Mandeville Aerodrome, near Gore, is home to a nationally significant museum of aircraft from the 1920s and 1930s.
A Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) spokesman said the authority had recently been made aware of safety concerns "regarding the proximity of a playground" to the airfield.
There were two current notices to airmen (NOTAMs) for the airfield, one of which indicated a temporary closure from January 31 until April 30.
"We will make inquiries in the coming days to better understand concerns at the aerodrome and to determine whether the aerodrome operator needs any further support to ensure safety of users from the CAA at this time," the spokesman said.
Airfield owner Michael Crymble told the Otago Daily Times he had been "completely in the dark" about the playground.
He did not live on the airfield and concerns were brought to his attention about a week ago, despite the playground being finished in May last year, he said.
He had since instructed the airfield to be closed, and for businesses on it to do what they could to try to protect children.
"The playground is located literally metres from where the aeroplanes [are] operating.
"It doesn’t take a very intelligent person to look at that, put two and two together, and say, Christ, these children are at risk."
He wanted the airfield to remain closed until further notice, or until the situation was resolved satisfactorily.
While he was not aware of any children being endangered, or of any injuries, their safety was "not something that you can just ignore".
He believed there was a "very real risk" and the playground should have a childproof fence around it.
The playground was not on his land and he was not consulted about it. In the end, it was the council’s responsibility, he said.
Mr Crymble said that, as a father, he loved playgrounds and thought having one would be wonderful for the community.
"But it’s just the wrong place."
The airfield is home to the Croydon Aviation Heritage Centre, described on its website as a "nationally significant museum" housing aircraft from the 1920s and 1930s, including a collection of de Havilland aircraft, restored and maintained by the Croydon Aircraft Company — which also operates on the airfield.
Nearly all of the aircraft on display "actually fly" and it offers up to 30-minute scenic and aerobatic flights in a Tiger Moth.
The centre was not closing, but no aeroplane movements would occur and visiting pilots would be turned away, Mr Crymble said.
A representative for the Croydon Aircraft Company declined to comment.
A Gore District Council spokesman said the playground opened in May last year and was the result of long discussions with the Mandeville community — which had been the council’s only rural community without a playground.
"Fencing was discussed as part of the build, but ultimately the community decided against it, opting for the electric fence tape and pigtail standard fence instead, which has been working well."
A fence was not required as part of the consent, nor was the airfield’s owner required to be notified.
"In saying that, the council and the community are willing to readdress the potential of a fence, as the safety of children is a top priority for us all."
The CAA spokesman said the Mandeville airfield was privately owned and safety management was the primary responsibility of the aerodrome operator, in accordance with Civil Aviation Rules.
Aerodrome operators were required to establish procedures to ensure aircraft movements were restricted or prohibited on parts of the aerodrome where an unsafe condition existed, which might result in decisions to close a runway.
Closing a runway temporarily might be appropriate until a safety concern could be addressed, or permanently if safety concerns were not able to be resolved, the spokesman said.
- Additional reporting Gerrit Doppenberg
