Te Pūwaha | Port of Whanganui Revitalisation
with a coalition of Port Partners | MANAWATŪ - WHANGANUI
Te Pūwaha is a $50 million revitalisation project underpinned by a partnership between Whanganui iwi (led by Te Mata Pūau (representatives of Whanganui hapū)) and community and project funders: Whanganui District Council, Horizons Regional Council, Q-West Boat Builders, Whanganui District Employment Training Trust and the Provincial Growth Fund.
The project redevelops the ageing Port precinct, restores the awa margins and addresses flood and erosion issues – delivering substantial economic, environmental and community benefits. Te Pūwaha is also the first major infrastructure project conducted under Tupua te Kawa, the innate values of Te Awa Tupua (which stems from the Whanganui River Claims Settlement Act that confers a legal personality on the Whanganui River). This entire project operates under the korowai of leadership and direction of local iwi and hapū.
The why!
Since 2022 TCG has been the primary resource management services provider to the project coalition, completing numerous consent applications for restoration, erosion control, flood protection works, and dredging. We coordinate the contributing professional disciplines and lead the ecological restoration programme – grounded in the He Ara Tuku Rau abundance model (a framework TCG developed alongside Te Mata Pūau to give practical effect to implement Te Awa Tupua). Years of work remain ahead.
How are we assisting?
A relatively unique consenting approach has evolved under Te Mata Pūau's leadership – one that places hapū at the centre of delivery, with consent conditions allowing hapū to pause works when particular concerns arise. These powers are rare across the motu, reflecting both the awa's unique legal status and the trust the working group has built up over three years of collaboration.
The quality relationships that TCG have helped facilitate have produced tangible outcomes: with consents for this large-scale infrastructure project issued on a non-notified basis. This is a rarity at this scale, and a direct consequence of hapū leadership and the relationships built with the wider community of interest, from local residents to the Coast Guard to fishing groups. As well as providing technical advice to these groups, TCG continues to play an active role in community engagement.
Check out this video from a community open day held in November 2025, that celebrates the restoration work and the collaboration, connections and collective responsibility that underpin Te Pūwaha (featuring TCG staffer and ecologist - Dr Elizabeth Parlato):
What’s happening?
