Latest news with #MtMessengerBypass
RNZ News
04-08-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Mt Messenger bypass: Opportunity to restore lowland coastal forest
Acquiring land for the Mt Messenger bypass in Taranaki has not been plain sailing, but it has given one Taranaki iwi the opportunity to help restore a rare tract of lowland coastal forest. Ngati Tama cut a deal, swapping 20 hectares of bush required for the new section of State Highway 3 for cash, farmland and a huge pest control programme. As the sun rises on an icy morning at Mt Messenger - also known as Parininihi - a group clad in high-vis and safety gear gathers for karakia. It is a scene repeated at multiple locations on site and a tangible sign of the partnership between Ngati Tama and Waka Kotahi at Te Ara o Te Ata. Project pou tiaki Rae-Hinerau Wetere. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin Project pou tiaki or cultural lead Rae-Hinerau Wetere said karakia gets the day off to the best possible start. "We open with karakia to set good intent, to ground reset us, to come together and energise wairua really. "We talk about the maramataka some phases can bring lower energy than others so explain that that is okay and just to be mindful of those things and not to be too hard on ourselves." It was personal for her . "We never wanted to feel or be an add on or tokenism. That was not going to happen. We were going to be woven into the fibre of Te Ara o Te Ata. "It's no different to the marae when we have manuhiri or visitors at our marae we are there to host them, to look after them, take care of them. Same thing here, this is our space here." Geovert project manager Jasper Synder said it was cool to see cultural aspects of the project brought up and refocused on every day. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin Project manager Jasper Snyder was a project manager with slope stabilisation specialists Geovert. He was onboard with the protocols. "It's cool to see that aspect brought up and refocused every day. I don't know it puts a different light on how people behave and I haven't seen it on other contracts and it's been cool for the guys. They all seem to enjoy it." Ngati Tama swapped the 20 hectares of settlement land for a 120 hectare farm on ancestral land at nearby Ngarautika. It also received $7.7 million and a commitment from Waka Kotahi to pest control in perpetuity over 3650 hectares of its rohe. Ecological contractor at Mt Messenger Sian Potier was on the look out for kiwi. "I've been with my dog Kiekie here and Kiekie and I have swept the area to make sure there are no juvenile or kiwi chicks in the area and we've also done telemetry checks to make sure our adult monitored kiwi are well away from the works that are happening today." Her team was monitoring 18 kiwi on the project footprint and had removed 40 eggs. About 30 have hatched and been safely released at Parininihi away from the project site. The remainder were still being incubated. Sian Potier and Kiekie disappear into the bush. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin The bypass had received pushback from some ecologists. The Environmental Law Initiative challenged how the Wildlife Act was being applied at Mt Messenger - allowing for the killing of kiwi and other native species - which lead to a law change. Potier said the overall prospects for the area were good. "Looking at the long term picture the pest management that will be in place in the wider area will have a massive benefit for not only kiwi but all the other species in this area, so the lizards, the bats, the invertebrates and also the fresh water species." Ecological contractor Sian Potier and her dog Kiekie swept the bridge one construction site for kiwi. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin Engineer Nick Myers-Kay was in charge of bridge number one at the bypass , which was replacing the existing winding route on State Highway 3. He was happy to wait for Kiekie. "It's quite unique it's great to see them out there in action and keeping an eye on the kiwi for us. "We just plan our work around them. The expectation is that they are here everyday before we start work and they do their thing and once they're out of the way it's good to go for us. It's hardly an inconvenience." Ngāti Tama chair Hayden Wano, left, and general manager Te Amoroa Clifton at Ngarautika. