Whaaingaroa Wharf Walkways project

The Whaaingaroa Wharf Walkways project aims to create a pedestrian-friendly precinct that is safer and more accessible for all ages and abilities.

As part of this project, we are continuing a western and eastern walkway at the wharf. The western walkway will feature tidal steps and terraces to improve access to water at the northern end, and a kayak ramp at the southern end where the walkway will connect with the existing footpath at the end of Wallis Street.

The smaller eastern walkway, which is now complete, connects the wharf to the new pontoon.

What is happening now?

The eastern walkway is now complete and was opened to the public in mid-June 2023, along with the new pontoon and kayak ramp.

Now we’re focused on the western walkway improvements, with contractors having kicked off construction in late-August 2023.

The project will include new seating areas, cultural artwork and planting on the wharf.

Work is expected to take approximately five – six months, and wrap up in early 2024. We’ll continue to keep you updated as work progresses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Want to know more? We’ve put together some FAQs to help answer some of those burning questions.

When did construction start and how long will it take?

The construction period started in late August, and is expected to wrap up in early 2024.

We’ll keep you updated about construction timeframes as we progress

Will there still be access to the wharf during construction?

Yes, while work is underway, you’ll still be able to access the boat ramp and visit the shops and eateries at the wharf throughout construction.

For safety reasons, there will be times when parts of the wharf are closed, however this will not affect access to the businesses on the wharf.

We’ll keep the community updated so you know what to expect when you visit the wharf.

Will the project affect the parking spaces at the wharf?

No parking spaces will be removed.

How will this project be funded?

In 2019, Waikato District Council and the Raglan Community Board were granted $2.5 million in funding from the Provincial Growth Fund. This was allocated to four projects – including the Whaaingaroa Wharf Walkways project – which are focused on the improvement of the wharf and wider harbour now and into the future.

Due to a significant increase in construction costs since the start of Covid-19, when we began this project, we only have enough funding to carry out three of the four projects.

Late in 2022, we applied for funding through the Better Off funding package and were successfully allocated $3.2 million, which will help us carry out the fourth project.

Has the community been consulted on this previously?

During the 2021-2031 Long Term Plan, the community told us improving accessibility to the town centre and improving walking and cycling infrastructure were top priorities. This was also made clear in the Raglan Naturally Plan.

While small in scale, we hope this project will go some way towards achieving those aspirations.