But views differ on who is to blame for the potential shutdown of an airfield which attracts planes from all over the country and is home to a nationally significant museum of aircraft from the 1920s and 1930s.
Airfield owner Mike Crymble said, in the end, he had to use the "nuclear option" of threatening to close the airport by the end of January unless something was done to provide safety for those at the airfield.
He was satisfied with the new fence but was still bemused a playground was built there without any questions asked.
But those who built the playground said the fence was always going to be built and Mr Crymble should have got in touch.
Mandeville resident Aaron Horrell, who was involved in the playground’s construction, said Mr Crymble needed to be more aware of what was going on near his land.
"He did not need to be notified. He was not an affected party. But he has not reached out to any of his neighbours and asked what was happening," he said.
"We were always going to build a fence, always. We had a few delays.
"The idea was to have a picket fence installed but through various reasons that did not work.
"We now have a sheep fence, which blends in well."
The playground is is well away from where most planes land and taxi.
Mr Horrell said the fence would stop children running towards planes.
He was fully confident of the playground’s safety.
"There are always mums and dad there keeping an eye on the kids."
The playground was built beside the airport because it was the only suitable land in the area, he said.
Mr Crymble, who lives in Northland, has owned the airfield for three years.
He confirmed the airfield was not closing, after earlier applying to the Civil Aviation Authority to close
the airfield from yesterday for three months due to safety concerns.
He said if anything had happened he as the owner would be liable and he could not risk that.
"Someone said to me — ‘It’s not Heathrow’. But it doesn’t have to be.
"One child could walk away from that playground into the path of a plane, into a propeller," he said.
"I had to go nuclear — that was the only option.
"I had to make people realise how serious this was ... that tends to focus minds."
He said the argument that no incidents had happened so far simply did not stack up, as something could still happen, and still wondered why the playground was built at that location.
He admitted living in Northland did not help the situation.
Gore District Council parks and recreation manager Keith McRobie said the council was happy with the fence and was glad the airfield would not close.
