[ad_1]
David Unwin / Things
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and 7-year-old Wikitoria Hape plant one of the 2.8 million trees that are en route as part of the highway project.
A long-awaited new highway is being built between Manawatū and Hawke’s Bay, as motorists count down to its planned completion in 2024.
The children planted the first physical works from Te Ahu to Turanga, the new road between Woodville and Ashhurst, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Friday.
Rangitāne or Manawatū, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Tāmaki nui-a-Rua, Rangitāne or Tamaki nui a Rua, Ngāti Kauwhata and Te Rūnanga or Raukawa formed a government group that helped design and make decisions about the road.
Te Ahu to Turanga will replace the road through the Manawatū Gorge, with four lanes, 1½ meter wide shoulders, a central central barrier and a separate path for walkers and cyclists.
READ MORE:
* Construction of Manawatū Gorge replacement road will begin
* Ōtaki north of the Levin Highway route avoids the proposed Taraika subdivision
* The Environmental Court hearing on the fate of the Manawatū Gorge replacement road begins next week
David Unwin / Stuff
Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith, Transportation Agency Chairman Sir Brian Roche, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Transportation Minister Michael Wood begin construction in Woodville.
Ardern said the project would generate hundreds of millions of dollars in jobs for the region and strengthen the local economy.
He said that the environmental compensation, with the planting of trees, the control of pests and the improvement of the forest area, made the project different.
“This is a huge and significant milestone.”
The representative of Rangitāne or Manawatū, Danielle Harris, said it was the first time that iwi was involved at the governance level in such a project.
Harris hoped it would be the model for other projects.
“In four years, the nation will see the benefits of what a partnership between the government, the iwi and the council looks like.
“We pride ourselves on being innovative and transformative and this is a key example of that.”
Ngāti Kahungunu ki Tāmaki nui-a-Rua President Hayden Hape said that there were some initial problems, but the arrangement was working well.
He said that the new road would be the third passageway between Manawatū and HAwke’s Bay, the first being the river and then the Manawatū Gorge.
David Unwin / Stuff
Jacinda Ardern says the project will bring many jobs to the region.
Hape said that many people died during the creation of the Gorge Highway, and that it was important that workers were educated and knew of their responsibility to make a safe road.
He hoped the project would attract people to Woodville.
“We hope it’s like the new Carterton, where people come to have a latte and hang out and see some local artists.”
Rangitāne or Tamaki nui, a Rua president and iwi representative on the Mavis Mullins Waka Kotaki NZ Transport Agency project alliance board should be congratulated for involving iwi.
“The Ruahine Range is our sacred mountain. When you’re redesigning, drilling, and punching, that’s a difficult concept to accept.
“It is exciting and special. And the other thing that I really enjoy is that they say this project is about leaving a legacy. It has to be functional, beautiful, safe and a reflection of the community. “
Ngāti Kauwhata President Dennis Emery said iwi had been involved from the beginning, which was desired and necessary.
“When the gorge was closed in 2017, the impact on the entire community was terrible, and as iwi leaders, we saw it and saw it as an opportunity to have a say and participate everywhere and throughout the process.”
Te Rūnanga or Raukawa Executive Director Lindsay Poutama said it was important to have people involved in the association.
“I applaud [the Transport Agnecy] to have the courage, and iwi to unite for the benefit of all of us. “
FACT BOX
- 11.5km of highway
- 6 bridges and structures
- 46ha of native forest will be protected
- 48ha of existing forest will be improved
- 300ha of forest will be controlled and rehabilitated
- 110ha of plants around water courses.
- More than 2 million plants
- 5000 people involved throughout the project
- 350 people at a time
- 60 percent of employees in the region.
