Invercargill residents will have to wait a little longer for their airport terminal to bear the name of the city’s longest serving mayor.

This week, Invercargill City Council confirmed the rebrand to Sir Tim Shadbolt Terminal was taking longer than anticipated.

In November 2023, councillors voted 11 - 1 to rename the building after the eight-term former mayor as a nod to his service to the community.

A proposed design of signage which would welcome patrons to the Sir Tim Shadbolt Terminal. Photo: Invercargill City Council

The proposed design included a plaque outlining his contribution, as well as a large image next to the check-in area of him in full mayoral regalia.

New signage of the updated name was also proposed.

Council chief executive Michael Day said the organisation was still working through the process of design and sign-off for signage and naming.

“We hope to be able to make an announcement as soon as possible,” he said.

According to a council report, the organisation holds over 97 percent of shares in the airport through Invercargill City Holdings Ltd, which Shadbolt was a director of from 2013 to 2019.

During his tenure as mayor, the airport underwent a significant runway extension in 2003 and completion of a new terminal development in 2016.

The commencement of a direct flight from Invercargill to Auckland in 2018 — the longest in the country — was a continuation of the former mayor’s promotion of the city, the council said.

Shadbolt served as mayor of Invercargill from 1993 - 1995, and again from 1998 - 2022

In 2019, he received a knighthood for his services to the Invercargill community.

The 2022 local elections saw Shadbolt try to return to council as a councillor, but he wound up 14 places behind the final elected member.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air