Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway

Project update

11 June 2025

Kia ora and welcome to the latest newsletter on Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway – the 11.5km route to reconnect the Manawatū, Tararua District, Hawke’s Bay and northern Wairarapa, replacing the closed State Highway 3 Manawatū Gorge route.

The completed Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway has been opened to the public. Above is a view of Cut 13 looking out towards Ashhurst.

Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway is open

Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway is now open to the public.

After more than four years of construction, the new highway opened on the morning of Wednesday 11 June, restoring a vital transport connection for communities and businesses in the wider region.

The new road is more resilient, more efficient and safer, and will offer improved journey times and lower operating costs for all motorists while providing a nationally significant route for freight. 

Construction teams made the finishing touches on the road this week, including line marking, barrier installation and asphalting.

Once this was completed, a series of checks were undertaken, the final being a drive over of the site by police. 

Now the road is open for you to use, here are a few things to know:

• Entrances to the 11.5km road are through a roundabout at either the Ashhurst end or the Woodville end. Remember that once you've entered the highway, there are no places to turnaround because the whole road is separated by a continuous median barrier.
• The speed limit on the road will be 100km/h, with two lanes in each direction.
• There are three pullover rest areas, with lookouts over the surrounding region.
• The road features a range of mahi toi (cultural art) at lookouts, roundabouts and on bridges that have been designed by the project’s iwi partners.
• There is a shared path for pedestrians, cyclists and mobility devices.
• It’s a steep climb up the hill at either end, with a gradient of 10% on the Ashhurst side and 8.5% on the Woodville side.
• To see a map of the new road head to nzta.govt.nz/projects/te-ahu-a-turanga/
• Even though the road has opened to traffic, some construction staff will continue to work on areas away from the road.  These works, which include planting and removing the project site office, should be completed by late 2025.

The shared use path is available to use, though some work will be required on the western recreational tracks and trails that connect to the path between the Saddle Rd and the Eco-Viaduct.

The Western Gateway Park near Ashhurst will also require some finishing work after the road opens but both the carpark and the SUP are accessible. The current carpark has a chipseal surface, which will be covered by asphalt later in the year. 

To ensure your journey goes as smooth as possible, take care on the entry/exit roundabouts, watch your speed on the highway, keep a safe following distance and keep left as much as you can.

We hope you enjoy using the new road.

The Minister of Transport, the Honourable Chris Bishop, is joined by NZTA Chief Executive Brett Gliddon, NZTA Deputy Board Chair Cassandra Crowley, iwi leads, mayors and Alliance staff at the ribbon cutting for Te Ahu a Turanga

Minister of Transport cuts the ribbon on new highway

It may have been a cold and wet morning, but spirits were high among those in attendance at the ceremonial opening of Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway.

The Minister of Transport, the Honourable Chris Bishop, officially opened the new road on Saturday 7 June in a ceremony held between Parahaki Bridge and the Eco-Viaduct.

Joining the Minister at the event were local MPs, mayors, iwi leads, community members and project and NZTA staff.

Proceedings began with karakia from Wiremu Te Awe Awe and a mihi whakatau from Manu Kawana, Keni Barrett and Manahi Paewai.

Above: NZTA Chief Executive Brett Gliddon speaks to those in attendance at the opening.

The welcome was followed by speeches from Minister Bishop, Tararua District Mayor Tracey Collis, Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith, Kingi Kiriona (who spoke on behalf of the five iwi partners), Alliance Project Board Chair Derrick Adams and NZTA Chief Executive Brett Gliddon.

After the speeches, the dignitaries cut the ribbon on Parahaki Bridge before being taken on a drive over the new highway.

Earlier that morning, iwi partners held a blessing of the road, which included travelling across the highway for karakia at numerous places of significance.

The ceremonial opening provided the opportunity for dignitaries and those connected to the project to be acknowledged for their contributions to the highway.

Following the ceremony, road workers were back on site to get it ready for public use as soon as possible.

Below: About 170 people attended the formal opening ceremony. 

An array of construction-themed art and information is on display at Woodville’s Rinitawa Gallery.

Woodville gallery celebrates Te Ahu a Turanga

Woodville’s Rinitawa Art and History Gallery is holding a Hard Hats and High Viz exhibition to celebrate the opening of Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway.

The community-led exhibition is an opportunity for anyone associated with the highway, whether it be construction staff or those living in the nearby communities, to provide an artwork for display at the gallery on Woodville’s Vogel St.

Alongside the artworks being display will be photos, maps and video footage of the highway project.

The project's Drive the Highway simulator, which was previously housed at the Woodville Community Library, is at the gallery for the duration of the exhibition.

The official opening was held at the gallery on 25 May from 4pm. The free exhibition will finish on 23 June.

Planning is underway for a new pedestrian and cycling path across the Manawatū River.

Ashhurst to Western Gateway shared use path update

NZTA is committed to creating a safe path for pedestrians and cyclists between Ashhurst and Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway Western Gateway Park.

NZTA are planning to construct a separate pedestrian and cycling bridge across the river to achieve this outcome. A separate bridge is better value for money than the previously proposed clip-on shared use path to the existing road bridge.

We expect the design for the bridge to be confirmed by late 2026 and then construction can begin. We expect the bridge to be open by late 2027.

Pedestrian and cyclist access to Te Ahu a Turanga – Manawatū Tararua Highway shared use path

If you would like to walk, run or cycle on the shared use path at Te Ahu a Turanga, we recommend travelling across the Manawatū River bridge in a car and parking at the Western Gateway carpark while you use the new shared path.

There is an electronic sign that warns motorists when there is a cyclist on the bridge.

We are also installing new signage including advice to motorists to drive at 40km/h when a cyclist is on the bridge, and signs warning that there is no walking/running and cycling path across the bridge.

The NZTA website has information about cycling safely on our roads: nzta.govt.nz/cycle-safety.

For more information about the Ashhurst to Western Gateway shared use path, visit nzta.govt.nz/ashhurst-bridge

More information

For more information on the Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway, please use one or more of the following methods:

• Website: www.nzta.govt.nz/teahuaturanga
• Facebook: facebook.com/nztacni
• Twitter: twitter.com/WakaKotahiCNI
• Email: teahuaturanga@nzta.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 740 560