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin At Ngarautika, Ngati Tama chair Hayden Wano said the decision to exchange the 20 hectares of native bush had not been an easy one. "Like all hapū, iwi, whānau we're a broad base, we have differences of opinions, but at the end of the day most people saw the opportunities that existed no only for Ngati Tama but for the wider communities in this area and so over 80 percent of the uri of Ngati Tama voted in support of this work." Wano said 26 uri of Ngati Tama were directly employed at Te Ara o Te Ata and the iwi had identified opportunities in the sub-contracting and biodiversity area. "Ngati Tama has a strong history of working in this biodiversity space. We've heard about the return of the kōkako, we've heard about the return of kiwi in the area and we know the numbers are increasing and have been during the time of this work. "So, there are some challenges in road construction, yes, but through our partnership with Waka Kotahi they have been very sensitive and open to the ideas we have in terms of protection of the environment." Wano said it was also clear the bypass would provide better road security for everyone. The Crown was still locked in a legal battle to acquire 11 hectares of private land required for the project on its northern side. Once secured, Waka Kotahi believed it would take another four years to complete the six kilometre bypass. 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RNZ News
03-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Taranaki farmers consider options after Mt Messenger Bypass court setback
The Transport Agency wants to compulsorily acquire 11 hectares of Tony and Debbie Pascoe's' cattle farm. Photo: Ken Downie Taranaki farmers fighting the compulsory acquisition of 11 hectares of their land for the Mt Messenger Bypass project say they're considering their options after another setback in the courts. The Transport Agency wants to compulsorily acquire 11 hectares of Tony and Debbie Pascoe's cattle farm under the Public Works Act for the project. The $365 million bypass is a new two-lane 6km route between Uruti and Ahititi that avoids the existing steep, narrow and winding route over Mt Messenger on State Highway 3. The couple argue that the process for selecting the route and acquiring their land had been flawed, but the High Court - which has issued four new appeal decisions - disagreed. The Transport Agency has welcomed the decisions - the latest of 20 court rulings involving the Pascoes land - saying it marked a significant milestone for the project. One of this week's appeal findings related to a 2024 Environment Court decision - which supported the compulsory acquisition - and involved the selection of the bypass route. Three other decisions related to the process for acquiring the couple's land. The Pascoes, who have already been granted leave to appeal issues relating to the compulsory acquisition to the Supreme Court , said they were still considered the High Court decisions. "While we have not yet had an opportunity to fully review yesterday's decisions, we have already identified a number of fundamental errors. "It appears that Justice McQueen has failed to exercise reasonable skill, care and diligence in the performance of her duties to us and to the people of this country." The couple said the Supreme Court had determined in a number of high-profile instances that there had been miscarriages of justice and cases were not properly determined by the lower courts. "We believe that yesterday's decisions are in this category, and it is likely that we will appeal. "Being deprived of somewhere tenable to live and the ability to make a living is barbaric and an abomination under the Public Works Act." Taranaki farmer Tony Pascoe. Photo: Ken Downie The Supreme Court appeal was scheduled to be heard on 14 October. NZTA regional manager of infrastructure delivery Rob Partridge said the rulings marked a significant milestone for the project, following years of legal challenges. "While it is always our preference to acquire land through agreement, this has not been possible, despite extensive efforts including numerous offers made to the landowners." Partridge said since 2017, there had been many attempts to acquire the land by agreement, and the landowners had been presented with 20 offers including options for new housing elsewhere across their 683-hectare landholdings. "The delays in securing this land have come at a considerable cost. NZTA plans to update the overall project cost later this year, factoring in the impacts of these delays, as well as inflation and rising construction costs." Te Ara o Te Ata - Mt Messenger Bypass project construction in February 2025. Photo: NZTA / Waka Kotahi Partridge said following the latest court decision NZTA would now request the Crown take the necessary steps to become the legal owner of the 11-hectare parcel of land. "So that, subject to any further legal challenge against this process occurring, the Mt Messenger Alliance can begin works on the northern section as soon as possible." The work was then expected to take four full construction seasons, from October to April, to complete, Partridge said.
