Prior to Cyclone Gabrielle, the Tairāwhiti Roading Package was the single largest investment in the region’s roading network – building the resilience of roads regularly impacted by weather events and improving driver experience on the winding roads in and out of the East Coast region.
Waka Kotahi – NZ Transport Agency and Kānoa – Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit (formerly the Provincial Growth Fund) allocated almost $49 million to resilience (engineering and planting to reduce disruption) and passing opportunities (slow vehicle bays and laybys) on State Highways 2 and 35.
The programme identified more than 30 locations, with construction occurring close to many small communities over a two-year period.
Frank Engagement was contracted in October 2020 to support the Connecting Tairāwhiti engagement programme, helping Waka Kotahi fulfil its commitment to quality engagement with iwi partners, local residents and road users.
Frank Engagement provided a range of engagement services from strategic advice to event arrangements for site blessings, working directly with iwi partners Ngāti Pāhauwera, Maungaharuru-Tangitū Trust and Ngai Tāmanuhiri, schools, infrastructure providers, emergency services, heavy haulage businesses, local government and internal Waka Kotahi stakeholders.
Frank Engagement managed key Connecting Tairāwhiti engagement tools and provided content, including the Connecting Tairāwhiti newsletter, web page content, social media posts and direct communications with residents.
In particular, Frank Engagement lead the development of a Connecting Tairāwhiti interactive map, with Grundy Productions, which housed stories, video and photographs about construction milestones and social outcomes delivered by the Tairāwhiti Roading Package.
