Ōpōtiki Harbour

The Ōpōtiki Harbour Development is a landmark achievement in Aotearoa’s infrastructure landscape – delivering the first major river training works in over a century, and one of the most significant non-roading civil projects in recent decades.

Delivered for Kānoa (MBIE), the project re-engineered the Waioeka River mouth to enable safe maritime access and unlock sustainable economic growth in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Despite operating in one of Aotearoa’s most exposed marine environments, we overcame immense challenges through innovative engineering and close collaboration with iwi, council, and community. The works included twin 450m breakwaters with 12,000 precast Hanbar units, a 1km navigable channel dredged to 4m depth, dynamic ground compaction, 1400 sheet piles, and a wharf upgrade.

With funding from the Provincial Growth Fund, NZ Upgrade Programme, and Bay of Plenty Regional Council, the project supports aquaculture expansion, including a new mussel factory, and broader marine industry growth. With 60% local employment and award-winning stakeholder engagement, the project has delivered resilient infrastructure and laid the foundation for lasting social, economic, and cultural wellbeing in Ōpōtiki.

This project was a finalist in the 2025 National CCNZ awards.