Click to view an animated fly-through of the Ngā Ūranga to Pito-One section of Te Ara Tupua
From Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency:
In the lead up to making our consent applications, we are sharing updated images and videos that show the tweaks and changes that have been made to the project’s design since we shared plans last year.
One of the key design changes is a move to protect and preserve sensitive habitat areas. Located along the coast, existing gravel ‘beach’ areas provide valuable habitat for native species.
To reduce the project’s footprint in these beach areas, a vertical seawall will be incorporated into the path’s coastal edge. Ecological screens on top of these seawalls will prevent people from accessing the beaches, and reduce disturbance to the birds and other species that use these habitats.
You can see the locations of these habitat areas, as well as the path’s ūranga (landings) that provide space for people to gather – along with the project’s other key features in our new fly-through video.
You can get another view of these changes and the overall design in our new image gallery, and check out the project team explaining the work they’ve been doing on our videos page.
The trustees of the Great Harbour Way/Te Aranui o Pōneke Trust (GHW) 100 percent support the NZTA submission for resource consent for Te Ara Tupua shared pathway.
The GHW vision is a continuous harbourside walking and cycling route around the entire 72km perimeter of Te Whanganui-a-tara, Wellington Harbour. This route will be a scenic and history enriching recreational attraction for locals and tourists, and an active commuter path, linking the sea with the land, the past with today, and the natural environment with human- made infrastructure.
Few, if any, major harbour cities in the world can match Wellington’s opportunity to allow residents and visitors to safely walk or cycle a large and continuous Harbour coastline. No private land needs to be acquired to achieve this vision. Already, this unique perimeter shared pathway is being enjoyed by a wide range of users –walkers, runners, skaters, scooters, bikers; children, young people and adults; local national and international; able and disabled; commuters, recreationalists, exercisers, environmentalists, sportspeople, fishers, socialisers, fresh air lovers.
Since the inception of the Great Harbour Way project in 2003, the trust’s vision has moved progressively closer to realisation. Crucial sections of the Great Harbour Way, such as the Cobham Drive path, will soon be complete. Consent for the Eastern Bays Shared Path to Eastbourne has been lodged. Building Te Ara Tupua, the Petone to Ngaūranga link, will be an essential step towards realising that vision. Te Ara Tupua will create a linear park that will double as a safe commuter route between the Hutt Valley and Wellington while also becoming part of one of Aotearoa’s great urban walks and rides.
Closing the gap between Ngaūranga and Petone has been the biggest challenge and the focus of the GHW Trust’s efforts for over a decade. We are delighted that this project will now be fast-tracked. Since the high-level intention to invest was announced, the project team has worked through the stages of needs analysis, benefit investigation and assessment, community and stakeholder consultation, innovation and design, and subsequent consultation. GHW trustees have been consulted and involved throughout.
We have had numerous positive interaction with the project team, and provided opportunities to input our thoughts and ideas, including on the linkages to other trails such as Hutt River Cycle Trail and the Remutaka Rail Trail, as well as the section of Te Ara Tupua from Petone to Melling. We are particularly pleased the concept for Te Ara Tupua is for a linear park along the lines of the Lambton Harbour section – wide enough for multiple activities, not just a single function commuter thoroughfare.
The quality design, with its ground-breaking incorporation of Māori art and values, its close attention to safety, and its determination to provide exciting community experiences, has our full approval and admiration. We also see many tourism opportunities arising from this project, such as cruise ship passengers ferrying to Days Bay and biking or walking back to the boat, and small companies setting up services to assist people experiencing the full harbourside route. These opportunities and experiences can only enhance the strong Wellington brand.
We consider the investment in Te Ara Tupua will lead to substantial behaviour change and modal shift; for the first time there will be an alternative link between Wellington and the Hutt, to the current vehicle and rail modes. This is likely to benefit the whole region socially, recreationally, economically and in terms of health, well-being and social cohesion. Te Ara Tupua will truly be a linear park for the people.
We continue to fully support the project team and look forward to the opening of Te Ara Tupua this in 2024.
For more information, contact GHW Trustees Chair Graeme Hall (graeme@rutherfordsloan.co.nz +64 21606 101)
Today’s government decision to help fund the Eastern Bays Shared Path through Eastbourne is fantastic news for walkers and cyclists, and a major leap forward for pioneers of Wellington’s visionary Great Harbour Way/Te Aranui o Pōneke trail.
“This is another piece in the jigsaw that will make the Great Harbour Way one of the finest walking and cycling paths in the country,” GHW chair Graeme Hall said. “We expect the experience of walking or cycling this astonishing trail, with its varied landscapes and historic sites, to attract outdoor enthusiasts of all kind and greatly boost the Wellington region’s economy.”
The announcement comes on top of June’s decision to fund Te Ara Tupua, the section of the Great Harbour Way linking Petone and Ngāūranga, as one of the government’s 11 large infrastructure projects.
“The vision is being realised,” Hall said. “We will have a pathway to match the great trails of Aotearoa, as well as an alternative way for people to get to work. “Cyclists and walkers will within the next few years not only be able to safely walk or ride from Baring Head to Red Rocks, but also to link into the Remutaka Cycle Trail and the Wairarapa Five Towns Trail.”
The new path will serve a double purpose, including seawall protection and reinstatement of power, gas and fibre lines, Hall said. Hutt City Council will need to match this level of government investment to deliver the tremendous benefits of this project to the Hutt and Wellington region communities. “When the project is completed, all Wellingtonians and visitors will have the opportunity to catch the ferry to Eastbourne and safely walk or cycle back to the city and beyond.”
Contact: Graeme Hall, Great Harbour Way Trust Chair, +6421606101
Below Stuff’s article on the Government announcement to fast track the Great Harbour Way path as part of its ‘shovel-ready projects’. The article focuses on the benefit for cyclists, but obviously it is a huge benefit for walkers as well and tourism in general. Fantastic news indeed!
A key group that has fought for nearly two decades for the creation of a safe cycling and walking link between Wellington and Petone says the government’s announcement that the project will be fast-tracked is “a dream come true”.
Graeme Hall, chair of the Great Harbour Way/Te Aranui o Poneke Trust, said the trail, Te Ara Tupuna, would change the face of Wellington and introduce people of all ages to new activities and new views of the harbour. “While the primary purpose is to allow people to walk and cycle safely between the two cities, the trail will also feature viewing and fishing spots, beautiful artwork, and attractive landscaping. It will rapidly become a hugely popular attraction with both locals and tourists.”
Hall said the group had been given a preview of the design and had “been completely blown away”. “NZTA has done a truly world-class job,” he said. “Everything has been thought of, including safety, night lighting, shelter, and natural habitat protection. The design is highly impressive.”
The Great Harbour Way project had its genesis in 2003, when a group of women led by former city councillor Mary Varnham walked the harbour perimeter over three days and realised it offered something almost unique in the world as all the land by the water was in public ownership. The only gap was Petone to Ngauranga. “Once this is complete, it will enable the whole route to be developed.” Hall said. “It’s an exciting prospect.”
One of the most active members of the trust, Alastair Smith, a passionate cyclist who was tireless in his advocacy for the project, died last November after a long battle with cancer. “We will be raising a celebratory glass to Alastair,” Hall said.
