Published: 5 October 2026
Work to preserve and strengthen much of Petone Wharf will begin this month after Hutt City Council appointed Lower Hutt contractor GK Shaw Ltd.
The 400-metre-long timber wharf structure, originally constructed in 1909, has deteriorated over time, including being weakened by tidal worms and further damaged during storms and seismic events, leading to the closure of the wharf in 2021.
In 2024, Council approved a budget of up to $12 million for the two-stage project which will reopen much of the wharf to the public.
Stage one will repair and strengthen the wharf’s first 290 metres. Work will include replacing damaged parts of the wharf, strengthening the piles that support it and creating seismic gaps which allow sections of the wharf to move more safely during an earthquake.
The project is expected to support about 15 to 20 workers over two years, as well as Hutt Valley and Wellington subcontractors and suppliers.
While construction is underway, about half the wharf’s 60 carparks will be used as a construction yard.
The beachfront shared path will be safely diverted through the carpark. Pavement markings and bollards will separate people using the path from vehicles.
Stage two will focus on partially repairing the end section of the wharf, known as the wharf head. The final work required will be confirmed after stage one is completed and is subject to resource consent approval. Work on stage two is scheduled to begin in 2027.
Updates on the Petone Wharf project will be found at hutt.city/petonewharf
About GK Shaw Ltd
- GK Shaw Ltd was founded in Lower Hutt in 1937 and has specialised in coastal marine construction since the early 1990s.
- It repaired earthquake-damaged piles at Petone Wharf in 2021, and rebuilt Rona Bay Wharf in 2018 and Seatoun Wharf in 2023.