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Tauriko Enabling WorksProject update |
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19 September 2025 |
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Tēnā koe and welcome to the State Highway 29 (SH29) Tauriko Enabling Works project update. In this special edition, we’re reflecting on 1 year of construction in the Tauriko Village section, which kicked off in September 2024.
You can read about: NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and Tauranga City Council (TCC) are progressing this programme of work to improve safety and enable development in and around Tauriko. |
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What a difference a year makesCrews got to work in Tauriko Village and along Cambridge Road in mid-September 2024. Fast forward to now and the progress is evident. The area has been transformed and the groundwork laid for future development, with a new intersection, road, and car park for the Tauriko School and Playcentre. The new road, which has until now been dubbed ‘northern access road’ has received its official name - Te Ara Hoia Drive. Te Ara Hoia means ‘the pathway of the warrior’. This new route provides improved, safer access to the school and Playcentre and will eventually link to the planned Tauriko West community, which is expected to accommodate up to 4000 new homes. Retaining wall construction has been a major focus over the past year, with 4 walls required to stabilise the ground for road widening. The largest, located at the SH29/Cambridge Road intersection, began in September 2024 and involves extensive sheet piling, anchoring, and a whopping 2,500 tonnes of concrete for the 190 metre long/4.5 metre high wall. Further west, a retaining wall running parallel to SH29 through the village has been completed and supports the stormwater outlet from the wetland area just east of Tauriko School. Construction of a third wall near Te Ara Hoia Drive got underway in July and is expected to be completed in early 2026. In addition to these structural works, the team has been busy with infrastructure upgrades including laying power lines underground, and installing new stormwater, wastewater and watermain lines. Read more on upcoming power line works on Cambridge Road below. All the above progress has been managed despite the wettest April and July on record! The ground has been damp but the spirits of the team remain high. Check out some before and after photos below. |
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From dirt... |
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...to drive. Te Ara Hoia Drive opened in April 2025. At completion, the intersection will feature traffic lights. |
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From paddock... |
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...to parking. The new Tauriko School and Playcentre car park opened to traffic in April 2025. |
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The largest retaining wall on the project is located on Cambridge Road. Already the team has poured more than 1500 tonnes of concrete – that’s equivalent to a stack of 111 African elephants! Temporary changes coming to SH29/Cambridge Road intersectionFor people that live near or travel along Cambridge Road, some temporary disruptions are on the way during the school holidays later this month. Work is underway on a major retaining wall at the intersection of SH29 and Cambridge Road. This is in preparation for a new, safer intersection with traffic lights, a key upgrade that will also include a new connection to Whiore Avenue for buses and people walking and cycling wanting to access Tauriko Business Estate. As part of this work, we’ve moved the power lines underground and we’re now ready to switch them on and remove the old lines and poles. To do this safely, there will be a short power outage and temporary lane closures. The key pieces of work include:
During the lane closure, Bethlehem-bound vehicles from SH29 must use the SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road (toll applies) or SH29A and Cameron Road (free route). The southbound lane on Cambridge Road will remain open. We thank everyone for their patience during this work. For more information and what to expect, visit our wesbite. |
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Drill shots in constructionSome of the most critical work in construction happens beneath our feet - quietly, precisely, and often with the help of a technique known as the drill shot. A drill shot refers to a directional drilling operation used to create a pathway underground, typically for utilities like water, gas, electricity, or communications. Unlike traditional trenching, where we dig trenches, install ducts and then backfill the trench, drill shots allow our teams to install infrastructure with minimal surface disruption - ideal for urban environments, sensitive ecosystems, or areas with heavy traffic such as SH29. We’ve used drill shots for wastewater upgrades and power relocations through the Tauriko Village area and for watermains and stormwater services in the Redwood Lane roundabout area.
