Dunedin Airport’s Just Journey
New Zealand’s southern gateway talks fair wages, accessibility, and why looking after its people is fundamental to a strong airport.
At the southern edge of New Zealand, Dunedin Airport is where the world meets Ōtepoti Dunedin. Based in Momona, Otago, the airport serves the city of Dunedin and the wider Otago and Southland regions, connecting people, businesses, and communities to the region’s taoka (treasures). It is a public company owned equally by Dunedin City Holdings Ltd and the New Zealand Government.
Dunedin Airport has used the Just Label to make sure its people get the same careful attention. Through the process, the team strengthened its Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy, created a dedicated Accessibility Standard, and took a closer look at fair wages and employee wellbeing.
In August 2026, Dunedin Airport earned its first Just label, covering 47 employees, and became the first airport ever to join the Just community. Its story shows that the Just framework can support any workplace, and that this work matters in every one, whether it designs buildings or keeps planes moving.
Dunedin Airport scored especially high on the Employee Engagement, Racial + Ethnic, and Gender Pay Equity indicators. It also did substantial work to bring the accessibility practices and policies it offers travelers to its own employees.
We spoke with Dunedin Airport about why equity matters to them, what Just has changed, and their advice for organizations just getting started.
Q&A with Dunedin Airport
Why is organizational equity important to Dunedin Airport?
Our people are at the heart of Dunedin Airport. We want everyone who works here to feel valued, respected and supported, with fair opportunities to contribute and grow. That means recognising that people have different needs and starting points, and understanding the support they need to succeed.
Our commitment to equity comes from the responsibility we feel towards our people and the community we serve. We connect Ōtepoti Dunedin and our wider region with the world, and we want our workplace to reflect that same sense of welcome and belonging.
For us, equity is part of how we look after each other, make decisions and build a team where everyone’s contribution matters.
How has the Just label helped your organization?
Just has given us a framework to better understand how we support our people, benchmark our practices and identify opportunities to improve. It has encouraged us to look more closely at fair wages and employee wellbeing, and to make the support we provide more visible and accountable.
Our Just journey has also encouraged us to look more closely at workplace accessibility and inclusion. While supporting individual needs has always been part of our culture, the process highlighted the importance of formally documenting these commitments. We have strengthened our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy and developed a dedicated Accessibility Standard, providing clearer processes for requesting workplace adjustments, sharing feedback and communicating available support.
For our people, this means greater transparency, consistency and confidence that their individual needs will be recognised and supported, enabling everyone to participate and contribute fully.
The process has reinforced our belief that looking after our people is fundamental to a strong airport. When people feel valued, included and supported, they are better placed to contribute to our team and the experience we provide for our passengers and community. Just gives us a clearer way to assess our progress and keep building a workplace where people can thrive.
“Just has given us a framework to better understand how we support our people, benchmark our practices and identify opportunities to improve. It has encouraged us to look more closely at fair wages and employee wellbeing, and to make the support we provide more visible and accountable.”
Dunedin Airport
What would you say to organizations considering the journey toward corporate transparency?
Start with a willingness to listen and an honest look at where you are today. You do not need to have every answer before you begin.
For airports and transport organisations, safety and operational requirements shape much of the working day. Making time to understand people’s experiences is just as valuable: whether they feel heard, supported and able to access opportunities.
Involve your team early, be open about what you learn and follow through on the areas that need attention. The value of Just comes from the conversations it starts and the actions that follow. Transparency means being clear about both your progress and the work still ahead.
To learn more about Dunedin Airport’s Just label, visit its profile on the Just platform.
