Partners remain committed despite alternative delivery programme

In late March, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Greater Wellington, Hutt City Council, and iwi Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika and Ngāti Toa Rangatira, announced delivery changes for Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi.

The partners have already used different delivery mechanisms to progress work such as the Mills St stopbank, and the Melling skatepark. Other components such as most of the river works, stopbanks and streetscapes will now be delivered outside of the current alliance model.

An update on this was presented at the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, 3 April.

• Through the Alliance with AECOM and Fletcher Construction,
• • NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi will deliver the Melling Transport Improvements (including a new grade-separated SH2 Melling interchange and bridge over Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River, relocation of the Melling train station, and new/ improved walking and cycling paths).
  • Hutt City Council is working to deliver the city link pedestrian bridge that links the railway station with the city centre.
• Greater Wellington will deliver the river works and stopbanks.
• Hutt City Council will deliver improvements to local roads and streetscapes.

Naming Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi

A year ago, Mana Whenua gifted the name of the programme Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi—The Soothing Waters of Te Awa Kairangi. The name acknowledges how the Hutt Valley and river were formed and reminds us about the importance of caring for the river, the land, and the places and spaces around us.

The valley formed out of the whipping and lashing tail of Ngake as he broke free from a landlocked lake, where he lived with Whātaitai, to form Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington Harbour. Like many rivers, Te Awa Kairangi began life through Hine-waitōtā, Hine-kōrako and Hine-wairere, the ancestresses of condensation, lunar droplets and water flow gathering on the peaks of the valley and following cracks and crevices within the landscape—gently healing to soothe the scar Ngake left on Papatūānuku (earth mother). To this day, they continue to nurture and care for her.

A healthy environment, a healthy river, is vital to the wellbeing and future of our community. It is an honour for the programme to be given this name.

Progress evident at Mills Street stopbank

Since February 2024, work at the Mills Street stopbank has progressed well and we expect work to be finished in October. Crews have completed their site set up and installed erosion and sediment controls. The team have started building haul roads for the dump trucks delivering material inside the site area. Soon, the team will start moving riprap (large imported rock) and start extracting gravel from the river, these materials will be used to build the permanent stopbank.

The Mills Street stopbank work is a critical component of the programme, as the existing stopbank in this location currently has the lowest level of flood protection on Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River. For more information, visit teawakairangi.co.nz/mills-st-stopbank

Temporary closure and relocation of Melling station pushed back

The Melling station was originally planned to be temporarily closed in July 2024, but this has been pushed back due to an extension of the planning phase until late 2024 / early 2025.

Melling Station and its railway track sit where the new interchange and bridge will be located. We’ll temporarily close the station for up to 18 months while we build the new SH2 interchange.

The new station will have:

• A new park and ride facility.
• A bus interchange with safer access to SH2.
• Safer walking and cycling paths to the CBD, western hills, and links to cycling routes.

We’ll keep you updated on the temporary closure date and alternative transport options as the project progresses.

For more information, visit teawakairangi.co.nz/melling-line-closure

What’s next for Procurement?

With the delivery mechanism changes noted above, procurement timeframes are being adjusted accordingly. Details interested providers previously shared during the ROI process in 2023 will be accessible to all delivery partners, there is no need to submit an expression of interest again to each party.

The Alliance is expecting to issue some pricing packs from mid-May through to late June 2024 to assist with their pricing exercise, and will be utilising the contacts provided during the recent ROI process to assist with this.

We will continue to share updates and notices of nearing procurement packages for the programme, although Greater Wellington and Hutt City Council may run tenders through their own portals. Please reach out to procurement@teawakairangi.co.nz if you have any queries.

More information

For more information on Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi like our Facebook page for updates, visit our website, or send our team an email.

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Website: www.teawakairangi.co.nz

Email: info@teawakairangi.co.nz

About Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi

Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi (Te Awa Kairangi) – The Soothing Waters of Te Awa Kairangi is a partnership between iwi Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika and Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Greater Wellington, Hutt City Council and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, with the Alliance of AECOM and Fletcher Construction.

You can learn more at www.teawakairangi.co.nz