The first journeys over the $800 million Te Ahu a Turanga Manawatū Tararua Highway have begun. 

The new 11.5 kilometre highway connecting Palmerston North and Ashhurst to Woodville, Dannevirke and beyond opened to motorists on Wednesday morning. 

The highway was previously opened in a ceremony with officials on Saturday June 7, but was not quite ready for motorists. 

The anticipation proved to be too much for some motorists and NZTA told Hawke’s Bay Today motorists were turning up on Monday hoping to drive through. 

They got their wish early on Wednesday morning. 

Te Ahu a Turanga Manawatū Tararua Highway opened to motorists on Wednesday. Photo / NZTA 

The highway has become State Highway 3, replacing the old Manawatū Gorge Road, which closed in 2017 following slips. 

From the west, the road crosses the Manawatū River over the 300 metre long Parahaki Bridge, and then over the Eco-Viaduct, which takes motorists across an ecologically sensitive wetland complete with swamp maire and raupō. 

The road then climbs through the Ruahine Range, with cuts to the hills of 55 metres and embankments 28 metres high – many of which are ‘benched’ – sloping backwards to minimise the risk of erosion. 

The road weaves between the wind turbines, flanked by the shared user path on one side and thousands of new native plants along the highway. 

More than 1.8 million plants have been added to the landscape – along the road and also away from it. 

Project Manager Grant Kauri said seeing the first vehicles travel the road this morning was a special moment. 

“The closure of the Manawatū Gorge road had such a significant impact on people in Manawatū and Tararua. We know the surrounding communities have struggled with the closure so being able to build them a significantly more resilient, safer and efficient road has been a huge privilege. 

“The road’s importance to the wider central and lower North Island, including the East Coast, can’t be overstated. Te Ahu a Turanga will encourage more travel, while supporting economic growth in the regional economies,” said Kauri. 

He said the alliance working on the project placed focus on genuine iwi partnership, health and wellbeing and environmental sustainability. 

“We worked as partners with five iwi who were represented at all levels of the project, including governance, management and operations. Their crucial role on the project can be seen in many areas, but especially in the wetlands and stream diversions and in the array of stunning mahi toi artwork on the lookouts, structures and roundabouts.” 

The highway project planted 46ha of native forest and created 28 kilometres of stream rehabilitation. 

Kauri said it had also protected 48 hectares of existing forest and provided pest control of 300 hectares of already protected forest reserve. 

More than 2500 people were inducted to work on the project, while an even wider group of suppliers provided materials and equipment. 

“A key principle of the project is to create enduring community outcomes, which means there is a focus on helping people living in the communities around the project. Some of these aims included, a focus on local and iwi employment, procurement, cultural wellbeing, education and training, and support for schools, charities and community organisations.” 

“Over the past few years, we’ve had so much support from communities on both sides of the gorge, they’ve been with us since day one and we’re truly grateful to everyone for being so patient with us. 

“We are honoured to share such a beautiful piece of road and landscape with those communities.” 

Useful facts 

• The speed limit will be 100km/h. 
• The gradients at each end of the road are 10% (Ashhurst) in the west and 8.5% in the east (Woodville). 
• There are roundabouts at each end. These are the only turning points on the highway. 
• The highway has two lanes divided by a flexible median barrier. 
• There are four lookouts on the highway and three rest areas. 
• There are mahi toi cultural artworks at two lookouts, on bridges and at the roundabouts at each end. 
• The Western Gateway Park at the Ashhurst end of the highway is open to the public but is expected to be fully completed later in 2025. The current carpark surface is chip seal but will be replaced with asphalt in coming months.  
• Construction staff will be working in areas away from the highway until later in 2025. This work includes completing the planting, creating recreational tracks at the western end of the highway and removing site offices and compounds