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“ The Rangiriri project has provided plenty of challenges .”– Rangiriri Project Manager Peter Murphy .“ We are constructing a new Expressway through an area of national historic and cultural significance . Working with a good team and taking the time to thoroughly engage with all our stakeholders will reward us with a project that we can all be proud of .”
target completion date of 2018 . The $ 70 million project will link the already completed Mercer section to the north with the Rangiriri section to the south .
Collaboration with local Maori Maori are New Zealand ’ s indigenous people and they have strong cultural ties to the land . With a project of this magnitude , many Maori in the region are keenly interested in how projects will impact on land and waterways .
“ There are areas along the length of the Expressway project , particularly around Rangiriri and Huntly , where there are sites sacred to Maori . As a consequence they have a very strong interest in the development of our projects and are keen to contribute in any way in order to ensure that the completed projects acknowledge the sacred nature of the sites ,” said Simcock .
To ensure that Maori interests are satisfactorily addressed , the Transport Agency engages closely with Waikato-Tainui , the main tribe in the region , and their representatives in the areas of the projects , and involves them throughout the investigation , design and construction phases of the projects .
Maori culture and custom have contributed to the projects ’ landscaping designs . Wood carvings and story boards are erected at strategic locations along the Expressway to share Maori history . Maori are keenly interested in ensuring the natural vegetation is retained and , where possible , extended . They also have a guardianship role when it comes to the protection of the surrounding waterways .
www . nzta . govt . nz / projects / waikato-expressway 161