Arrow by runway closes airport

Police say an arrow found near the runway was the reason Rotorua Airport was closed yesterday for nearly four hours.

It was closed from just after midday until a little before 4pm and at least two flights were grounded.

Rotorua Airport chief executive Mark Gibb said he was “not prepared to comment on the specific nature” of the incident.

Rotorua Police Inspector Brendon Keenan said they were called to the airport about 12.30pm: “There were reports of an arrow being found on the ground beside the runway.”

It was found during a routine check, he said.

“The airport decided to close, that was their decision.”

Flight NZ8234 to Wellington and flight NZ5785 to Christchurch were among those cancelled.

For Americans Drew Bartley, his husband and two friends, New Zealand was the trip of a lifetime: “Now the entire vacation is in a shambles.”

Bartley said they had boarded their flight to Christchurch when they heard something might be wrong.

“Then we were told there would be a 30-minute delay. Every 30 minutes it was pushed back another 30 minutes”

The group was stranded in Rotorua with no flights available to Christchurch until tomorrow, so had to cancel the South Island leg of their trip.

“Now we just have to find accommodation and a rental car, as if it wasn’t bad enough there were no rental cars left to book.”

— Rotorua Daily Post