Following four years of construction around the eastern bays, Tupua Horo Nuku, the 4.4km shared path and seawall connecting Ngāu Matau/Point Howard to Mā-koromiko/Windy Point, officially opened in April 2026, marking a significant investment in the resilience, safety and future of Lower Hutt’s eastern bays.
Delivered through the Te Ara Tupua Alliance and in partnership with Mana Whenua, the project strengthened the vulnerable coastal edge along Marine Drive, improving the resilience of this critical transport connection and providing long-term protection from coastal erosion and storms.
The creation of this route for people walking and cycling around the eastern bays has also expanded Lower Hutt’s active transport network and, together with Te Ara Tupua, provides a continuous route around Wellington Harbour.
A dawn Tā i te Kawa blessing in April 2026, led by Te Āti Awa rangatira Kura Moeahu, celebrated not only the completion of the infrastructure but also the cultural stories embedded throughout the path.
The project also established four Bird Protection Areas, installed more than 300 penguin nesting boxes, created new tidal habitats through textured seawalls and tidal pools, improved fish passage, protected Wellington Harbour’s only known remaining seagrass meadow, and safely relocated protected lizard species during construction.
Throughout construction the project also became a living classroom for local tamariki to explore local history, ecology and mātauranga Māori alongside work as it unfolded.