flights to start from Rotorua (The New Zealand Herald) 2005-12-08 Greens join opposition to Rotorua Airport plan (The New Zealand Herald) 2005-04-12 External links Rotorua Airport Official Site Rotorua District Council Airport Services Site MetService weather observations and