New bridge, walkway protecting historic Hauranga Pā in Taranaki opens
NPDC project delivery manager Sean Cressy says it's great to get the project over the line.
Photo:
Supplied/NPDC
A new bridge and walkway protecting the historic Hauranga Pā site near Ōākura in Taranaki has opened.
The project, led by New Plymouth District Council in collaboration with mana whenua and the Kaitake Community Board, focused on a walkway given the name Te Ara Tahuri Hau (pathway of wind changes), which was supported by a rock revetment protecting the wāhi tapu site and allowing access around the headland at high tide.
It also included a replacement for the footbridge over the Whenu Ariki Stream destroyed during ex-tropical Cyclone Dovi in 2022.
Ngāti Tairi and Ngā Mahanga hapū
raised concern
that people crossing the pā were damaging it, a claim supported by two archaeologists' reports.
As a result, informal walking and cycle trails had developed,
damaging the pā
, a heavily populated site in pre-European times, and exposing archaeological features.
New Plymouth District Council - which managed the Weld Road Coastal Reserve - approved a $570,000 bridge, rockwall and walkway traversing the headland in 2021 and Taranaki Regional Council
consents were granted last year
.
The completed project cost about $2 million, with about $440,000 of funding from the NZ Transport Agency.
Ngāti Tairi representative Keith Manukonga says Hauranga Pā is one of the largest pā in the Tataraimaka district.
Photo:
Supplied/NPDC
NPDC project delivery manager Sean Cressy said it was great to get the project over the line.
"A lot of time and effort has gone into protecting the sensitive heritage and ecology of the site, and we've had widespread community and hapū support for the new bridge and walkway, which showcases our historic and scenic coastline for locals and visitors.
"NPDC is committed to protecting the historic Hauranga Pā, so we designed the bridge and pathway together as a great route for walkers and cyclists to enjoy the coast while still respecting the archaeological and wāhi tapu site.
"The sensitive coastal environment required extensive technical input into the project."
Ngāti Tairi representative Keith Manukonga said Hauranga Pā was one of the largest pā in the Tataraimaka district, and held deep cultural and historical significance to mana whenua.
"Te Ara Tahuri Hau will help people to respect this site and its significance. It's a very nice walkway and we trust people will use it and enjoy it.".
Cressy said the construction window was tight to work around the penguins and other wildlife during nesting seasons.
Ramps and handrails on the new bridge were built with help from seven Taranaki students in the Build a Bridge training programme, a partnership of NPDC, WITT Te Pūkenga and the building industry to give teenagers valuable job skills.
Cressy said in recent years, it has been a popular link for walkers and cyclists between the Timaru and Whenu Ariki streams, and this was regarded as a risk to the site's archaeological features.
On the new shared pathway, cyclists must walk their bikes around for the safety of other users.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero
,
a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
5 hours ago
- RNZ News
Groundbreaking storytelling with a sculpture park you can drive through
Te Ahu a Turanga is a new $824 million 11.5-kilometre four-lane highway connecting the Lower North Island East to West. It opened this week. And not only is it an impressive bit of infrastructure, replacing the old Manawatū Gorge Road, it is, in effect an enormous sculpture park you can drive through. Through art, design, pattern and planting it places a cloak across the land, including references in sculpture to instruments of weaving. Weaving is an apt metaphor because not only is the road a connector but Te Ahu a Turanga has seen five Iwi come together for the first time, and woth Waka Kotahi its involved a roading partnership touted as a benchmark for co-design. The art itself is also a collaboration - between artists Warren Warbrick, Sandy Adsett, and James Molnar. Our Culture 101 guests Warren and Virginia Warbrick collectively call themselves Toi Warbrick. In the rohe or area of iwi Rangitāne, their passion for history and placemaking is conveyed through music, performance, writing about history and significant public art projects.
