Construction begins on South Mole
Work is now underway on the South Mole reinstatement, marking a significant milestone in Te Pūwaha: the Whanganui Port Revitalisation Project.
This next phase of construction follows months of discussion involving Hapū and Te Pūwaha project partners on how to best proceed at the South Mole.
“It is a complex project in which we have had to weigh up the priority construction areas to be completed, while also deciding on suitable access to a very remote location,” says Hayden Turoa, Te Pūwaha Project Director.
“We have done this alongside taking care of the surrounding environment, and creating opportunities for abundance, not only in the physical construction works, but also in the way the work is carried out and how the community is brought along on the journey,”
Hapū, together with project partners, including Horizons Regional Council, will ensure delivery of this work is in accordance with an abundance mind-set, including providing opportunities for ongoing community understanding and feedback.
There are plans to host guided hikoi near the construction site later this year, giving stakeholders and community members the opportunity to learn more about the project, the river structures and the role they play in supporting a sustainable future for the Whanganui Port.
A key focus of this phase of work is on the repair of the Tanea Groyne and downstream interface wall, located on the southern side of the Whanganui River mouth. These structures play a critical role in shaping the river mouth, enabling safe navigation and enhancing flood protection.
As the first infrastructure project to operate under the Te Awa Tupua framework, Te Pūwaha is guided by Tupua te Kawa – the innate values of the Whanganui River. This ensures all project partners and contractors are aligned in a shared commitment to upholding the mana of Te Awa Tupua through collaborative, integrated, and respectful development.
“Every element of Te Pūwaha is grounded in a values-based approach, where environmental stewardship, community wellbeing and cultural integrity go hand in hand,” says Hayden Turoa.
“The South Mole reinstatement is a continuation of that commitment, as the work on the south side will complement what has already been achieved along the northern embankment and out to the North Mole.”
From early July, contractors Mills-Albert Ltd. began preparing a hardstand area near the South Mole to receive rock deliveries. This follows an ecological survey of the stockpile site. Trucks will then transport rock from Taranaki via Whanganui’s main arterial routes and turning onto Airport Road. Deliveries will continue until the end of October 2025.
By late July, once 5,000 tonnes of rock are on site, physical works will begin at the Tanea Groyne and interface wall. Rock will be transported by off-road dump trucks via an existing track along the beach, travelling approximately 2.7km to the work site. These movements will be piloted for safety.
“A considerable amount of rock has to be moved a fair distance, so our contractors have come up with a plan which causes as little disruption as possible, not only for the local community and recreational users of the beach, but also the surrounding landscape,” says Horizons group manager – catchment operations, Dr Jon Roygard.
“This work is critical in terms of the wider Te Pūwaha project,” says Dr Roygard.
“It will provide protection to the end of the South Spit and maintain the river course. The structures will also contribute to stabilising a small sand bank downstream of the Groyne that will reduce the impact of wave energy traveling in from the sea and maintain hydraulic flushing.”
Te Pūwaha will secure a modern marine precinct and community asset at the Whanganui Port for the next 50 years. This will enable the building and maintenance of world class vessels and create a platform for unlocking further investment in the Port and Whanganui.
All works on the southern side are expected to be completed by December 2025. Once construction ends, the hardstand area for the rock stockpile site will be removed and the site restored to its natural state.
Information on the upcoming community hikoi will be shared on www.facebook.com/TePuwaha as details are finalised. If you wish to be involved, please contact Nga Remu Tahuparae either via email: ntahuparae@gmail.com, or phone: 0275 011503.
