Rain didn't halt proceedings as people gathered to mark the completion of construction work on the Pākihikura/Ōpōtiki Harbour seawalls on Friday.

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. 

On Friday, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Winston Peters and the Regional Development Minister, Hon Shane Jones were welcomed with a pōhiri from Te Whakatōhea on the landward side of the eastern seawall.

They were joined by guests, some with involvement in the project dating back more than 20 years. 

The two new breakwater walls provide boats with safe harbour access to support the continued growth of aquaculture in the Bay of Plenty. The harbour work is a crucial part of the cluster of government co-investments in Ōpōtiki that are supporting a positive future for the town.

“This is the first major harbour built in New Zealand in decades, and it is a big day for everyone involved in years of hard work to bring a new future for Ōpōtiki to life,” said Peters.

“This success has been underpinned by a strong commitment from local community leaders including iwi and councils, to create new jobs, increase household incomes, and add millions to the economy.

“It is these collaborative investments and projects that are going to lift regional New Zealand off its knees and back into prosperity and pride.”

Jones said the harbour redevelopment paves the way for the development of a commercial marina and other businesses, supporting the future growth of the aquaculture sector in Bay of Plenty.

“These harbour walls represent the protection and strengthening of investments by iwi, central, local and regional government in Ōpōtiki. In 2018, we discussed this vision and now, six years on, our commitments together total $176.9m in the harbour and a number of other associated infrastructure projects," said Jones.

"There is no way we could possibly thank all the many people who have made the Ōpōtiki Harbour Project possible over all these twenty years," says an Ōpōtiki District Council spokesperson.

"In Council alone there has been three mayors, two CEOs and many many hard-working staff.

"We've worked alongside our steadfast iwi partners and a community who have backed this vision from the start. Politicians of all stripes, researchers, technical experts, businesses, engineers, advisors…the list is long but thank you! You all know who you are."

Building the harbour walls was a major construction project for Ōpōtiki.  Photo: Ōpōtiki District Council.

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.

Ōpōtiki Mayor David Moore said that the event brought together the huge range of people involved in making the vision a reality, "bringing together a family of projects that work in concert to improve the opportunities and wellbeing of the district".  

“It is incredible to consider that more than twenty years ago, [former Mayor] John Forbes and [Whakatōhea leader] Robert Edwards were sitting together considering how the Ōpōtiki community could turn its fortunes around and bring back the prosperity of Ōpōtiki’s past," said Mayor Moore.

"They looked out to sea and saw the potential there. But more importantly, they started planning for it and all the different parts of the puzzle that would need to come together."

A powhiri to make the official opening of the Ōpōtiki Harbour seawall. Photo: Ōpōtiki District Council.

“This event marks a significant milestone and there have been many others over the years in all the different projects – the first mussel lines in the water, the opening of the processing factory, building and purchasing specialist vessels, first boats between the walls, upgrades at the Ōpōtiki wharf," says Mayor Moore.

Moore said there are more to come as other projects finish or come online.

"This is an ongoing process for all of us," said Moore.

“This absolutely wouldn’t be possible without the funding and support of Kānoa and central government’s commitment to providing the tools and funding so that regions can build their own growth in the way that we best know how. 

“But I do want to acknowledge how much work has been done by so many people to get to this point.

"Three mayors have now carried this torch, many leadership teams and staff at both council and Whakatōhea," said Moore.

Building the harbour walls was a major construction project for Ōpōtiki.  Photo: Ōpōtiki District Council.

We’ve had incredible supporters in many ministries and departments, industry and research, politicians of all stripes, and genuine grass-roots support in our community to get this off the ground,” said Moore.

In particular, Mayor Moore acknowledged Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council as one of the first to show their confidence in the vision and contribute the first $20million to the project back in 2013 through the Toi Moana regional infrastructure fund.  

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council co-funded with $20 million from its own region-specific Regional Infrastructure Fund.

Regional Council Chair, Doug Leeder, said that collaboration had been key to the success of the project. 

“The Ōpōtiki Harbour project illustrates what can be achieved when central, regional and local government, iwi, business and local stakeholders genuinely work together with a common goal. 

“With our contribution through the regional infrastructure fund, we recognised the benefits the harbour will bring to the whole region through new, sustainable and skilled jobs, education and training, business and growth opportunities. It opens new pathways to achieve better social and economic outcomes," said Leeder.

Bay of Plenty Regional Councillor Kate Macmillan also attended the opening.

"This new harbour mouth will play a big role in revitalising the Ōpōtiki district," said Macmillan.

"Along with the burgeoning aquaculture industry and other projects (a commercial marina, upgrades at the wharf, training and education opportunities), the harbour provides a vital pathway to improve the economic and social wellbeing of the region."

"Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council has supported this project and it’s exciting to see it complete," said Macmillan.

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.

Ōpōtiki District Council said 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," said a council spokesperson.

"The PGF contributed $19 million and Whakatōhea Mussels' shareholders also supported the project.

"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.