Te Whiti Wharf is a $173 million infrastructure project that has strengthened the ability of Hawke’s Bay and the wider Central North Island to trade import and export goods with the world.
Napier Port’s 6 Wharf (later gifted the name Te Whiti) involved building a 350-metre wharf deck, driving more than 400 piles and dredging the inner harbour and shipping channel.
The culturally significant Pania Reef is just kilometres away, and protecting the reef and surrounding marine environments was of vital importance to both Napier Port and its stakeholders.
As Napier Port’s Senior Communications Advisor, Erin Harford-Wright led the 6 Wharf stakeholder engagement programme. This involved developing a strategy and working closely with key groups including iwi and hapū, port neighbours, business organisations, local government, central government, interest groups (such as fishers and surfers), media and the wider community.
During the two-year pre-consultation programme, more than 2,000 people were directly engaged through a series of presentations, drop-in days and hui. Erin also coordinated a partnership with iwi and hapū members to develop a cultural assessment – a key document when independent commissioners considered the project.
Erin collated a consultation report, which was provided as evidence for resource consent hearings, and managed relationships with multiple stakeholders during the formal process.
Approved in November 2018, 6 Wharf is thought to be the only significant port infrastructure project in recent memory that has not been challenged in the Environment Court. It is acknowledged that this is in no small part due to thorough engagement and well-communicated scientific research.
You can view a timelapse of the completed project on the Napier Port Youtube Channel.
