Dunedin Airport has officially unveiled its redeveloped first-floor terminal space, marking a major milestone in its wider terminal enhancement project and delivering an improved experience for travellers to and from the lower South.

The redevelopment includes new dining at Provenance by Airspresso, expanded lounge areas, and the integration of Kāi Tahu cultural narratives through striking new artworks.

Following months of work, the first floor was reopened after a whakawātea led by mana whenua from Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou.

This morning, invited guests gathered to celebrate the rejuvenated terminal space, experiencing two new artworks that tell the stories of Kāi Tahu, while sampling offerings from Provenance.

Following speeches from Dunedin Mayor Sophie Barker, Dunedin Airport Chief Executive Daniel De Bono, and Airspresso Founder and Managing Director Craig Macfarlane, the occasion was marked with a ribbon-cutting by Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou representative Paulette Tamati-Elliffe (Kāi Te Pahi, Kāi Te Ruahikihiki (Ōtākou), Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Mutunga), Mayor Sophie Barker, and Daniel De Bono.

From left: Daniel De Bono, Paulette Tamati-Elliffe, and Sophie Barker

Mayor Barker said the redevelopment creates a strong first impression for visitors arriving in the region.

“The first floor of the airport really has been transformed; the end result is absolutely stunning. What a welcome for visitors to the terminal and the South.”

Celebrating Kāi Tahu stories and connection to place

Interim Chair of Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou Paulette Tamati-Elliffe

Dunedin Airport is working with Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou to integrate Kāi Tahu narratives and values into the wider terminal enhancement project. Working with rūnaka-owned organisation Aukaha, those narratives have inspired the stunning cultural designs that now wrap around the refurbishment. These works draw on kaitiakiataka (guardianship) and whakapapa (genealogy).

Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou Upoko Edward Ellison said the location of the airport is immensely significant to the hapū of Ōtākou, and welcomed Dunedin Airport’s commitment to celebrating these narratives.

“Many of our pūrākau (stories), historical moments, cultural practices, wāhi tīpuna, and wāhi taoka (places of significance) are inextricably linked to the landscape surrounding Dunedin Airport. The Taiari was abundant in nohoaka (camp settlements), and mahika kai (food gathering areas and food itself).

“Visually embedding our stories into the design of Dunedin Airport acknowledges our enduring connection to this landscape, upholds the stories passed down through generations of Kāi Tahu whānau, and enables our descendants to recognise themselves in places that, for millennia, have been a source of life for their tīpuna.”

Mauka Atua, the mountain range extending along the breadth of the Taiari Plains, features on the first floor’s northern wall, interpreted by Kāi Tahu artist Xoë Hall (pictured above).

Mauka Atua itself is imbued with spiritual qualities and was likened by tīpuna to a sleeping giant, said to be the source of strange sounds in particular winds or climatic conditions. It was formally recognised in the Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act for its cultural, spiritual, historic, and traditional significance to mana whenua.

Xoe’s striking interpretation of Mauka Atua depicts the mauka standing sentinel over the landscape, perpetually watching travellers come and go. The colours reflect the whenua, waterways, skies, and sunsets. The feature has already become a popular photo location for airport visitors.

• Watch this video of Xoë's mural coming to life

Alongside this, Kāi Tahu master carver Steve Solomon has created a kūwaha (gateway) that references the whakapapa (genealogy) and pūrākau (stories) of Kāi Tahu in this area.

A kūwaha is a symbolic threshold, representing a place of transition that people pass beneath as they arrive or depart. Traditionally, kūwaha can also signify the boundary between the physical and spiritual realms.

New dining and improved passenger experience at Dunedin Airport

The first floor has also been enhanced with the earlier reopening of Fuel to Fly café, alongside new lounge areas and furniture. The addition of Provenance by Airspresso further strengthens Dunedin Airport’s hospitality offering.

Provenance introduces a relaxed dining experience inspired by the lower South, with a menu shaped by local producers and seasonal ingredients.

From barista-made coffee to local craft beers, Central Otago wines, and freshly made pizzas, the restaurant and bar offers travellers a place to pause, refuel, and enjoy a taste of the South.

Airspresso Founder and Managing Director Craig Macfarlane (pictured below) said the opening of Provenance brings a long-held vision to life.

“We are very excited to have partnered with Dunedin Airport to see a pre-COVID vision come to fruition.

“We continually put ourselves in the seat of travellers to ensure what we offer is hospitable, delicious, freshly made, and challenges the norm of what is typically offered in an airport environment.

“We are excited to work alongside the Dunedin Airport executive team to make Dunedin Airport an exceptional food and beverage destination.”

A milestone for Dunedin Airport and the lower South

Dunedin Airport Chief Executive Daniel De Bono (pictured above) said the redevelopment marks a significant milestone for the airport and the region.

“The completion of Level One is outstanding. I’m immensely proud of the dedicated team involved in this project, and all have been eager to see this moment happen.

“It’s been a privilege to work with mana whenua, and to see the results of that come to life in such a powerful way through these tremendous artworks, creating a real sense of place.”

The celebrations were accompanied by waiata from Taieri College’s kapa haka group (pictured above).

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