Project update

Kia ora, 

Our construction teams are continuing to make progress on the concrete block embankments, rock embankments, and seawalls that make up the new coastline along Te Ara Tupua. 

In this update, we introduce Hamish, a site supervisor working at Ngā Ūranga, and highlight our recent planting day at Honiana Te Puni Reserve.

Hamish Croad, supervisor at Ngā Ūranga section of Te Ara Tupua

Meet the people behind Te Ara Tupua

This is Hamish Croad, a supervisor at the Ngā Ūranga section, currently building resilient seawalls along the coastal edges of Te Whanganui a Tara.

"I'm a bit of a circus ringmaster", he chuckles as his radio beeps with a message about some heavy machinery heading his way. As supervisor, his job is to manage logistics across these sites and making sure all team members are well-informed about what is planned and how it will be achieved.

Hamish has done it all, from driving a digger, to building Balds Hill Wind farm in Victoria, Australia to one his more memorable projects tunnelling 1.6 kilometres, 23 metres underground in a four metre diameter stormwater pipe for the Frankston Melbourne Drainage project. "I've worked in the construction industry for over 20 years and spent a lot of time building all kinds of things, but the culture and the people at Te Ara Tupua are incredible with some highly weathered engineering and design minds working together to deliver an asset that will benefit for so many people.

It's a busy time for Hamish and the team as they transport 4,500 tonnes of rock per month along a man-made causeway. The 2.7km of sloping coastal defences made up of interlocking concrete blocks and rock revements will protect the shared path and ūranga (landings) pictured below. There will be 6 ūranga, where people will be able to gather, rest and connect with Te Whanganui a Tara.

"I'm proud of my team and i'm proud to be part of the team creating high quality infrastructure for everyone to safely enjoy in an area where there was nothing but rocks and sea before."

Honiana Te Puni Reserve planting day

Thank you to our community, Friends of Petone Beach, Hutt Valley high school and Jobs & Skills Hub for joining our team to plant native grasses and shrubs on Honiana Te Puni Reserve.

It was a windy start to the morning but our rōpū got straight into it, digging through the mulch and gravel to plant 600 plants in this area. These plants will contribute to protecting the environment while also growing a natural barrier for coastal erosion.

Honiana Te Puni Reserve is situated at the northernmost point of Te Whanganui a Tara Wellington Harbour and named for Honiana Te Puni, the most prominent Te Āti Awa rangatira who signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840. In the 19th century, Honiana Te Puni Reserve was part of the broader area of Pito-One Pā and Te Tatau o te Pō Pā, with urupā (burial grounds) and gardens nearby. The reserve land was returned to Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika (Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust) as part of their Treaty settlement, and is managed by Hutt City Council.

The reserve will be the northern gateway to the Ngā Ūranga ki Pito-One section of Te Ara Tupua. The project information centre at theTāwharau Pod won the eastern side of Honiana Te Puni Reserve is now open Wednesday to Saturday on alternate weeks from 10am-1pm.

Image below: Students from Hutt Valley high school planting on Honiana Te Puni Reserve.

More information

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

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