Barges working at the Karanga temporary wharf - near the petrol station on State Highway 2

Progress on Te Ara Tupua

June / July 2023

Kia ora,

We're hard at work on the Ngā Ūranga ki Pito-One section of Te Ara Tupua. 

We have started work on the construction of the first coastal sections of the project, moving north from Ngā Ūranga and south from Pito-One.

We're also making good progress with the temporary wharves which will make it possible to start construction from the water as well. You might have seen this as you travel along State Highway 2 - or from the window of a train. 

In Honiana Te Puni Reserve, an early section of new walking and cycling path is underway and due to open soon - making it easier to get around this area while construction work is underway. 

This newsletter has some highlights from the team. 

Signs highlighting the areas where predators are being trapped to help ngārara habitat

Safer habitat for ngārara in Pito-One

Five species of native ngārara (lizards) are thought to be present along our site - and any that are found will need to be collected and relocated safely away from construction activity. 

A strip of the dune along Pito-One beach has been chosen as the relocation area. To make it safer for the ngārara, a network of traps has been set in this area to help manage mice, rats, stoats and hedgehogs. Mice are the main problem pest in this area. 

Two types of trap are being used: the "DOC200" trap for rats, stoats and hedgehogs, and regular mouse traps. The mouse traps are baited with peanut butter, while the DOC200 traps baits will be changed throughout the year. The traps will be monitored and serviced regularly to help maintain a safe habitat for our native lizards.

Check out the video above and find out about our recent Xbloc wall trial

Dry run for coastal defences

The first Xbloc armour units to be used on the project have arrived. These specialised blocks will be used along the shoreline, providing protection to the new walking and cycling path – as well as to the rail and highway corridor.

The first 30 units have been part of a “dry run” on land at the project yard in Pito-One. The team are gaining valuable knowledge and experience in handling and placing the blocks as demonstrated in the photos and drone footage.

The specialised concrete blocks have been designed by Dutch company Delta Marine Consultants (DMC) and have been used on projects around the world. They form an interlocking “armour” to provide a resilient coastal edge.

Starting from a standard design, variations of the blocks have been developed to create a less uniform look and feel, and a number of colours will be produced. Te Ara Tupua iwi cultural design lead Len Hetet contributed to the development of an ecological block, which will be placed below the water where the patterned surfaces provide opportunities for marine life to grow.

In the coming weeks, the blocks will start appearing along the coastline in the project area as Te Ara Tupua Alliance starts work on the first coastal sections of the project.

Check out our video here.

Rail digital shield innovation keeps safety on track

We’re improving safety on the Ngā Ūranga ki Pito-One section of Te Ara Tupua - a complex work environment with a coastline, a live train track, and limited space in between, not to mention thousands of passengers travelling into the city each day.

Construction around a live rail corridor brings an element of risk, but a conversation with our partner KiwiRail presented a digital engineering solution - a Wellington innovation called the ‘Digital Shield.’

The shield enables our teams to undertake construction near the rail corridor even with trains and passengers passing. It means we can be productive without compromising safety or inconveniencing commuters with line closures.

The digital shield works like a force field. A virtual twin of the physical environment is created using a laser scanner which surveys the environment, and collects millions of points of data to build a 3D digital model. A digital file is created and sent to a GPS-linked computer onboard the excavator.

Using GPS location technology, the shield prevents a machine such as an excavator from coming too close to real-world hazards, and protects its drivers from overhead power lines and the tracks. The controls of the excavator lock if any part of the machine gets too close to the train.

For more on how the technology works check out www.kiwirail.co.nz/digital-shields

About us

The Ngā Ūranga ki Pito-One section of Te Ara Tupua is a project to provide better resilience to transport links between Wellington and Lower Hutt, with new walking and cycling choices. It reflects a new partnership between Waka Kotahi, Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika and Ngāti Toa Rangatira. 

It is being delivered by Te Ara Tupua Alliance, made up of Tonkin + Taylor, Downer NZ, and HEB Construction. 

Keep in touch

For more information on the Te Ara Tupua project, contact us at TeAraTupua@nzta.govt.nz

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