Project team members and mana whenua partner Ngāti Tama at a recent cultural induction session at Pukearuhe Marae.

Cultural inductions unite team on Te Ara o Te Ata

It is important to our mana whenua partner Ngāti Tama that all involved in Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass come through the front doors of the iwi before entering the project site.

Since 2020, Pukearuhe Marae has hosted cultural inductions for more than 300 project workers. 

A core principle of the iwi is ‘manaaki’ - respecting and valuing others. Manaaki is the foundation of the cultural induction space. Cultural safety and wellbeing for the environment and each other are paramount on the project.

For many, it is often their first realisation that on this project there’s a real need to look at the big picture and include environmental and cultural thinking in their approach to construction.

The rich history and kōrero of Ngāti Tama are shared on visit to the coastal lands returned under the project agreement, which unlock access to significant wāhi tapu (sacred places) and pā sites. This visit has been a memorable experience for many.

The project team and mana whenua partner, Ngāti Tama will continue widening pathways of true collaboration and successful outcomes for all involved on Te Ara o Te Ata.

‘He rau ringa, He oti ai’  -  ‘The project will be completed by the hands of many’

The cableway tower can be seen at the top of Mt Messenger.

Cableway tower in place

You can now see the central tower of a 1.1km cableway at the former rest area at the top of Mt Messenger.

This is a significant milestone for the Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass project, with the 28-metre tower being lifted into place late last month.

When it’s ready for use, the cableway will transport crews and their machinery and gear into the heart of the project area. It’s set to be operational in the first quarter of 2023 and will be able to carry up to 20 tonnes per trip.

The cableway is a key part of the wider project to create a safer and more reliable 6km section of State Highway 3 in North Taranaki, while delivering significant long-term environmental gains including pest management over 3,650ha of adjacent ngahere (forest).

Visit our project video page to see a clip of of the tower’s first two legs being erected.

And go here to see the wide range of Waka Kotahi work across Taranaki.

Te Ara o Te Ata ecologist Nicki Van Zyl checks tracking tunnel cards for evidence of rodents.

A sign of things to come

New data from tracking tunnels in Taranaki’s Parininihi forest are a good reason for confidence in the pest management programme of the neighbouring Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass project.

Recent monitoring by Department of Conservation staff has revealed a tracking tunnel index (TTI) of just 8% for rats.

“In recent seasons this index has been up around 50% so we were delighted to see these results,” says Te Ara o Te Ata’s pest management operations lead Davis McClutchie.

“We are using the same methodology on the project as used in the Parininihi by our mana whenua partner Ngāti Tama and Tiaki Te Mauri o Parininihi Trust, so these results are really encouraging.”

Tracking tunnels are long rectangular tubes, with a card and ink pad that records rodent foot traffic. The TTI is the percentage of monitored tunnels that show evidence of rodents.

Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass project features a comprehensive environmental programme that includes major restoration planting and the enduring management of pests over 3,650 hectares of forest, extending from the coast to almost 10km inland.

The project targets a significant reduction in the populations of pests such as rats, possums, stoats and goats, allowing native flora and fauna to thrive once again.

The start of environmental controls work on Cut 16 of Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass, with shaping and design still to come ahead of permanent work.

First cut formed at southern end of bypass alignment

At the southern foot of Mt Messenger, the first hint of the new Te Ara o Te Ata bypass is starting to appear.

A track is being formed to improve access to work sites up the Mimi Valley and next to that, earthworks have begun preparing for what will eventually become the base of the new highway.

The six-kilometre route includes 19 cuts into hillsides, and work is getting underway on the first of those. 'Cut 16' is among the smaller of the excavations, with the material removed destined to be used in the road base.

Head to Mokau Museum to try out the Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass simulator.

Drive the Bypass at Mōkau Museum

If you’re wondering how it will feel to drive Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass, drop into Mōkau Museum and give our simulator a try – just like museum chair Murray Seamark (pictured above)!

Fitted with steering wheel and pedals, the simulator takes you over the future 6km route’s two bridges and through its 235m tunnel in north Taranaki.

Just select your view (in the driver’s seat, or behind the vehicle), pick from six different cars, and enjoy driving this safer, straighter, and more reliable future section of State Highway 3!

Reduced speed limit for SH3 Mt Messenger Bypass project

A 50kmh speed limit is in place across a 5km section of State Highway 3 at Mt Messenger. 

Operating from approximately 4km south to 1km north of the Mt Messenger summit, the limit aims to keep motorists and workers safe as works continue on Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass.

The limit will operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week for the foreseeable future.

Over the coming months the Mt Messenger Alliance aims to reduce the frequency of lane closures and associated traffic management controls, which have been operating periodically since bypass construction work began.

SH3 at Mt Messenger will close for four-hour periods on two days next week.

The journey north - SH3 Mt Messenger to close for maintenance next week

State Highway 3 Mt Messenger will be closed to both lanes of traffic between 10am and 2pm on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 December for essential maintenance works.

Crews will be asphalting patches to improve the safety and resilience of the road. This work is weather dependant and will be rescheduled in the event of rain.

People are asked to plan their journeys to avoid travel over Mt Messenger during this time.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Maintenance and Operations Manager Rob Service says a full road closure is required as crews will be working across both lanes at once.

“Scheduled closures throughout the day were also considered but this would mean delays of up to two hours for motorists and the work would take 6 – 8 days to complete.

“We appreciate that road closures are inconvenient but doing it this way means we can complete the work quickly and allow people to plan their travel around the closure times.“

Motorists are asked to be patient, follow all instructions of traffic management crews and signs and be kind and courteous to road workers.

Emergency services on emergency/priority response will be let through the worksite during the closure times.

With our maintenance programme in full swing and a number of projects underway on SH3 between New Plymouth and Te Kuiti, you can expect to encounter a number of roadwork sites when travelling along this route.

We encourage people to plan ahead, allow extra time for their journeys and consider planning rest stops along the route before heading off.

The rest area at Awakino will reopen when surfacing work pauses over the Chriustmans holiday period.

Surfacing continues at Awakino Tunnel Bypass

It’s been a tough few weeks at the SH3 Awakino Tunnel Bypass, where final surfacing is taking place.

Regular rainfall has been a challenge for the team, however the recent finer weather has helped progress on site.

Work will finish for the year by 22 December, with SH3 reopening to two lanes at 70km/h for the busy holiday period.

While the site is shut down for the holidays, the rest area and walkway to the historic tunnel will be open for the public to use.

On Tuesday 17 January work will resume with Stop/Go control and a 30km/h speed limit back in place.

The rest area and walkway to the tunnel will be closed once again during this final stage of work, which we hope to complete in the first quarter of the year.

More information

For more information on the Awakino Gorge to Mt Messenger Programme, contact us at SH3@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/a2mm