TheMangamukaGorge,acrucial linkbetweenNorthlandandthe restofNewZealand,issetto reopenjustintimeforChristmas Thislong-awaitedeventbringsreliefand celebrationtotheregion,markingtheendof yearsofdisruptioncausedbyseverestorm damage.WithStateHighway1reopening, Northlandersandvisitorsalikecanonce againenjoydirectaccesstooneofthe mostscenicroutesinthecountry,offering awelcomeboosttocommunitiesand businessesinthearea.
ALongJourneytoRestoration Thegorge,partofStateHighway1, wasleftimpassablefollowingheavy rainandsubsequentlandslipsthat
Mangamuka GorgeReopens inTimefor Christmas causedcatastrophicdamagetotheroad infrastructure.Theextensiverepairs requiredinnovativeengineeringsolutions tostabilizetheland,rebuildsectionsof thehighway,andensureresilienceagainst futureweatherevents
WakaKotahiNZTransportAgencyledthe restorationefforts,collaboratingclosely withengineers,geologists,andlocal stakeholders.Over100workershavebeen involvedinthereconstruction,whichhas beenhailedasasigniicantachievement inchallengingterrain.Theproject’s completionaheadoftheholidayseasonis atestamenttothedeterminationandhard workofeveryoneinvolved
MANGAMUKA GORGE REOPENS ABoostforNorthland ThereopeningofMangamukaGorgeisa game-changerforNorthland’seconomy, particularlyforthetourism,agriculture,and freightsectorsLocalbusinesses,manyof whichhavestruggledduringtheextended closure,areoptimisticaboutthereturn ofvisitorsandeasieraccesstogoodsand services.
Tourismoperatorsareespeciallythrilled, asthegorge’sreopeningalignsperfectly withthesummertravelseasonNorthland’s breathtakingbeaches,historicalsites, andculturalexperiencesarenowmore accessible,drawingdomesticand
internationaltouriststotheregion.
Accommodationproviders,touroperators, andlocaleateriesaregearingupforabusy summer,withmanyreportinganuptickin bookingsandinquiriessincethereopening announcement
Farmersandfreightoperatorsalsostandto beneitsigniicantlyTheclosureofthegorge forcedmanytouselonger,lesseficient routes,increasingcostsandlogistical challenges.Withthemainrouterestored, transportationtimesandexpenseswillbe drasticallyreduced,providingmuch-needed relieffortheagriculturalsector,whichforms thebackboneofNorthland’seconomy
MANGAMUKA GORGE REOPENS AChristmas Giftfor Communities Fthanjustapracticalconvenience; itrepresentsareconnectionof communitiesandareturnto normalcyFamiliesseparatedbytheroad closurecannowreunitemoreeasily, andholidaymakerscanonceagain experiencethejoyofexploringNorthland withoutdetours
Localiwihavealsoplayedakeyrolein theproject,ensuringthatculturaland environmentalconsiderationswere respectedduringtherestoration Their involvementhighlightstheimportanceof communitycollaborationininfrastructure projectsofthisscale
AstheChristmasholidayseason approaches,thereopeningofMangamuka Gorgeisatimelyreminderoftheresilience andspiritofNorthlanders.Thegorgeis notjustaroadbutalifeline,linkingpeople, places,andopportunities.
Withthiscriticalconnectionrestored, Northlandispoisedforasummerof revitalization,welcomingvisitorsand fosteringgrowthForlocalsandtravelers alike,theMangamukaGorgereopeningis theperfectgiftthisChristmas,promising abrighterandmoreconnectedfuturefor theregion.
NInnovativeSensor NetworkSafeguards WorkersonState Highway1Repairs estledinoneofAotearoaNew Zealand'smostchallengingroad landscapes,asophisticated networkofsensorsplayeda vitalroleinenhancingworkersafety DevelopedbyWSPforNZTransport AgencyWakaKotahi(NZTA),thesehightechdevicesdetectedgroundmovement, safeguardingworkersrepairingslipsinthe MaungataniwhaRange
Inwinter2022,heavyrainfallsawseveral signiicantslopefailures,closingState Highway1throughtheMangamukaGorge andseveringavitaltransportlinkforFar NorthDistrictcommunities.
