Te Ara Tupua is one of New Zealand’s most significant active transport projects. The 4.5 km shared path runs along Wellington Harbour between Ngāuranga and Petone. Delivered by the Te Ara Tupua Alliance (NZTA Waka Kotahi, Downer, HEB Construction and Tonkin + Taylor), it opened in May 2026 as a resilient coastal link built to stand up to everything the harbour throws at it.
We supplied Organic-Lock® across multiple zones, creating around 800 m² of stabilised, permeable pathway surfacing. It was the first Organic-Lock® installation in the Wellington region.
ScapeSpec usually blends the aggregate and binder in-house, but given the location, we worked with the Alliance to blend on site. A key goal of the project was to keep materials local. We supported this by sourcing and testing aggregate samples from several Wellington quarries to confirm they met requirements. Once suitable options were approved, the contractor, landscape architects and stakeholders could choose the best fit on colour, availability and cost.
With a first install in a new market, we wanted to get it right. A member of our technical team travelled to Wellington during blending and construction to work alongside the contractor and Alliance team. They provided guidance on the spot and made sure best-practice installation methods were followed.
The result is a durable, natural-looking surface engineered for one of New Zealand’s toughest coastal environments. It uses locally sourced aggregate to cut transport and is delivered cost-effectively in line with the project’s sustainability goals. It’s a great example of what happens when suppliers, contractors, designers and clients work toward the same goal.
Photos courtesy of Isthmus, landscape architects for Te Ara Tupua.
