Te Pūwaha | Port of Whanganui Revitalisation
with a coalition of Port Partners | MANAWATŪ - WHANGANUI
The why!
Te Pūwaha is a $50 million revitalisation project underpinned by a collaborative partnership between Whanganui iwi (led by Te Mata Pūau (representatives of Whanganui hapū)) and community and project funders: Whanganui District Council, Horizons Regional Council, Q-West Boat Builders, Whanganui District Employment Training Trust and the Provincial Growth Fund.
The project aims to redevelop the ageing Port precinct, revitalise the awa and undertake physical works on the awa margins to address flood and erosion issues. Substantial economic, environmental and community benefits will accrue from the collection of works being undertaken.
Te Pūwaha is also the first major infrastructure project to be conducted in line with Tupua te Kawa, the innate value set of Te Awa Tupua (which stems from the Whanganui River Claims Settlement Act that confers a legal personality on the Whanganui River). This means the entire project operates under the korowai of leadership and direction of local iwi and hapū.
How are we assisting?
TCG is the primary provider of resource management services to the coalition of groups behind the project, completing four resource consent applications for restoration, erosion, flood protection works, and dredging. We are also coordinating the professional disciplines contributing to the project and leading the ecological restoration element – based on the He Ara Tuku Rau abundance model (another project TCG worked alongside Te Mata Pūau to develop which provides a mechanism to implement Te Awa Tupua).
