New sea walls safeguard Ōpōtiki’s transformation
Published: 20 September, 2024 · Updated: 11 October, 2024
Two new breakwater walls officially opened in Pākihikura (Ōpōtiki) Harbour in September 2024 provide boats with safe harbour access to support the continued growth of aquaculture in the Bay of Plenty.
The harbour seawalls were opened in September 2024 with a karakia ceremony led by Whakatōhea iwi
The opening of the sea walls is a milestone for everyone involved in years of hard work to bring a new future for Ōpōtiki to life, creating ongoing local employment opportunities in the construction and aquaculture industries.
As well as the two breakwaters extending 450 metres out to sea, the $115.3 million harbour development includes ongoing dredging of a channel so larger vessels can use the facility in most sea and tide conditions.
Central government supported the project with combined funding of $95.3 million from the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) and NZ Upgrade Programme, the largest single project investment to date managed by Kānoa Regional Economic Development & Investment.
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council co-funded with $20 million from its own region-specific Regional Infrastructure Fund.
Regional Infrastructure Fund — Bay of Plenty Regional Council
Supporting businesses
The funding for the sea walls and the building of the harbour has helped to create jobs, improve infrastructure, and support Māori businesses and community organisations.
Three new rock quarries have been accelerated through construction of the sea walls. A local cement contractor has also substantially scaled-up delivering jobs and training to local people.
HEB Construction, the project’s lead contractor, trained 40 locals into a crew to support construction of the harbour walls with support from the Ministry for Social Development.
All this work is building on other successes delivering positive impacts for Ōpōtiki. A new $35 million Whakatōhea mussel processing factory opened in July 2021 and now employs more than 170 workers. The PGF contributed $19 million and Whakatōhea Mussels' shareholders also supported the project.
Building the harbour walls was a major construction project for Ōpōtiki.
The factory processes the nutritious indigenous greenshell mussels that grow in an open ocean setting, with 3,800 hectares of marine farm operated by Eastern Sea Farms 8.5 kilometres offshore from Ōpōtiki.
The harbour project paves the way for the development of a commercial marina and other businesses, supporting the future growth of the aquaculture sector in the Bay of Plenty.
The Ōpōtiki town wharf has been upgraded to accommodate the mussel boats as an interim measure while the private marina and commercial wharf progresses.
Opotiki Harbour cut through — YouTube