The final 4.4-kilometre stretch of the Tupua Horo Nuku shared pathway, a landmark project for Lower Hutt’s eastern bays, will fully open to the public this Saturday, 18 April. The grand opening marks the completion of a resilient dual-purpose seawall and separated cycleway running from Ngau Matau/Point Howard to Eastbourne, promising a new era of connectivity and coastal protection for the area.
To celebrate the milestone, a public opening event will kick off at 10am, featuring family-friendly activities spread along the path. Festivities will be located at Whiorau Reserve, Williams Park at Days Bay, and near the San Antonio School tennis courts in Eastbourne, with attractions including bubbles, play trailers, and free bike checks for attendees.
The $79.95 million infrastructure project provides both a vital recreational asset for walkers, runners, and cyclists, and a substantial defence for critical services against the elements. The structure shields Marine Drive, a key transport artery, and the main treated wastewater discharge pipe from the increasing threats of sea-level rise and extreme weather events, a growing concern for coastal communities across New Zealand.
A section of the path between Days Bay and Eastbourne welcomed its first users in late 2023, but this weekend’s event celebrates the completion of the entire route, finally linking the bays as originally envisaged. The project is seen as a key component of a broader strategy to encourage active transport throughout the Hutt Valley and the wider Wellington region.
A long and costly journey
The path to completion has been neither short nor cheap. Initially budgeted at $30 million, the project’s costs escalated to nearly $80 million within six months, a surge attributed to soaring prices for materials, complex shipping logistics, and persistent labour shortages. These challenges have been a common theme for major infrastructure works nationwide, reflecting a heated construction market and global supply chain disruptions.
The significant financial burden was shared between three key partners. Hutt City Council contributed $24.4 million, funded by ratepayers, while NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi provided $25.5 million. The central government covered the largest portion, injecting $30 million to ensure the project’s completion. For Hutt City, which has been navigating significant financial pressures and a backlog of infrastructure work, the investment represents a major commitment.
The construction phase, which spanned the last two years, has not been without its difficulties, causing considerable disruption for residents along Marine Drive. These issues were compounded by controversy over the project's execution, including reports of "dodgy concrete pours" which drew scrutiny. The combination of massive cost overruns and construction woes prompted Hutt South MP Chris Bishop to take a closer look at the project before he became Transport Minister.
A 'very exciting time' for the city
Despite the challenges, local leaders are hailing the pathway’s completion as a transformative moment for Lower Hutt. Mayor Fauono Ken Laban said it was a "very exciting time" for the city and acknowledged the community’s forbearance during the lengthy and often inconvenient construction period.
We're very excited about what this means for the future of our city, and we're very grateful and very appreciative for the patience of our community that have put up with all the disruption over the last couple of years.
The mayor expressed a grander vision for the path, seeing it as a critical link in a network that will eventually allow residents to walk or cycle from anywhere in the Hutt all the way to Wellington. This new accessibility will connect communities to local highlights, from the popular collectors fair to the city's vibrant open studio art trail.
Hutt South MP and Transport Minister Chris Bishop called the opening a "great moment," noting his own family had already been enjoying the completed sections. The project connects communities not just for recreation, but also provides a resilient transport choice, a key goal in a region grappling with traffic congestion and the need for more sustainable travel options. It is a stark contrast to the experience of some Lower Hutt businesses that have suffered from other disruptive roadworks, similar to the challenges faced in Mount Maunganui where the community rallied for a landslide charity auction.
Part of a wider regional network
Tupua Horo Nuku is a key piece of a much larger puzzle. It is designed to integrate with Te Ara Tupua, another major project that includes a 12-kilometre shared path and seawall between Ngāuranga and Petone. With that section expected to open by the middle of the year, the vision of a continuous active transport route around Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington Harbour is close to becoming a reality.
The combined pathways, linked by the existing shared path along the Petone waterfront, will create an uninterrupted route from Eastbourne to the heart of Wellington. As Minister Bishop noted, it "made sense" to build a shared path on top of these essential seawalls. "You get multiple benefits from resilience through to increased active modes of transport," he said.
The focus on resilience is critical. According to guidance from the Ministry for the Environment, local governments must plan for significant sea-level rise, making protective infrastructure like the new seawalls an essential long-term investment. While the NZ manufacturing sector has shown recent expansion, the rising cost of protecting the country from climate change presents a formidable economic challenge.
Looking ahead, Mayor Laban says the council is "very excited about what this means for the future of our city." The completion of Tupua Horo Nuku is not just the opening of a path, but a major step towards a more connected, resilient, and active Lower Hutt.
