Construction begins on Wharf 3 renewal
Construction is set to begin this month on the urgent renewal of Wharf 3 at the Whanganui Port, marking the next step towards completion for Te Pūwaha – the Whanganui Port revitalisation project.
The work, scheduled from June 2025 through to April 2026, will see the complete rebuild of Wharf 3 to stabilise the eroding riverbank and protect the long-term health and wellbeing of the Whanganui River.
Over recent years, the advanced deterioration of Wharf 3 and the land behind it – located between Tod Street and Wharf Street – has led to ongoing erosion. This issue accelerated during the construction of the new mobile boat hoist lifting bay and hardstand area at the end of Tod Street. Left unaddressed, the erosion posed a growing risk of long-buried industrial contaminants entering the awa.
In alignment with Tupua te Kawa – the intrinsic values of the Whanganui River as Te Awa Tupua, a living and indivisible whole – project partners have prioritised the restoration and stabilisation of this critical section of the port, under ongoing leadership and guidance of hapū.
“As a project group, our commitment is to honour Tupua te Kawa in every decision we make,” says Te Pūwaha project director Hayden Turoa.
“The urgent works at Wharf 3 are not just about infrastructure, they are also about upholding our shared responsibility to the awa and ensuring the whenua and wai are protected for future generations.”
The works will include the demolition of the existing Wharf 3 structure, followed by installation of new sheet piling and a rock revetment to secure the riverbank. A new reinforced concrete wharf structure will then be constructed to support future port operations.
The construction will cause some disruption to recreational boat operators, as the Wharf Street boat ramp will have to be closed from time to time in the coming months, to accommodate cranes working on the water’s edge.
“We are pulling together a plan with our contractor as the intention is to cause as little disruption as possible for boaties,” says Whanganui Port general manager Geoff Evans.
“We are working with Coastguard Whanganui and the Whanganui Manawatū Sea Fishing Club to communicate updates. Plus we will have staff onsite to speak directly with boat operators and provide guidance.”
Te Pūwaha is a community-led initiative to revitalise the Whanganui Port and surrounding area. As the first project to operate under the Te Awa Tupua framework, hapū are leading alongside community input to align project partners: Whanganui District Council, Whanganui Port, Horizons Regional Council, Q-West Boat Builders, the Port Employment Precinct and central government. Tupua te Kawa is the collective focus bound on a common value set. This approach ensures a more successful, integrated and mindful approach to conducting necessary work.
This latest phase of construction strengthens the foundations of a revitalised port that is resilient, future-focused and grounded in the unique cultural and environmental identity of Whanganui.
The completion of Te Pūwaha will create a platform for unlocking further investment in the port and Whanganui.
“We will see a modern marine precinct and community asset for the next 50 years, one in which Whanganui is retaining and creating high value jobs in the marine, engineering and coastal freight sector,” says Hayden Turoa.
“This is a good news story for Whanganui, one in which all project partners are proud to be a part of.”
