Te Ara Tupua delivered by the NZ Transport Agency in partnership with iwi mana whenua Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika and Ngāti Toa Rangatira, creates a safe and attractive 12km long walking and cycling link between Wellington and Lower Hutt, while also providing a new resilient coastal edge to protect the adjacent State Highway and rail infrastructure.  

Users of the shared path will benefit from enhanced safety, access and connection between the communities around the harbour from Eastbourne to the Hutt Valley and onwards to Wellington City.  By 2030, it is estimated there will be over 2100 trips by bike on the path each weekday, as well as 360 walking or running trips and around 290 trips on e-scooters or similar devices.  

The Ngā Ūranga ki Pito-One (Ngauranga to Petone) section of Te Ara Tupua, the largest component, will see the completion of a 4.5km shared path with a five-meter-wide sealed surface, built on the harbour’s edge from Ngauranga Interchange to Honiana Te Puni Reserve in Petone. Downer is part of the Alliance team formed to design and construct the Ngā Ūranga ki Pito-One section, as well as the 4.4km Tupua Horo Nuku Eastern Bays Shared Path.   

The project includes six Ūranga (landings) along the shared path, with planting and shared areas providing new recreational opportunities. It also incorporates a shared path bridge, providing access over the railway lines at Ngā Ūranga.  

We worked in conjunction with Iwi partners to co-design cultural features, including staged upgrades to Honiana Te Puni Reserve, which will provide the northern gateway to the Ngā Ūranga ki Pito-One section of Te Ara Tupua. The reserve now includes Tāwharau Pods (for community liaison and mahi toi), a carving studio, shared paths, and dog walking areas – creating a lasting cultural and community identity and legacy.