Latest update on Te Ara Tupua

Our teams achieved a significant milestone in August, connecting the southern construction zone which starts at Ngā Ūranga to the middle section, known as Karanga, where our temporary wharf is located, This means we are now halfway to finishing the project.

Between Wellington and Lower Hutt, all sites have been busy including the completion of two (out of four) fish passage culverts which will allow fish to move between fresh water and salt water in time for their natural migration period. To help the fish move through, ecologists worked with the construction team to integrate rocks into the surface of the culvert for fish to 'hop' up and down stream, replicating a natural stream bed (pictured below).

To date we have placed:

- 2,718 of the 6,700 interlocking concrete blocks
- 865 of 2,523 vertical seawall blocks

Find out more below.

Enhanced reef in Te Whanganui-a-Tara

The enhanced reef habitat designed to help restore and protect marine ecosystems next to the Ngā Ūranga ki Pito-One section of Te Ara Tupua is complete. The  reef is an important element of the project and reflects how we respect the environment of Te Whanganui-a-Tara; a harbour that has great historical significance to iwi mana whenua Taranaki Whānui and Ngāti Toa.

Watch the video below and see how our team of engineers, ecologists, and iwi mana whenua partners worked together to deliver a habitat solution to meet consent conditions, which resulted in a cost-effective and first of its kind solution in New Zealand.

Building up the next generation

Last month, we met with teachers from nine high schools in the Wellington and Hutt Valley region to discuss opportunities to engage with young minds and share career pathways into the infrastructure and construction industry. 

Our team of designers, engineers and ecologists attended careers expos to talk to inquisitive young minds while challenging their perspective on what a job in infrastructure and construction involves. Many were surprised that projects like Te Ara Tupua need the expertise of many different experts.

Aspiring engineers and designers inspected the miniature blocks used to create the interlocking concrete seawall while future scientists were fascinated to learn that these same blocks not only minimised the physical footprint and impact to the marine environment but also combined cultural and environmental designs to encourage growth of marine plants. 

Being such a tech savvy generation, students were quick to embrace digital innovation, testing out our virtual reality programme where they also tried to fly the drone camera around the construction site to capture survey data. 

Following on from these career expos, schools will have the opportunity to go through the Te Ara Tupua cultural, health & safety induction before visiting a section of the construction site to experience the work up close and meet some of our team.

We look forward to seeing the next generation of young minds building their career in infrastructure and construction. 

Bird of the Year 2024

It’s the world’s smallest penguin with a big place in our teams' hearts and this year, we'd like to see the Kororā, Little Blue Penguin be voted the Bird of the Year 2024! 

Voting is open from 2-15 September 2024.

We are well into our second breeding season and currently have three pairs of penguins suspected with eggs along Te Ara Tupua. Over the next few weeks, our team will monitor their movements using trail cams and ecological sweeps before construction activity takes place, with additional signage and cordoned zones so we don't disturb them.

Jetesh Bhula, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Regional Manager says this is an opportunity to remember the importance of protecting a native taonga while working in an environment such as this.

"We share the foreshore with wildlife including the Kororā and while we work to improve transport resilience of the rail and the State Highway, the new coastline will provide more protection and habitat for penguins."

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and the project team works closely with iwi mana whenua, the Department of Conservation, Predator Free Wellington, and penguin ecologists to minimise risks to penguins.

If you spot a sick or injured kororā call the Department of Conservation (DOC) on 0800 362 468.

Pictured below: Nesting penguin along Ngā Ūranga ki Pito-One section of Te Ara Tupua.

About us

The Ngā Ūranga ki Pito-One section of Te Ara Tupua is a project to provide better resilience to transport links between Wellington and Lower Hutt, with new walking and cycling choices. It has been developed in partnership between NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika and Ngāti Toa Rangatira, alongside local councils.

It is being delivered by Te Ara Tupua Alliance, made up of Tonkin + Taylor, Downer NZ, and HEB Construction. 

More information

For more information on the Te Ara Tupua project, contact us at TeAraTupua@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/TeAraTupua