Date: |
11 Feb 2026, 6.00PM – 7.30PM |
duration: |
1 hr 30 mins |
Venue: |
Airways Hawkins Hill Radar Station |
Address: |
Wellington Wind Turbine Owhiro Bay Parade, Wellington |
Cost: |
Free event |
The Airways Hawkins Hill Radar Station in Wellington, New Zealand, is a key part of New Zealand’s air traffic control, providing essential radar surveillance for aircraft, especially as a backup to the main ADS-B system. Known for its distinctive white dome (the "golf ball") on the skyline, the original radar was decommissioned in 2024 and replaced with a new, combined Primary & Secondary Surveillance Radar (PSR/SSR) system for enhanced safety and resilience, with the new dome installed and undergoing final checks in early 2026.
In addition to our Electrical Engineering Group members, we extend the invitation to all interested parties.
Key Learning Outcomes:
• An understanding of what an air traffic radar station consists of.
• An understanding of the electrical infrastructure that supports the radar station.
During the site visit Ash will be available to answer your questions.
Note, this is an in-person physical site visit that requires you to attend in person with a maximum of 10 attendees.
Once you are successfully registered you will need to meet at 5:45pm at the Wellington Wind Turbine carpark.
At 6:00pm you’ll be decanted into a smaller number of vehicles that will be escorted up the private secure access road that leads to the radar station.
If you are not officially registered and accepted for this visit you will not be able to proceed to the radar station.
About Airways New Zealand
Airways New Zealand is the country's sole state-owned air navigation service provider, responsible for managing all air traffic in New Zealand's vast airspace (over 30 million sq. km) and providing critical air traffic control, navigation, and flight information services to ensure aviation safety, serving airlines, airports, and the NZ Defence Force. Beyond NZ, its commercial arm, Airways International, offers consultancy, training, and digital solutions globally, positioning Airways as a world leader in managing air traffic and creating future aviation environments.
Join the Electrical Engineering Group for the rare opportunity to see behind the scenes at the Airways’ Hawkins Hill radar station Wellington courtesy of Ash Baxter, Principal Technician with Airways New Zealand.
The Airways Hawkins Hill Radar Station in Wellington, New Zealand, is a key part of New Zealand’s air traffic control, providing essential radar surveillance for aircraft, especially as a backup to the main ADS-B system. Known for its distinctive white dome (the "golf ball") on the skyline, the original radar was decommissioned in 2024 and replaced with a new, combined Primary & Secondary Surveillance Radar (PSR/SSR) system for enhanced safety and resilience, with the new dome installed and undergoing final checks in early 2026.
In addition to our Electrical Engineering Group members, we extend the invitation to all interested parties.
Key Learning Outcomes:
• An understanding of what an air traffic radar station consists of.
• An understanding of the electrical infrastructure that supports the radar station.
During the site visit Ash will be available to answer your questions.
Note, this is an in-person physical site visit that requires you to attend in person with a maximum of 10 attendees.
Once you are successfully registered you will need to meet at 5:45pm at the Wellington Wind Turbine carpark.
At 6:00pm you’ll be decanted into a smaller number of vehicles that will be escorted up the private secure access road that leads to the radar station.
If you are not officially registered and accepted for this visit you will not be able to proceed to the radar station.
About Airways New Zealand
Airways New Zealand is the country's sole state-owned air navigation service provider, responsible for managing all air traffic in New Zealand's vast airspace (over 30 million sq. km) and providing critical air traffic control, navigation, and flight information services to ensure aviation safety, serving airlines, airports, and the NZ Defence Force. Beyond NZ, its commercial arm, Airways International, offers consultancy, training, and digital solutions globally, positioning Airways as a world leader in managing air traffic and creating future aviation environments.