RNZ News
09-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Supreme Court to hear Mt Messenger Public Works Act appeal
Tony and Debbie Pascoe. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin The Supreme Court will hear a penniless Taranaki farming couple's appeal against the compulsory acquisition of 11 hectares of their land for the Mt Messenger Bypass. But the country's highest court has indicated the hearing would have a narrow focus. New Plymouth's mayor denounced the move which he said would add extra time and money to the already over budget project. The six-kilometre, $360 million bypass aims to deliver a safer, more resilient route north out of Taranaki, avoiding an existing steep and windy stretch of highway which includes a narrow tunnel. NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) contractors were currently constructing the road from the southern and using a gondola to access the centre of the project because the Pascoe's land had not yet been secured. In its decision to allow the Pascoes leave to appeal, the Supreme Court said a central question would be to decide whether it was permissible for negotiations prior to the compulsory acquisition of the couple's land under the Public Works Act to be undertaken by a contractor, rather than by the Minister for Land Information, Chris Penk, or his officials. It would also examine whether outsourcing of negotiations to NZTA contractor The Property Group was consistent with the minister's statutory duty "to make every endeavour to negotiate in good faith". Tony Pascoe, who owns a farm with his wife on the northern boundary of the project, said the decision to allow the appeal was significant for all landowners. "Oh, it's huge. It's huge. This is huge for all land owners. To be off to the Supreme Court and then for them to also supply a barrister," he said. "Now the barrister's also asked the court to supply another counsel to be able to help her get this right. "So, we're pretty happy about it. We don't know what's going to happen, but were pretty happy." The courts had previously recognised the Pascoes - who face a $180,000 bill for legal costs from previous unsuccessful litigation - had little to no money. The Supreme Court said due to the complexity and nature of the appeal a lawyer would be appointed to represent the couple. Currently, the Pascoes were being offered $176,000 for the land required for the project and would need to relocate during construction because their home would become unliveable. Tony Pascoe wanted the Public Works Act process in relationship to his land to be restarted . If the Supreme Court agreed, he had a vision of the future. "A home, a farm hub and an income anywhere on our property. To be able to relocate our home and farm hub, to put a new home or relocatable home on a place that's geo-teched and suitable to put there," he said. "It's basically bloody easy but they've made it extremely hard for us." Long-time supporter of the Pascoes Marie Gibbs said granting leave to appeal to the Supreme Court was significant. "It shows that the issues around the Mt Messenger Bypass and the use of the Public Works Act are important not only for the Pascoes but also for every other landowner that faces having their land taken by force for a any sort of project like the bypass." She hoped the case would improve the process. "If the minister and LINZ are making every endeavour to negotiate in good faith to reach and agreement acceptable to the landowner then it's going to make the whole process less intimidating for landowners and they will actually get what they are entitled to." Mt Messenger bypass protester Marie Gibbs. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom had sympathy for the Pascoes, but said enough was enough. "I do love that movie The Castle and I do believe everyone has a right to their day in court, but they shouldn't have the right to appeal a court's decision 15 or 16 times," Holdom said. "And every single time, the court has found in favour of the project going ahead, but here we are again with another expensive delay." New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin Holdom wasn't sure if some of the people supporting the Pascoes had the couple's best interests at heart. "This is a vital project linking Taranaki to the north and a small group of essentially vexatious litigants have cost Kiwis hundreds of millions of dollars and seven years by using every trick in the book to ensure they've had more than a dozen days in court." Holdom said the latest appeal would also likely be unsuccessful and mean the loss of another construction season adding about $40 million to the project's ballooning costs. Land Information and NZTA were unable to comment because the case was before the courts. The appeal was set to be heard in October. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
03-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Mt Messenger contractors making strides underground and overhead
