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Returning February 2027
Wings Over Wairarapa is officially back on the runway!We’re excited to confirm that planning is underway for the next air festival — returning to Hood Aerodrome in February 2027. This next edition marks a fresh chapter for a much-loved Wairarapa event. We've taken the lessons of past years, strengthened our foundations, and are designing a show that will be more resilient, more engaging, and even more uniquely “Wairarapa” than before.
Take Flight Returns – Bigger, Bolder, and Built for Young Minds
Our nationally recognised Take Flight STEM programme will also be back — and growing. Take Flight has already inspired thousands of rangatahi from across the region, giving them hands-on experiences in science, engineering, aviation, and technology.In 2027, we’re expanding our education offering, strengthening partnerships with providers, and ensuring free access for all Wairarapa students. Expect more interactivity, more real-world career pathways, and more opportunities for young people to get up close to the ideas and industries shaping Aotearoa’s future.
A Festival Made for Everyone
We’re designing Wings 2027 to be a brilliant day out whether you’re an aviation buff, a family looking for an adventure, or someone who just loves the energy of a big community event. That means a carefully balanced mix of flying displays, ground-based experiences, food, entertainment, and surprises across the weekend — with a strong focus on activities that are just as good in sunshine or southerlies (this is the Wairarapa, after all).
Stay Connected
Over the coming months we’ll share updates on aircraft, activities, tickets, volunteering, and the new programmes taking shape behind the scenes.Wings Over Wairarapa has always been about more than aircraft — it’s about the people, the region, and the chance to spark something big in young minds. We can’t wait to welcome you back in 2027.Watch this space. The countdown has begun!
Partnership
Wings Over Wairarapa is one of Aotearoa’s most distinctive aviation festivals — a three-day celebration of heritage aircraft, innovation, community, and education. Returning in February 2027, the event is being rebuilt with a renewed focus on resilience, impact, and long-term partnerships. As a partner, you won’t just be supporting an airshow; you’ll be backing a trusted regional institution with strong community roots and national reach.
A Unique Platform for Brands
Hood Aerodrome offers something no other NZ festival can: the world’s largest collection of flying WWI aircraft, spectacular military and modern displays, and a crowd that includes families, aviation enthusiasts, businesses, educators, and industry leaders. Sponsors benefit from high visibility across the site, tailored hosting opportunities, and association with an event that consistently draws thousands from across the North Island.Whether you’re seeking brand exposure, corporate hospitality, recruitment opportunities, or a platform to showcase innovation, Wings provides a flexible and meaningful partnership environment.
Invest in New Zealand’s Future Workforce
A major part of Wings’ mission is the Take Flight STEM Programme, the largest aviation-themed STEM initiative in the country. Every festival brings more than 5,000 students to Hood Aerodrome for hands-on experiences, workshops, career pathways, and industry engagement. Supporting Wings means directly investing in rangatahi — especially Māori, Pasifika, rural, and female students who are often under-represented in STEM education.For organisations operating in engineering, aviation, defence, technology, or training, Wings offers a powerful way to contribute to the future workforce while engaging with students and educators on the ground.
A Partnership That Goes Beyond the Weekend
Our 2027 strategy places strong emphasis on long-term collaboration. We’re developing multi-year sponsorship packages, stronger business engagement, premium hospitality offerings, and new ways for partners to activate on-site. We work closely with sponsors to tailor benefits to your goals — whether that’s visibility, industry connection, education impact, customer engagement, or community investment.
