Prime Minister Mark Brown was one of the close to four thousand people who took up the opportunity presented by Airport Authority Cook Islands to walk along the 2.3-kilometre airport runway for the first time on Tuesday.

“People were expressing their happiness and everyone I saw that was on the runway was excited and happy,” Brown said.

“It was just a wonderful occasion so to me that really was an expression of people’s joy, happiness.

“Fifty years later our airport is still going strong, it’s the backbone of our economy bringing people in and it would have been a first for many of our people to actually step onto the runway.

“I know many of us have been on a plane going across the runway but to actually walk and see the multitude of people was just amazing. Really incredible.”

Eileen Story and her son also made the poignant walk across the runway.

“It was surreal,” said Story, who grew up across from the airport, in Rangiura where her Story family has lived for over 120 years.

“Walking along the runway was emotional for me.

“I could see our now sold family house on the hill and pictured the old days when Auto Tech was the Suzuki store owned by Mr Preston, and when there were fruit trees planted from the bottom of that hill all the way up to the houses.”

She said her great grandma, Metua Grace Kamire, was also originally buried in the airport area, so when the runway was going to be built, Kamire’s remains along with many others were moved to a mass grave next to Island Hopper where a tipani tree grows in remembrance of them.

“This wasn’t just about walking the runway, but also taking time to remember our Pa Metua and reflect on the significant events that have occurred since the airport officially opened 50 years ago,” said Story.

Children returning from their walk and cycle along the runway were delighted to be sprayed with water from the Rescue Fire Service (RFS) truck to cool down.

Nikau Tangaroa, Airport Authority chief executive officer, said that the water from the RFS truck is from the Airport Reservoir, not from the island’s main water pipe.

“However, we are conscious about our water, and so the water cannon was at a setting of 50 per cent capacity,” said Tangaroa.

“This was a once in a life-time event, and the children and the public had fun.

“It was a family occasion with laughter, fun and an exciting atmosphere, a happy buzz for our people.”

• Melina Etches
  
  

A look back at 80 years of aviation in the Cook Islands

1942 –  US Army built Penrhyn airstrip

1943 – US Army built Aitutaki airstrip

1944 – 1945 The New Zealand National Airways Corporation take over the regular fortnight service from NZ to Rarotonga with DC3 aircraft

January 1951 – The first DC4 to land on the Rarotonga airstrip was the Trans-Ocean Airlines called the ‘Kansas City Kitty Also provided service via Norfolk Island, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa

1947 – 1952 The New Zealand National Airways Corporation take over the regular fortnight service from NZ to Rarotonga with DC3 aircraft

1951 – 1960 TEAL (Tasman Empire Airways) provided Flying Boat service via Laucala, Satapuala, Aitutaki, Bora Bora and Tahiti.

Solent Fly Boats replace New Zealand National Airways Corporation, also operated by Tasman Empire Airlines to Aitutaki.

November – TEAL (Air New Zealand) began the world-famous ‘Coral Route’ using the Aitutaki Lagoon

1963 – 1966 Polynesian Airlines and TEAL agreement. TEAL purchased all seats between Apia and Rarotonga to enable a service to be provide to Rarotonga

Polynesian Airlines and TEAL operating the NZ – Apia – Rarotonga route

1966 – The Royal New Zealand Air Force was again required to provide a service to the Cooks.

1969 – 07 February – Aviation Agreement signed between New Zealand and the Cook Islands

1970 – 11 June – Work on the new international airport started

1973 – 05 September – The first jet aircraft to land at Rarotonga on the completed strip was an Air Pacific BAC 1-11 series 475

1974 – 29 January – Official opening of the Rarotonga International Airport by Queen Elizabeth II

1982 – 5 November – First Boeing 747 service Auckland to Rarotonga

1986 – June – Airport Authority was formed

1991 – Changes to the terminal

1994 Pacific Region Conference of the Airports International Council held in Rarotonga

Publication of “Coming in on a Jet Plane” by Colin Hall – A Pictorial History of the Cook Islands International Airport, Rarotonga, 1944 – 1994

1996 – 1997 –  Aitutaki Terminal construction started and later opened in 1997

2003 – 2004 – Sealing Aitutaki runway started and later opened in 2004

2006 – Rarotonga Domestic and Check-in area extended

2009 – Upgrade of Rarotonga International Airport Terminals (Arrivals and Departures) started

2010 June –  Upgraded Terminals opened

2018 – Upgraded Instrument Landing System 2017

Rarotonga Car Park upgraded to computerized 24 hour ticketed parking7

2019 – Airport Authority two young women become the first females to join the Airport Rescue Fire Service

2024 - 29 January Airport Authority celebrates 50th anniversary of the Rarotonga International Airport

• Airport Authority Cook Islands