Kendon-Strong Centre NZ

It has been a two-year journey to establish the new Kendon-Strong MAF Centre at Tauranga Airport. Major renovations began in August 2022, leaving staff working from their homes and the apartment facility temporarily unavailable.

A significant amount of voluntary help was provided by MMM (Mobile Mission Maintenance), enabling the renovation to be completed in a timely manner. Due to current building regulations, the project was significantly larger than first anticipated, especially in regard to fire protection and ventilation.

This newly renovated office and accommodation facility will support MAF NZ for many years to come. The hangar area provides not only space for our Cessna 206 aircraft but three aeroplanes that yield rent which covers the lease on the land and insurance on the building.

Part of the vision of the Centre was to be “open for business” so that people could come and visit to see and hear the MAF story. Already in the two years the Centre has been open, we have had many visiting individuals and groups. This includes the Boys and Girls Rally, a youth group from Auckland and local and out-of-town Life Groups.

We have also made the facility available for aviation industry people to use the boardroom for meetings. Several MAF families on home assignment or in training have already stayed in the apartment. The entire hangar space was used in February 2023 for the HEAT Course (Hostile Environment Awareness Training).

We invite anyone to bring your group to visit the Centre, to view the MAF aeroplane, view a MAF video and hear the MAF story. We love any opportunity to share and engage with you.

Mark Fox