Mt Messenger Bypass: A Taranaki Iwi’s Deal to Restore Coastal Forest
A landmark agreement surrounding the construction of the Mt Messenger bypass in Taranaki has empowered Ngāti Tama to spearhead a significant ecological restoration project, turning a challenging land acquisition process into an prospect for environmental renewal. The iwi exchanged 20 hectares of bushland needed for the new State Highway 3 route for a combination of financial compensation, farmland, and a extensive pest control initiative.
The project, known as Te Ara o Te Ata, began with a grounding in Māori tradition. Each morning, as the sun rises over Mt messenger – also known as Parininihi – construction crews gather for karakia, a spiritual practise intended to set a positive intention for the day. “We open with karakia to set good intent, to ground reset us, to come together and energise wairua really,” explained Rae-Hinerau Wetere, the project’s cultural lead. “We talk about the maramataka – some phases can bring lower energy than others – so explain that that is okay and just to be mindful of those things and not to be too hard on ourselves.”
Wetere emphasized the importance of genuine partnership, stating, “We never wanted to feel or be an add on or tokenism. That was not going to happen. we where going to be woven into the fibre of Te Ara o Te Ata.” She likened the role of Ngāti Tama to that of hosts at a marae, welcoming and caring for visitors to their space.
The integration of cultural protocols has been positively received by those involved in the physical construction. According to a project ecologist, Louise Potier, the initial stages of the project faced scrutiny under the Wildlife Act, raising concerns about the potential for kiwi and other native species to be harmed during construction, ultimately leading to amendments in the law. However, potier remains optimistic about the long-term ecological benefits. “Looking at the long term picture the pest management that will be in place in the wider area will have a massive benefit for not only kiwi but all the other species in this area, so the lizards, the bats, the invertebrates and also the fresh water species.”
Engineers are also adapting to the unique requirements of the project. Nick Myers-Kay,in charge of bridge number one,noted the seamless integration of ecological considerations into the workflow. “It’s quite unique, it’s great to see them out there in action and keeping an eye on the kiwi for us. We just plan our work around them. The expectation is that they are here everyday before we start work and they do their thing and once they’re out of the way it’s good to go for us. It’s hardly an inconvenience.”
At Ngarautika, Ngāti Tama chair Hayden Wano acknowledged the arduous decision to relinquish the 20 hectares of native bush. “Like all hapū, iwi, whānau we’re a broad base, we have differences of opinions, but at the end of the day most people saw the opportunities that existed not only for ngāti Tama but for the wider communities in this area and so over 80 percent of the uri of ngāti Tama voted in support of this work.” Wano highlighted the economic benefits, with 26 members of Ngāti Tama directly employed on the project and further opportunities emerging in subcontracting and biodiversity initiatives. “ngati Tama has a strong history of working in this biodiversity space. We’ve heard about the return of the kōkako, we’ve heard about the return of kiwi in the area and we certainly know the numbers are increasing and have been during the time of this work.” He also emphasized the improved road safety the bypass will provide.
The project is not yet complete. The Crown is currently engaged in a legal dispute to acquire the final 11 hectares of private land needed for the northern section of the bypass. Waka Kotahi estimates that, once this land is secured, it will take an additional four years to finish the six-kilometer bypass, bringing a unique blend of infrastructure advancement and ecological restoration to taranaki.