1News
5 hours ago
- 1News
New bridge, walkway protecting historic Hauranga Pā in Taranaki opens
A new bridge and walkway protecting the historic Hauranga Pā site near Ōākura in Taranaki has opened. The project, led by New Plymouth District Council in collaboration with mana whenua and the Kaitake Community Board, focused on a walkway given the name Te Ara Tahuri Hau (pathway of wind changes), which was supported by a rock revetment protecting the wāhi tapu site and allowing access around the headland at high tide. It also included a replacement for the footbridge over the Whenu Ariki Stream destroyed during ex-tropical Cyclone Dovi in 2022. Ngāti Tairi and Ngā Mahanga hapū raised concern that people crossing the pā were damaging it, a claim supported by two archaeologists' reports. As a result, informal walking and cycle trails had developed, damaging the pā, a heavily populated site in pre-European times, and exposing archaeological features. ADVERTISEMENT The New Plymouth District Council — which managed the Weld Road Coastal Reserve — approved a $570,000 bridge, rockwall and walkway traversing the headland in 2021 and Taranaki Regional Council consents were granted last year. The completed project cost about $2 million, with about $440,000 of funding from the NZ Transport Agency. New Plymouth District Council project delivery manager Sean Cressy said it was great to get the project over the line. "A lot of time and effort has gone into protecting the sensitive heritage and ecology of the site, and we've had widespread community and hapū support for the new bridge and walkway, which showcases our historic and scenic coastline for locals and visitors. "The New Plymouth District Council is committed to protecting the historic Hauranga Pā, so we designed the bridge and pathway together as a great route for walkers and cyclists to enjoy the coast while still respecting the archaeological and wāhi tapu site. "The sensitive coastal environment required extensive technical input into the project." Ngāti Tairi representative Keith Manukonga said Hauranga Pā was one of the largest pā in the Tataraimaka district and held deep cultural and historical significance to mana whenua. ADVERTISEMENT "Te Ara Tahuri Hau will help people to respect this site and its significance. It's a very nice walkway and we trust people will use it and enjoy it." Cressy said the construction window was tight to work around the penguins and other wildlife during nesting seasons. Ramps and handrails on the new bridge were built with help from seven Taranaki students in the Build a Bridge training programme, a partnership of New Plymouth District Council, WITT Te Pūkenga and the building industry to give teenagers valuable job skills. Cressy said in recent years, it has been a popular link for walkers and cyclists between the Timaru and Whenu Ariki streams, and this was regarded as a risk to the site's archaeological features. On the new shared pathway, cyclists must walk their bikes around for the safety of other users.
RNZ News
6 hours ago
- RNZ News
Electrical fault confirmed as cause of Auckland airbridge malfunction
Auckland Airport Domestic Terminal in January 2022. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly Auckland Airport has confirmed that an electrical fault impacted an airbridge last weekend, causing it to not connect with the side of an aircraft. However, the airport said it did not lead to any safety concerns and resulted in only a one-hour delay. On 8 June, an airbridge at the Auckland domestic terminal experienced an electrical fault, impacting the canopy at one end of the airbridge. No members of the public were on the airbridge at the time. "Passengers on an arriving Jetstar flight were able to exit the aircraft via stairs rather than walking directly onto the airbridge and experienced no delays," a spokesperson said. "The fault resulted in a one-hour delay for a later departing aircraft." Jetstar told RNZ that the airbridge was unable to extend and make contact with the side of their aircraft. "For safety reasons, customers disembarked the inbound flight and boarded JQ295 using the rear stairs." Jetstar will often board and disembark from both the front and the rear of some aircraft. The departure of a flight from Auckland to Queenstown was delayed by approximately one hour which flowed on to delaying a subsequent flight out of Queenstown back to Auckland. Auckland Airport said it was committed to maintaining its airbridges to high standards, and they were subject to frequent planned inspections by engineers with regular maintenance and upgrades being carried out as part of an ongoing programme of work. "We also have an established programme of airbridge renewal and replacement, with two new airbridges purchased in the last year." A spokesperson said when airbridges experienced faults, the airport's priority was ensuring the safety of travellers and workers, while working to fix the airbridges as quickly as possible. "Some of the older airbridges at the domestic terminal are planned for replacement when the new domestic jet terminal opens in 2029 and will be maintained in accordance with rigourous operational and maintenance standards until that time." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
