Why Are US War Planes Being Hosted Over Easter By Publicly-Owned Airport Of Christchurch A Peace City?
Mayor & City Councillors,
As you are aware, US Air Force F-22 Raptor fighter jets will be based at Christchurch Airport over Easter Weekend while they take part in Warbirds Over Wanaka.
This has already attracted public controversy
thepress.co.nz/backlash-over-warbirds-over-wanaka-display-deadly-united-states-raptor-22-jets
The Anti-Bases Campaign (along with plenty of other people) wants to know why is this happening? Why is our airport, which is 75% owned by the people of Christchurch (via the City Council) happily playing host to highly advanced war planes of the world's biggest military, one which is currently throwing its weight around all over the globe?
Unlike other US military aircraft that regularly use Christchurch Airport, Raptors have absolutely zero civilian functions. They do not fly scientists to Antarctica for peaceful research. Raptors' only function is to create death and destruction.
If you say, "well, they're only coming to NZ for an air show", we ask you what your reaction would be if they were Chinese fighter jets? You would say that they would be here for propaganda purposes and that's exactly what these American war planes are coming here for.
Anti-Bases Campaign requests that the Christchurch City Council, as the majority owner of Christchurch International Airport Limited, instructs CIAL to not allow the Raptors to be based at our airport over Easter. It would be preferable that they not come to New Zealand at all but as that is not in the City Council's power, you can at least ensure that they are based somewhere else. Christchurch is certainly not the closest airport to Wanaka. Presumably the US Air Force wants them to be based here because there is already a US military presence at Christchurch Airport. This is what happens when you host foreign military bases - you get unforeseen consequences.
If you say that the City Council does not interfere in operational matters of CIAL, we say, oh yes you do. One word - Tarras.
And this is not an operational matter - it is adversely reputational. It is in glaring contradiction to Christchurch's proudly proclaimed status as A Peace City, one which it has held since 2002, and which is highlighted on the City Council Website. A whole succession of Mayors and City Councillors have dined out nationally and internationally on Christchurch A Peace City. For example, in August 2025, the current Mayor attended the annual Hiroshima Day event at the Peace Bell in the Botanic Gardens, where people gather to commemorate the victims of the atomic bomb (dropped by the same US Air Force).
To put it in simple terms, it's not a good look. It is embarrassing. Stop it happening. And if you say that you can't do that, publicly oppose it. Because if you don't, it means that you're happy for US war planes to be hosted by the publicly-owned airport of Christchurch A Peace City. Are you?
Best wishes,
Murray
Murray Horton
Secretary/Organiser Anti-Bases Campaign.