Airport honour for Shadbolt

Invercargill’s airport terminal is to be renamed in honour of the city’s former mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt. The decision by the Invercargill City Council, the airport’s majority shareholder, this week followed public discussion on how best to publicly recognise Sir Tim’s epic eight-term tenure spanning 1993 to 1995 and 1998 to 2022. Initial suggestions included the possibility of a statue, or naming either the Gala St reserve or the Splash Palace swimming complex after him. A proposal from supporters further north to concentrate on the airport galvanised widespread support, including from the man himself. The airport’s board, Mayor Nobby Clark and the minority iwi shareholders also agreed.