Te Ara Tupua

Project update

6 May 2026

Te Ara Tupua is opening on Saturday 16 May

Last week, Transport Minister Chris Bishop announced that the Ngauranga to Petone (Ngā Ūranga ki Pito One) section of Te Ara Tupua will open on Saturday 16 May.

As this huge project comes to an end, we want to thank the public for their patience.

Remember it’s expected to be busy, with people walking, riding and enjoying the new connection. Please be courteous to other users and share the path with care.

We'll have more updates for you soon so make sure you're following NZ Transport Agency on Facebook and have subscribed to our project updates.

Mana whenua dawn blessing

On Saturday, we were led by iwi to formally bless the Ngauranga to Petone (Ngā Ūranga ki Pito One) section of Te Ara Tupua, a significant milestone in this project. This milestone was marked in accordance with tikanga Māori and guided by Te Āti Awa me ngā iwi o Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika.

The dawn ceremony was led by Kura Moeahu, one of leaders (rangatira) from Te Āti Awa, and supported by Lee Hunter, Levi Rona and Kim Skelton, who have been key members of the project and the Mana Whenua Steering Group since its inception.

A strong presence of iwi descendants (uri) and members gathered to uphold the ceremony (kawa) and bless the site with NZTA, the project Alliance and others in tow. The morning was deeply moving, grounded, collective, and reflective of the enduring relationship between mana whenua and this landscape.

This moment was not simply ceremonial, but an expression of living customs (tikanga) and governance principles. A distinctive value of Taranaki Whānui, drawn from the teachings of Te Whiti o Rongomai, was reflected in the proceedings: “Whakatikahia mai kia tika, whakaponohia mai kia pono, whakatonuhia mai kia tonu” - which translated means: "Make it correct, make it honest, make it enduring."

This framing of peace (rongomau) as an active and guiding principle speaks directly to how we partner, plan, and deliver infrastructure in this area (rohe).

We acknowledge with gratitude the leadership of Taranaki Whānui, the many iwi members present, and all those who contributed to this kaupapa. The blessing affirms that this is more than infrastructure, it is a shared commitment to place, to partnership, and to a future grounded in integrity.

We look forward to opening this section of Te Ara Tupua to the public in the coming weeks, a pathway that not only strengthens resilience and safety across the transport network, but also reflects and respects the living history for generations to come.

Construction update

As we get ready to open Te Ara Tupua, our focus is on the finishing touches. 

We've completed all the fencing and pavement work. While there's  still some line marking and seating still to go in, this should happen in the coming days.

Our soft and hard landscaping elements should also be finishing up in the coming days.

It's all go at the southern end of the project, as work begins to wrap up on the shared user bridge. The last push is to finish the installation of balustrades and the safety railings/panels on the bridge itself. 

Community path activation funding

We’re excited to announce funding for community designed and delivered initiatives on the Ngauranga to Petone (Ngā Ūranga ki Pito-One) section of Te Ara Tupua in the first year of the path’s opening.

You can download the application documents here: https://fund.te-ara-tupua.co.nz/ApplicationDocuments.zip

Te Ara Tupua Community Path Activation Fund applications are due by 5 pm on Friday 5 June 2026.

Te Ara Tupua announced as ISC finalist

Protecting critical transport links while restoring the marine environment of Wellington Harbour has earned one of the region’s biggest infrastructure projects international recognition — again.

The Ngauranga to Petone (Ngā Ūranga ki Pito One) section of Te Ara Tupua has been named a finalist in the Sustainability Leadership Excellence in Environmental Outcomes and Excellence in Governance categories at this year’s ISC Connect Awards.

Over more than three years of construction, the alliance has delivered meaningful, measurable environmental gains. Smart design and innovation reduced the need for around 50,000m³ of material through the use of a single layer of 2.6 tonne interlocking XBlocs®, while advanced 3D digital gaming technology and shake table testing helped cut long term environmental risk at the design stage.

On the water, the project has delivered one of Australasia’s largest biodiversity compensation initiatives — a reef enhancement programme featuring 56 concrete subtidal artificial reefs. These reefs provide an innovative approach to the management of stormwater quality, which delivered around $18 million in savings, and significantly improved ecological outcomes for the harbour.

Beyond the 4.5km pathway's resilience, the initiative strengthened cultural capability through Māori leadership programmes and employing  cultural monitors and ecologists who will monitor the artificial reefs into 2029, blending mātauranga Māori with western science.

We’re proud to have played a role in a project where resilience, value for money and environmental benefits will continue to grow stronger over time.

Using VivaCity sensors on Te Ara Tupua

We’ll be using VivaCity sensors to count users of the Ngauranga to Petone (Ngā Ūranga ki Pito One) section of Te Ara Tupua.

The sensors help us understand how the path is being used by measuring:

• the number of pedestrians, cyclists, e‑scooter riders and other path users
• the direction and speed people are travelling

This information will help us track how well the path is being used, evaluate the outcomes of the project, and support future transport planning and research.

Protecting privacy is a priority
Any footage captured by the sensors is processed and discarded within seconds. A small amount of footage may be temporarily recorded during initial setup to check the sensor is working correctly, and occasionally for validation purposes.

All footage is stored securely by our supplier, VivaCity, and can only be accessed by authorised people to confirm the sensor is operating correctly if needed. It is deleted as soon as it’s no longer required.

The sensors are not designed or used for surveillance. No attempt will be made to identify individual people or vehicles from the data collected.