EMAS - new runway safety zones
In March 2026 Wellington Airport completed work on new runway safety buffer zones to enhance the performance of the airport’s safety areas.
The engineered materials arresting system (EMAS) uses energy absorbing blocks to provide an additional safety measure at each end of the airport runway.
EMAS provides further safety enhancements by extending the usable length of the runway. By optimising space currently used for safety zones, it provides a landing distance increase of over 143m and a take-off distance increase of 37m.
More information is available here.