History
Wings Over Wairarapa has been a defining feature of the region’s cultural and aviation landscape for more than two decades. Founded in 1999 by Tom Williams and the Sport & Vintage Aviation Society, the event began as a locally driven celebration of flight, heritage aircraft, and community spirit. What started as a small provincial airshow soon developed into a nationally recognised festival, attracting visitors, pilots, and aircraft from across New Zealand and further afield.In 2011, the event’s structure evolved with the establishment of the Wings Over Wairarapa Charitable Trust. The Trust assumed formal stewardship of the festival, ensuring continuity, professional governance, and alignment with a broader charitable purpose. This transition strengthened Wings’ commitment not only to aviation entertainment but also to education, heritage preservation, and regional economic contribution.Over the years, Wings has become distinguished by the unmatched presence of The Vintage Aviator Ltd’s World War One aircraft collection, based at Hood Aerodrome. The opportunity to showcase the world’s largest and most authentic collection of WWI aircraft has given the event an international point of difference and solidified its reputation for offering a truly unique flying programme.A significant milestone in the festival’s evolution was the launch of the Take Flight STEM programme in 2019. Designed to inspire young people and connect them to pathways in science, technology, engineering, aviation, and aerospace, the programme quickly became an integral part of Wings’ identity. Schools Days have since drawn more than 5,000 students per event, demonstrating the strong educational value and community impact achieved through hands-on, immersive learning.Despite challenges such as adverse weather and the impacts of COVID-19, Wings has remained resilient. The enduring support of volunteers, sponsors, pilots, educators, and the wider Wairarapa community continues to underpin its success. Recent years have seen a renewed focus on organisational strength, sustainability, and long-term strategic planning — ensuring the festival is well positioned for future growth.As Wings Over Wairarapa looks to 2027 and beyond, it remains committed to its founding principles: celebrating aviation heritage, inspiring young people, engaging local communities, and contributing to the social and economic vibrancy of the Wairarapa region. The festival’s history reflects both the enduring fascination of flight and the collective effort of a community determined to keep that spirit alive.
Timeline
First Wings Takes Flight (1999)
The very first Wings Over Wairarapa airshow is held at Hood Aerodrome, Masterton, kicking off a biennial aviation event that quickly becomes a regional favourite.
Building Momentum (2001–2005)
Through the early 2000s, Wings steadily grows – more aircraft, more variety, and more people discovering that a rural aerodrome can host a seriously good airshow.
A North Island Highlight (2007)
Wings is firmly established as a regular feature at Hood Aerodrome, drawing big crowds and a busy flying programme under the Wairarapa sky.
10th Anniversary & Big Crowds (2009)
“Trust House Wings Over Wairarapa 2009” marks the show’s 10th anniversary, with organisers expecting more than 40,000 people and promoting rare, historically significant aircraft as major drawcards.
New Trust, New Era (2011)
Following the 2011 airshow, governance formally shifts to the Wings Over Wairarapa Community Trust, bringing a stronger board and long-term strategic focus to the event.
Growing Reputation (2010s)
Through the mid-2010s, Wings develops into a true “festival of aviation”, with large numbers of vintage, military, jet and aerobatic aircraft on show across three days, and a reputation as a significant event for the Wairarapa region.
Big Programme, Tough Weather (2019)
The 2019 Air Festival features strong RNZAF participation, night flying, and a stacked programme – but Sunday’s flying is cancelled due to weather, and a planned B-52 Stratofortress flyover has to be scrubbed at the last minute.
The B-52 Finally Arrives (2021)
In February 2021, a USAF B-52 Stratofortress finally roars over Masterton, completing multiple passes and delivering on a long-anticipated promise.
Confirmed Charitable Purpose (2022)
In 2022, we clarified and strengthened our purpose, and restructured to a Charitable Trust and Limited Liabiilty Company to support that new vision.
Weather Tests the Festival (2023)
The rescheduled air festival in late 2023 faces challenging conditions. The weather limits how many of The Vintage Aviator’s fragile WWI aircraft can fly, but the show goes on, underlining both the risks of the climate and the determination of organisers and supporters.
Rebuild, Refresh, Reset (2024–2025)
A governance and organisational refresh gets underway, with a stronger focus on financial resilience, risk management, and deepening the education and STEM impact of the festival (including the Take Flight programme).