Ōtaki to north of Levin update

16 December 2025

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), Muaūpoko Tribal Authority, local hapū of Ngāti Raukawa te au ki te Tonga, council partner Horowhenua District Council (HDC) and alliance partners are working together to create a positive legacy for the region while we build a new, safer, efficient, and more reliable State Highway 1 (SH1) from Ōtaki to north of Levin.

Link to video sharing Ō2NL construction progress

That's a wrap for 2025

2025 has seen huge progress for the Ō2NL project. We’ve confirmed our design scope, locked in funding, and kicked off main construction. We have connected with our near neighbours, and over the 10 community drop-in sessions we’ve hosted this year, we’ve spoken to nearly 700 attendees.

We’d like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding as construction has ramped up since 1 October 2025. We’ve been busy preparing the site with fencing, environmental controls, construction of haul roads, house removal and demolition, and other site establishment activities. This has set us up well for shifting into the next gear in early 2026.

In our first project flyover video, we share some of the progress that has been made over the first months of construction. Watch the video here.

Our crews will finish up for the year on Friday 19 December and return on Monday 5 January 2026. During the closedown period, we’ll continue regular patrols to ensure the site remains secure and safe.

Key members of our team will be available over the break, so please don’t hesitate to contact us on 0508 625 4636 if anything urgent comes up.

We wish you a happy and safe holiday period and look forward to keeping you in the loop about Ōtaki to north of Levin expressway progress throughout 2026.

Earthworks at North Manakau Road

Looking forward to 2026 - Ō2NL constuction

Construction on Ō2NL officially began in October 2025, with the first few months focused mainly on preparing the site for road building. This included diverting utilities and streams, clearing vegetation, installing erosion and sediment controls, and removing topsoil. 

Now that much of that early work is complete, our earthworks teams will be in full swing from January 2026, progressing bulk earthworks to shape the main alignment of the expressway. By the end of our first earthworks season in September, we expect to have moved around 800,000 cubic metres of material.

Preparations are also underway for major bridge works in 2026. Work will start on the North Manakau overpass in February, with the bridge beams scheduled to be placed from mid-year. Ground improvements at the South Manakau Road (Waiuti Stream) underpass will also commence in February, with the MSE (mechanically stabilised earth) walls expected to be completed by July. We will also begin preparing the Manakau Stream bridge site with the construction of piling platforms.

At the Ōhau River bridge site, the compound is ready for setup in the new year, with the first task being a temporary staging bridge to enable construction of the permanent structure. Construction of the Queen Street East overbridge will begin around March with MSE wall installation, aiming for completion by autumn 2027. Meanwhile, at the North Island Main Truck (NIMT) overbridge site, crews are building a temporary level crossing to keep construction traffic off local roads; work on the new overpass starts in the new year and is expected to finished by this time next year, after which vehicles will use the new bridge and the temporary crossing will be removed.

Next year our landscaping teams will start planting native trees, with their early work focused on mitigation offset sites away from the main highway alignment. Planting next to the highway itself will happen later in the project.

One of the first ornate skinks to be relocated to the Ō2NL predator proof area

Skinks thrive in Ō2NL’s predator proof haven

The population of Ō2NL’s predator proof area is steadily growing after the first lizards were rehomed on 13 November. 

The 4-hectare site, located at the corner of Queen Street East and Arapaepae Road/SH57, is protected by a mesh fence to keep out predators like rats and cats. 

It now hosts 19 skinks - four northern grass skinks and 15 ornate skinks.

Although the enclosure was completed earlier this year, it needed to remain pest-free for 30 days before any lizards could be introduced. 

That milestone was reached in late October, paving the way for the first arrivals.

Northern grass skinks, common in coastal areas, vary in colour from dark brown to black with stripes. They’re not threatened but have declined due to habitat loss and predation.

Ornate skinks, however, are classified as “in gradual decline.” They’re easily recognised by distinctive facial markings, including a white or yellow teardrop below each eye, and their relatively short toes.

The enclosure offers diverse habitats: open grassy areas for northern grass skinks and denser woodland for ornate skinks. Developed in partnership with iwi, the project aims to protect and grow these species in a safe environment.

During construction, work pauses temporarily wherever lizards are found so the ecology team can relocate them to the enclosure. Regular searches continue across the site to identify and protect skink habitats.

Ō2NL’s predator-free area is a significant step toward safeguarding native species and restoring biodiversity in the region.

In our latest project video, Site Ecologist Caitlin Lavery shows us the site following the first relocation of 3 ornate skinks. Check out the video here.

The new SH57/Tararua Road roundabout nearing completion

Finishing work for SH57/Tararua Road roundabout rescheduled

In our last update we let you know about the final asphalting and line marking work required to complete the new roundabout at SH57/Tararua Road.

The construction crew has made good progress, and most of the work is now complete.

However, due to weather and plant supply, we were unable to completely finish the work as scheduled and it has been extended to this week to finish before the holiday period.

The team will be working tomorrow, Wednesday 17 December, from 7pm to 6am to complete the asphalting. During this time SH57 will be closed from Meadowvale Drive to Kimberley Road, and both the eastern and western section of Tararua Road from SH57. Please follow the detour signs onsite.

During the day on Thursday 18 December, 7am – 6pm, the team will be completing the line marking for the roundabout. This work will be done under stop/go traffic management.

We’re working to get the roundabout complete before the Christmas holiday period, however if work is postponed for any reason, the site will be made safe during the holiday shut down period, with a lower temporary speed limit in place.

Please check Journey Planner ahead of your Christmas travel.

The South Alliance site office, Te Huanui o Tararua

South Alliance site office opens near Ōtaki

People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Ōtaki may have noticed a new building popping up next to the road. 

This is the new Ōtaki site office, named Te Huanui o Tararua, which provides a base of operations for the project’s South Alliance comprised of Downer, McConnell Dowell, BECA and Tonkin & Taylor, and for NZTA and project partners.

Before being shifted to its new location, the building was used as the main site office for Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway, which opened to the public in June this year. 

After being transported from its former location near Ashhurst, the building was installed at a property on the Old SH1 near Taylors Road and was opened to staff from 10 December. 

While it is not currently open to the public, work on a visitor centre and reception area is underway, with an intention for it to be opened in early 2026.

Bridges to schools - future engineers in the making

Recently students at Levin Intermediate, Fairfield and St Josephs schools in Levin participated in a hands-on challenge which involved constructing a 13-metre-long cable stay bridge through the ICE (Institute of Civil Engineering) ‘Bridges to schools’ programme.

Members of the Ō2NL team joined iwi partners to facilitate the session, giving students an insight into the world of engineering, and how they turn textbook theories into practical knowledge. Our engineers talked to students about pathways into engineering and all careers on the Ō2NL project.

We were impressed with the local talent and hope to see some of the students on a pathway into the industry!

The Ō2NL team ready to chat to the community at the Horowhenua Hauora expo.

Ō2NL team in the community

On 21 November, our Legacy Outcomes team took part in the Horowhenua Hauora expo, facilitated by Muaūpoko Tribal Authority at the Event Centre in Levin. It gave them a valuable opportunity to engage with locals and talk about the non-transport local outcomes for the Ō2NL project.

Part of the Ō2NL kaupapa is looking after our local workforce, so valuable connections with community providers of wellbeing services were made to help with this support.

A delicious hangi lunch topped off a fantastic day thanks to the Muaūpoko team working hard to feed the crowds. Mīharo!

More information

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/o2nl to find out about the new expressway and other projects happening in this corridor.

For more information on the Ōtaki to north of Levin programme, contact us at info@o2nl.nz or call 0508 625 4636.