Contractors have offered a sneak-peak at two of the main features of Te Ara o Te Ata - the Mt Messenger Bypass on State Highway 3 in Taranaki. A huge road-heading machine is excavating a 235m-long tunnel under the highest point of the maunga and construction of a 125m-long bridge toward the southern end of the project is underway. The six-kilometre $360 million bypass aims to deliver a safer more resilient route north out of Taranaki, avoiding an existing steep and windy stretch of highway which includes a narrow tunnel. NZTA project manager Caleb Perry. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin Waka Kotahi project manager Caleb Perry said the tunnel, which was 65m below the summit, was a key component of the project. "The tunnel is 235m-long or will be once we've broken through and it's excavated in two headings. So, what we're standing in now is the top heading and the final road level will be about 3m below our feet here. "So, we break through with this top heading out the other side probably in about October/November time this year. Then we bring all the team back to the start, drop down about 3m and carry on and remove what we call the bench." Perry said two-lane bridge would be 13m wide by 9m high, giving an over-dimensional traffic envelope of 10m wide and 6m high when an emergency exit passage was installed one side and the lighting and fire safety equipment installed the roof. Inside the tunnel. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin Tunnel supervisor Steve Wiley. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin A Tūrangi local, tunnel supervisor Steve Wiley learned his trade in Australia. "A typical day underground is pretty much excavation, shotcrete, curing time and excavating again." He loved life underground. "It's just a challenge. You have challenging days, good days. And it's the people, you know, you run into some really good characters working underground." Roadheader operator Carlos Cooper. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin Carlos Cooper pilots the 110-tonne road-header given the name 'Hinetūparimaunga' - the atua of mountains and cliffs - by project partners Ngāti Tama. "She's one of the nicest machines you can drive in underground tunnelling. She's pretty good and particularly with this ground it's pretty soft, so she's easy cutting on this particular project." The 110 tonne roadheader machine in the Mt Messenger tunnel. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin He also earned his stripes across the ditch. "In Australia is where I started. I had a few mates who got into the underground game and I haven't looked back since." The Whanganui local outlined his day. "Arrive for a briefing at about 6.30am and come up here about 7am. Get into cutting mode and then it will take approximately two, two and a half hours to cut 1.2m and then we'll much the face out and shot crete will come in and do their bit and we'll bolt after that and shotcrete again." Cooper was looking forward to emerging at the other end. "It's quite a relief one of those special days you can look back on and tell your grandkids yeah you were on that project and it was one to remember. He hoped to take a spin on the new highway once it was finished. "Absolutely, yeah, hopefully I'll be one of the first." Bridge building boss Nick Myers-Kay. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin Senior project engineer Nick Myers-Kay was in charge of constructing the project's longest bridge - which actually involved building two bridges. "Currently we're standing on the 110m of temporary staging that needs to be constructed ahead of building the permanent bridge which is going to be located out to the right of us here. "In the background here that's the first lot of permanent earthworks that the bridge is started on. That's pretty much where the abutment is going to start. The bridge had raking piers. That keeps the pier foundations out of the wetland." The view from a service road down to the tunnel head. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin He said the temporary bridge - on which a 28 tonne crane was operating - helped minimised damage to the wetland below. "The immediate challenge is the environment. I'm new to this area I've never worked in this region before, so I'm quite amazed at the ruggedness and steepness of the terrain around us. "It's obviously very beautiful country here too the bush is just spectacular, so that is obviously a major challenge for us to navigate our way around that." It was a point project manager Caleb Perry reinforced. "This is a really important part of the natural environment here at the headwaters of the Mimi Stream and you can see off to the side the kahikatea swamp forest which is one of the last inland wetlands that we are working as hard as we can to protect." A digger operating in the tunnel. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin That went as far as bending trees out of the way. "You can see around me there are few trees with tie-downs, ropes around them. We basically put a team of ecologists in a basket hang them from a crane and the try and bend some of those trees out of the way, so the temporary bridge can go through. "After we've built the main structure this temporary bridge won't be needed anymore and the team will come back and let the trees bounce back into their natural position." A 28 tonne crane preparing to place a pile from the staging bridge at the construction site of the 125m steel girder bridge. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin The permanent bridge was due to be completed by September 2026. New Zealand Transport Agency was still embroiled in a Public Works Act wrangle for land required for the project at its northern end. If that was successful, it would take about four years to complete the bypass. A surveyor working at the tunnel face. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