How it works: Drill shot operations require pinpoint accuracy. Crews use GPS, gyroscopic guidance, and real-time telemetry to steer the drill head through soil, rock, or clay - sometimes over distances of hundreds of metres. Below are some examples of drill shot receiving pits. Both are located on the side of SH29 in the Tauriko Village area where we drilled pipes under the state highway for wastewater upgrades. |
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Progress in Redwood LaneWork on the Redwood Lane section, which began in March 2024, continues to progress well. The wastewater and watermain upgrades are now complete, and the remaining stormwater works are on track for completion this month. Landscaping is taking shape across several key areas, including the wetland, the northern approach to the underpass, the northern side of the Tauranga approach to the roundabout, and the roundabout itself. The team has also installed 34 of the 39 streetlights in this section. Night works are underway to complete surfacing and paving on SH29, between south of Gargan Road and south of Belk Road, as well as on Redwood Lane. Meanwhile, construction of the new Kaweroa Drive connection is progressing steadily. The kerb and channel, pavement layers, traffic signals, and streetlights have all been installed, and landscaping is underway. |
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Meet the team – Kanav, Senior Project EngineerWhat is your role and how did you get into this career? As a senior project engineer on the Tauriko Enabling Works, I’m responsible for delivering key infrastructure like stormwater, wastewater, watermain, utilities, traffic signals, and streetlight works. I’ve always been drawn to problem-solving and building things that make a lasting difference to communities, which is what led me to civil engineering. Back in 2009, I decided to pursue engineering, though I wasn’t sure which discipline to follow. One of my lecturers suggested Civil Engineering had great future prospects, and that advice shaped my path. I completed my Diploma and Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering in India, then moved to New Zealand to study a Level 7 Graduate Diploma in Engineering Highways in Hamilton. After finishing the course in 2016, I got my first job with Downer as a QA Technician on the Long Swamp section of the Waikato Expressway. From there, I’ve had the opportunity to work on a wide range of NZTA and regional council projects, including waters renewals for Hamilton City Council, NZTA level crossings, WestLink projects, and the SH33 shoulder widening project in the Bay of Plenty. I then moved onto the Peacocke’s Stage One and Stage Two projects in Hamilton, working with HEB and Downer - first as a Site Engineer, then Senior Site Engineer, and eventually as a Project Engineer. Now I’m here in Tauranga, working on the Tauriko Enabling Works, and I’m proud to be part of a team delivering infrastructure that will benefit the region for years to come. What’s a day in the life of a senior project engineer like? No 2 days on site are ever the same. Much of my time is spent coordinating and supporting sub-contractors, monitoring construction progress, and finding practical solutions to design or site challenges. I work hard to ensure everything is delivered safely, to a high standard, and in line with the project programme.
A key part of my role is bringing together the many services and trades on site so the project runs smoothly, on time, and cost-effectively while still achieving quality outcomes. I also have the privilege of leading a team of site engineers and a cadet, helping them grow and develop as we deliver our work together. What is the hardest part of your job?
The most challenging part of my job is managing all the moving parts of a large-scale project. Each service, whether it’s stormwater or traffic signals, has its own complexities and sequencing them correctly while sticking to timeframes can be tough. What do you enjoy the most about your role? I really enjoy seeing the tangible results of our work. Knowing that what we’re building today will serve the Bay of Plenty community for years to come is incredibly rewarding. I love being part of a team that’s improving safety, connectivity, and liveability in the region.
One of the best feelings is visiting past projects and seeing the impact they’ve had. There’s a real sense of achievement when I drive through them and share those moments with friends and family. What’s one thing you wish people knew about roadworks? I wish more people understood how much planning and coordination goes into making roadworks safe, not just for us as workers, but for drivers too. Slowing down and being patient through worksites really does help keep everyone safe and allows us to deliver projects more efficiently. |
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SH29 Ōmanawa Bridge replacement updateWork to build the new SH29 Ōmanawa Bridge, the first phase of the Tauriko West Road of National Significance (RoNS) project, gets underway in October. The new bridge will be built alongside the existing one, and SH29 realigned to fit with the future design for Tauriko West. The new bridge will be higher to accommodate a 1-in-100-year flood event and stronger to enable future overweight freight loads getting to and from the Port of Tauranga. There will also be some minor changes made to the SH29/Ōmanawa Road intersection to make it safer. Our contractors, HEB Construction Ltd will begin site works over the coming weeks. Construction will be largely offline (off the state highway) during the initial stages of the project, with only minimal impacts for people using SH29. Drivers in the area can expect minor layout changes to the state highway and temporary speed restrictions near the existing bridge and on Ōmanawa Road so site access and off-line works can be managed safely. We’re also in the process of awarding a contract to support the next phase of the RoNS project. This includes completing route protection and consenting for a new 4-lane SH29 from Redwood Lane to Takitimu North Link Interchange and upgrades to SH29A from Takitimu Drive Toll Road to Barkes Corner. This will give landowners and the community certainty and protect the land in this area. The Tauriko West RoNS project will improve the safety, resilience, and freight efficiency of SH29, a key route in the Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga triangle. |
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In brief:Water works: The watermain installation along Gargan Road is nearing completion and crews have transitioned to the next phase of the project, working their way down the state highway towards Redwood Lane. This marks a significant milestone in the delivery of upgraded infrastructure for the area, improving resilience and capacity for future growth. The team has worked efficiently to minimise disruption, and we appreciate the continued patience and support from residents and road users. Summer maintenance programme: SH29, from Tauriko to the summit of the Kaimai Range and over to Piarere, is a key corridor NZTA is focused on strengthening this summer maintenance season, so it remains safe, reliable and meets the needs of all road users. Find out more here, and sign up to receive email updates here. SH1/SH29 Piarere intersection: Meanwhile, on the Waikato side of SH29, the new SH1/29 roundabout in Piarere is now complete. More information. |
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More information |
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For more information on the Tauriko Enabling Works project: Email us at bopprojects@nzta.govt.nz Phone 0800 262 729 (Downer 24/7 freephone) Visit our website nzta.govt.nz/tauriko-enabling-works |
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