The Lambie family, descendants of Manukau City founding mayor Hugh Lambie, have lost their High Court battle for the return of 36.4ha of their Mangere farm, the New Zealand Herald reports.

The Lambies had argued that land taken from them in the 1970s should be returned because it was not being used in airport development.

Auckland Airport argued that the claimed land sat between what will be the airport's two runways and was an integral part of the company's long-term plans.

The land is mostly north of Tom Pearce Drive and east of George Bolt Memorial Drive.

The Craigie Trust, original owner of the property on behalf of the Lambie family, contacted Auckland Airport in September 2006, arguing the land was surplus to airport requirements and should be offered back to it under the Public Works Act 1981.

The Act says land no longer needed for the public works it was acquired for must be offered back to its original owners.

But a High Court decision ruled in favour of the airport, which in March had argued in court that its proposals for the land were airport-related.

Those proposals included an aviation campus with airport company and Air New Zealand offices, an Air New Zealand learning centre, and a holding area for taxis and shuttles.