In April 2026, Tupua Horo Nuku, the 4.4km seawall and shared path connecting Ngau Matau (Point Howard) and Eastbourne, was blessed through a Tapuwae Whenua ceremony, marking the completion of a significant stage of the project and celebrating the enduring partnership between Mana Whenua, Hutt City Council, Waka Kotahi and Te Ara Tupua Alliance.
A Tapuwae Whenua ceremony is a tikanga-based process that acknowledges the spiritual and cultural significance of a place, bringing people together to formally open, dedicate and connect a project to the whenua and its stories. The ceremony reflected the principles of the Tākai Here, Council’s commitment to strengthening relationships with Mana Whenua through partnership, shared decision-making and mutual respect.
Throughout the delivery of Tupua Horo Nuku, Mana Whenua have played a key governance role through the Mana Whenua Steering Group, ensuring matauraura (knowledge) Māori, cultural values and local narratives are embedded alongside engineering, environmental and community outcomes. This collaborative approach demonstrates how large-scale infrastructure projects can be shaped through genuine partnership, recognising Mana Whenua not only as cultural advisors, but as strategic partners and kaitiaki with a vital role in guiding the long-term stewardship of place.
The name Tupua Horo Nuku evokes the story of Ngake, one of the two Tupua (spiritual beings) who, according to traditional Te Āti Awa narrative, helped shape Te Whanganui a Tara. Gifted to the project by Te Āti Awa Taranaki Whānui, the name reflects a deeper connection between the shared path, the harbour and the history of the area.
Rather than being simply a transport or resilience project, Tupua Horo Nuku is part of a wider effort to weave local narratives, identity and whakapapa into the landscape.
The gifting of a name by Mana Whenua is a significant act that acknowledges the relationship between people and place, ensuring the stories of the harbour and its ancestors remain visible and accessible for future generations.