Urban revitalisation

He Whakarauora Tāone

Creating a river city

Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi will help shape an innovative, prosperous and attractive future for Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai – Lower Hutt.

The programme will reconnect the city with Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River, creating a distinctive riverside character and a more vibrant central city.

Alongside improved flood protection, it will deliver better transport connections, new walking and cycling links, and enhanced public transport options, without adding congestion or greenhouse gas emissions.

Future-focused

Historically, development along High Street and Queens Drive turned the city away from the river, with stopbanks reinforcing this separation. This programme reverses that pattern.

By investing in new roads, a pedestrian bridge, and a river’s edge development site, Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi embraces the river as a taonga (sacred treasure) and builds the foundations of a modern, energetic city. It strengthens resilience, supports ecological health, and improves wellbeing, while enabling sustainable growth.

Urban revitalisation

Reconnecting with the river will stimulate redevelopment and unlock new opportunities for recreation, culture and community life.

Planned/potential street upgrades include pedestrian pathways, outdoor dining, better lighting, and space for markets and events – all helping transform Lower Hutt into a lively river city.