WSP,incollaborationwithNZTA,ledthe groundinvestigationsandevaluatedseveral options,includingrepairingorre-routing thehighwayUltimately,thedecisionwas madetoproceedwithrepairstorestore thiscrucialconnectionandensurethe preservationoftheexistingroute
Byinvolvingthemaincontractor,CLL, earlyintheproject,thedesignprocess waseficient,allowingforquickdecisions andtimelyprogress.WSP'sdesignteam hasbeenpresenton-sitethroughoutthe project,collaboratingwithCLLtoprovide immediatedesignsolutionsandoversee qualityandmanagement-workingdayand nighttokeepupwiththefastconstruction pace.
wsp com/nz
concentratedsensornetworksever deployedbyWSPNZEighty-fourlocations hadgroundmovementsensors,sixteen monitorsoilmoisturemeters,andrain gaugesmeasuringrainfallvolumeand intensityThenetworkregisteredseven milliondatapointsdaily,feedingintoa TriggerActionResponsePlan(TARP)that calculatedreal-timegroundmovementrisk, ensuringthesafetyofallcrewonsite
WSPprincipalinstrumentationengineer MikeLusbysaysthesensorinformation
Pioneering road resilience and worker safety across Aotearoa New Zealand.
sendelectronicalertsandactivateloud warningsirensTheTARPwascolour-coded: blueforlowrisk,orangeformediumrisk, andredforhighrisk.Lightsateachlocation indicatedtherisklevel,andsirensalerted workerstochangingconditions"
SincegoingliveinOctober2023,thesirens havesoundedmultipletimes,including whenatensioncrackformednearasensor Iftherewas50mmormoreofrainwithin 24hours,theTARPlevelwasautomatically raisedIfasensordetectedsigniicant
ement, sounded. challenging ditions, eamhas edover16 slipsinthe months. system nthe izonz ation large n 'at 024
ConstructionHealth, Wellbeing
Project eTARP wasagame
changer"Thesystemassuredusthatcrews wereworkinginsafeconditionsinahighriskenvironment”
MikeLusbyisincrediblyproudofWSPand NZTAforwinningtheSiteSafetyaward "Thejourneyhasn'talwaysbeeneasy,and theawardwinisrecognitionofhowfar we ' vecomeThankstothesensorsystem, peopleontheFarNorthRoadResilience Programmewenthomesaferattheendof theday,andthat'swhattrulymatters"
MANGAMUKA GORGE REOPENS EnhancingLocalExpertise: NZEM’sCommitmentto N(NZEM)historygoesback ea y threedecadeswithafounding visionofenhancingtheskillsof localpeopletoprovideprompt,eficient andprofessionalenvironmentalconsulting servicestolocalindividualsandcompanies.
“EnvironmentalManagementisa considerationforallprojects,and environmentalconsultinggivesusthe opportunitytomakeadifference,”says NZEM’sGeneralManagerGraceHenty “PreviouslyaProjectManagerinthe constructionindustryI’vealwaysfocussed onachievingbroaderoutcomes,from upskillingandengaginglocalbusinesses, todrivingdevelopmentofsustainable solutions.NZEMgivesustheopportunity tohelpclientsachievebetteroutcomes fortheirproject Alargepartofourroleis helpingclientsunderstandtheimpactof environmentallegislationontheirprojects andmanagetheirenvironmentalrisks”
BasedinKerikeri,NZEMpredominantly operatesintheFarNorthandwider Northlandregion.Amulti-disciplinary company,wehavemultipleworkstreams includingEcology,HAIL(Hazardous Activities&IndustriesList)Assessments, Archaeology,EnvironmentalMonitoring, SustainabilityandEducationProgrammes.
Whatsetsthebusinessapartfromother Northlandcompaniesisthesizeofitsteam andbreadthoftheirskillsandexperience
Management andSenior
coogst oaesuppotedbyanother threeecologists.Theecologyteamprovidea widerangeofecologicalservices,including wetlandassessments,ecologicalimpact assessments,freshwatermanagementand specialisedmanagementplans.Wework withprojectsfromtheconceptstage,right throughtodetaileddesign,consentingand construction.Wecanthenmonitorthe physicalworkstoensureitiscarriedoutin accordancewithconsentconditions.
