Ruapekapeka Road

The Provincial Growth Fund budgeted $20.7m for road safety improvements, seal extension and road widening on three strategic roads in the Far North District; Ruapekapeka Road (5.3km), Peria Road (6.3km) and Ngapipito Road (5km).

We were engaged to project manage each of the improvements. The scope for Ruapekapeka Road included sealing from SH1 at Towai to the culturally significant Ruapekapeka Pā site. The works sat near two known archaeological sites associated with the Battle of Ruapekapeka Pā, fought between 1885 and 1886.

We worked closely with Heritage NZ, DOC, Te Ruapekepeka Trust and residents to ensure the historic, cultural and landscape values of the area were preserved throughout.

The challenge

The delivery milestones were tight, with the 175th anniversary commemoration at the Pā falling in January 2021. That meant increased consultation and planning were required to ensure delivery of key milestones before this event.

Most of the project sat within road reserve, but some improvements were needed within the historic reserve itself. The work had to comply with an Archaeological Authority, including a robust accidental discovery protocol.

The area carries high cultural, landscape and ecological value, so safety improvements needed to go in without compromising its scenic and landscape qualities.

Our approach

We like to find outcomes that work for everyone involved. We began consultation early, so the requirements of Heritage NZ, DOC, Te Ruapekapeka Trust and residents could be built into the construction programme from the start. Given the cultural significance of the site, our project manager carried out extensive hapū and community engagement throughout delivery.

Outcomes

• Improved access to the Ruapekapeka Historic Reserve included widening, reshaping, realigning, sealing, re-metalling, water table and culvert repair and replacement, and vegetation management.

• Relocation of large boulders to allow for a new retaining wall — repositioned around the site to locations agreed with the Trust, including the carpark, stream, retaining walls

• Increased resilience when Ruapekapeka Road is used as an emergency detour

• Intersection improvement at Ruapekapeka Historic Reserve, while preserving scenic Puriri trees

• Provision of shoulder parking at the British Camp heritage site