A female kiwi, Ariki, being held by ecologist Sian (left) was found at night while a male, Hare, was located the following day by kiwi conservation dog 'Ash' and his handler Martin.

Keeping kiwi safe at Mt Messenger

Experts continue to monitor kiwi to ensure they stay safe in and around the project area of Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass.

New transmitters were recently added to two birds, pictured above, that were found in late January.

While the team doesn't know the exact age of the birds, it's clear they are a pair as they were calling to each other throughout the night. 

The project's cultural monitors from mana whenua partner Ngāti Tama have named the birds 'Ariki' (the female bird) and Hare (the male). 

Both kiwi will be monitored over the next few years to ensure they are not moving into the road works area. They'll be caught annually and given health checks and transmitter changes.

As well as tracking, the project's ongoing protection measures include kiwi exclusion fencing to keep birds off the new road alignment and away from construction vehicles.

Enduring pest management for Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass project covers 3,650 hectares.

Taking a bite out of pest numbers

Pest control is a key component of the bypass project with the aim of helping protect 3,650 hectares, covering about 10 kms from coastal Parininihi to east of the project area.

Alongside mana whenua partner Ngāti Tama, the project has made a strong start - creating 70kms of tracks and installing 600 bait stations east of the new bypass route since last August. 

This progress builds on the excellent pest management work of Tiaki Te Mauri O Parininihi Trust in Parininihi, west of the new road.

Already the effort is paying off, with large numbers of rats and possums being caught. At the same time, hunters have begun to make a dent in the local goat population, removing 174 feral goats to date.

Over many years, pests have seriously damaged mature native forest and habitat surrounding the bypass route. Eventually the project will deliver a 250km network of pest management tracks in this area.

Together with our partners, Waka Kotahi is committed to helping native species thrive here once again.

This aerial image shows the project office taking shape (large white building) and where the new bypass route diverges from the existing State Highway 3.

Great start to 2023 for Te Ara o Te Ata as bypass construction gathers momentum

2023 has got off to a cracking start on Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass.

At the southern foot of Mt Messenger, a semi-permanent site office is rapidly taking shape. Designed to gather the project’s diverse workforce together, the modular building will be disassembled and removed when the new bypass is finished.

Just past the new office, work has started on the southern extent of the new road where it diverges from the existing State Highway 3. Diggers and excavators have begun earthworks that will eventually connect to Te Ara o Te Ata's 125m bridge and the southern entrance to the 235m tunnel.

On the site of the former Mt Messenger rest area, a 28m tower has been raised to support a 1.1km cableway for transporting workers and machinery into the rugged area at the heart of the project.

Now a delicate job is underway to install two 60mm cables between anchor points to the north and south of the tower. When complete the cableway will allow access to begin work on the northern end of the tunnel.

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 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.

Surfacing at the Awakino Tunnel Bypass is on track for completion by the end of March.

Surfacing nears completion at Awakino Tunnel Bypass

January saw good progress on final surfacing of the Awakino Tunnel Bypass on SH3.

While weather disrupted pavement and sealing activities recently, the contractor remains on track for completion by the end of March, when the passing lane will be opened and the temporary speed limits lifted.

In the meantime, we appreciate the public's ongoing adherence to temporary speed limits to keep workers and road users safe.

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