The second phase of the Mangawhai shared path cranks up construction next month and includes a collaboratively designed boardwalk running alongside the causeway.

Te Uri o Hau environs group worked with Kaipara District Council staff and Resilio Design Studio on the boardwalk, which reflects Maōri design principles. Kaumātua Hone Martin says several species of fish and shellfish are integrated into the boardwalk design.

“From head to tail the boardwalk reflects the mahinga kai (natural resources) of Mangawhai, especially the estuarine environment the boardwalk traverses. In the boardwalk design we have included whai (stingray), pātiki (flounder) and pārore.”

At the northern entrance of the boardwalk, a tohu te whai (stencil of a stingray) will be engraved in the path, and at the southern side a pou representing te upoko o te ika (head of the fish) will be carved and installed.

“Mai i te Upoko o te Ika, ki te Hiku o te Ika – from the head of the fish to the tail of the fish. This concept is present in many visual elements of the boardwalk.”  

A fishing platform, located in the middle of the boardwalk over Tara Creek takes on the fin shape from the ika (fish) species found in the estuary. The movement of whai wings is represented through the undulating balustrade that hem the fishing platforms. The smaller balusters also symbolise the spines of the various ika (fish) species. Specific design features will be further refined with Te Uri o Hau and local Māori artists and carvers.

Mātua Hone Martin has also gifted a te reo Māori name to this section of the shared path, and also encompassing the Backbay boardwalk (built by the Mangawhai Trackies).

Explaining the name, Mātua Hone says, “The name Te Ara o Te Whai has three dimensions or reference points – referring to the pathway of (The Stingray); the pathway of (The Chief); and the pathway of (Pursuit).”

Contractors Fulton Hogan have been awarded the contract for Phase Two physical works. Phase Two continues from the end of Phase One (approximately 80m past Estuary Drive) through to Mangawhai Central and includes the boardwalk alongside the causeway. It is part of a wider shared path network planned for Mangawhai, improving safety and connectivity between its two centres, and making it easier to travel by foot, bike, or scooter along busy Molesworth Drive.

To kickstart the second phase of shared path works, Fulton Hogan will build a retaining wall beginning at 90 Molesworth Drive down to the causeway.

Tim Manning, Kaipara District Council project manager for the works says all construction is being carefully timed to fit in and around the busy Christmas break.

“Fulton Hogan will start work on the retaining wall sometime in the week beginning 10 October, finishing up ahead of Christmas. There will be traffic management in place when they are working but just like last year, we will then shut down over the Christmas New Year period and Molesworth Drive will be open to two lanes across the summer break, from early December through to mid-January.”

The work on the boardwalk section will start in mid-January 2023. Phase Two is planned to be complete by August 2023.

View the boardwalk design and other information on the shared path at www.mangawhaicommunityplan.co.nz