Inaddition,theteamincludestwoHAIL practitioners,anenvironmentalscientist, anarchaeologistandanetworkofindustry specialiststhatensureeveryprojectgetsthe verybestadviceandoutcome”
“Twoofourteammembershaveworkedfor thebusinessforalmost20years”saysGrace “Thesizeofourteamandtheirexperience, togetherwiththemulti-disciplinarynature ofNZEMhavebeenthecornerstonesof oursuccess.Itmeanswecanhandleany projectofanysizeandcomplexityI’ve spent14yearsintheconstructionindustry whichgivesusauniqueunderstandingof constructionprojects,andthechallenges facedbyProjectManagersThisunique understandingandcapability,coupledwith ourlocalconnectionshavebeenahuge beneitwiththeMangamukaGorgeproject, ensuringtheprojectgetsthesupportit needs,whenitneedsit”
NZEM’smainroleontheMangamukaGorge projecthasbeentoprotecttheunique
biodiversitywithintheMangamukaScenic Reservethroughsalvageofprotected speciespriortovegetationclearanceand completingecologicalimpactassessments asrequired.Theteamworkedcloselywith hapūandcontractors,adaptingtotheir needsandtheneedsoftheprojectasithas progressedDuetothechallengingterrain intheGorgetheteamtrainedinWorking atHeightsusingropesandharnessesand thisprovedessentialonsomeofthemore challengingsites.Gracesharesthat“One oftheaspectstheecologistshaveenjoyed
themostonthisprojectistheconnections they’vemadeandsharingtheirknowledge withcontractorsandhapū,whilstlearning whattheycanfromthemtoo”
Educationissomethingtheteamhavea realpassionfor;NZEMhavedevelopeda uniqueeducationprogrammethatcombines ecologywithMātaurangaMāoriprinciples. Thiscoursecanbetailoredinlengthand contenttosuittheneedsofclientsand issomethingthey’reexcitedtoshare throughoutNorthland.
Services we provide
Ecology:
• Opportunities and constraints assessments: Identify key ecological risks for a project and informs next stages
• Ecological Impact Assessments and Offset and Compensation Plans: From subdivisions to complex major construction projects through sensitive environments
• Freshwater services: Stream Ecological Valuations (SEVs), fish passage assessments, freshwater fauna management plans, fish salvage operations
• Terrestrial services: Wetland assessments, fauna management plans (lizard, bird, bat, invertebrate), large scale fauna salvage operations, WAA permit applications, threatened plant surveys, Mātauranga Māori knowledge and covenant assessments and monitoring.
Contaminated Land and HAIL Assessments – Preliminary site investigations, detailed site investigations, remediation plans
Archaeology – Preliminary assessment, full archaeological assessments, archaeological authority applications, heritage management plans, fieldwork and supervision of works
Education Programmes – With an experienced programme facilitator on the team, we have a unique education programme that combines ecology with Mātauranga Māori principles This course can be tailored in length and learning outcomes to suit individual needs
Construction monitoring and water quality monitoring – We work with clients to tailor monitoring to suit their needs
Sustainability advice – Qualified to undertake Greenhouse Gas Audits, we are able to provide a range of sustainability services
MANGAMUKA GORGE REOPENS TeamVegetationwasengagedto carryoutarangeoftasksonthe MangamukaGorgeSlipRepairs
Ourqualifiedarboristteamsand registeredchemicalapplicatorspraying crewsprovidedspecialistservicesand advicethroughoutthejob
Ourarboristteambroughtinaround 15,000mofclimbingropetosetuplines forgridlineinstallationandprovided treefelling/dismantling&trimmingon multipleslipsites Theyalsoworked closelywithecologistsandgeo-tecs ongridlineinstallations,carryingout inspectionsfornativewildlifesuchasbats
andlizardswhilstalsoclearingsitesfor thedrilling&excavationteams
Ourqualifiedspraycrewsmaintainedthe roadsidewithourspecialisedroadside spraytruckoperatinglowdriftspray technologyWealsokeptworksitesclear ofweedswithourgunandhosecrews
ItwasgreatforTeamVegetationto showcaseaglimpseofourwiderange ofprofessionalskillsinthevegetation controlindustryandwe ' reproudtobe asmallbutimportantpartoftheteam toreinstatethisroadfortheFarNorth communities
GORGE REOPENS 
