Te Ahu a Turanga – Manawatū Tararua Highway: Route & Shared Path

Anyone who has driven the long way around the closed Manawatū Gorge knows the relief of finally seeing a direct route reappear on the map. That relief became real in December 2024, when Te Ahu a Turanga – the Manawatū Tararua Highway – opened its 11.5 km of four-lane road between Ashhurst and Woodville.

Length: 11.5 km (7.1 mi) ·
Lanes: 4 ·
Opened: December 2024 ·
Shared path length: 10.5 km ·
Replaces: Manawatū Gorge road (closed 2017)

Eight key specifications define the scale of this project.

The specs, taken together, show a highway built for both durability and environmental integration.

Is the new Manawatū Gorge road open?

When did Te Ahu a Turanga open?

Te Ahu a Turanga opened to traffic in December 2024, restoring the direct link between the Manawatū and Hawke’s Bay regions that was severed when the old Manawatū Gorge road closed in 2017. The official opening was led by the NZ Transport Agency (national roading authority) in partnership with contractor Fulton Hogan. Construction ran from January 2021 to completion, spanning roughly four years.

The highway replaces State Highway 3 through the gorge, which became impassable after a major slip in April 2017. By then, the gorge road had a long history of closures due to weather and geological instability. Fulton Hogan (project contractor) reports the new route involved more than 6.5 million cubic metres of earthworks.

What replaced the old Manawatū Gorge road?

• The new 11.5 km four-lane highway runs between Ashhurst and Woodville, crossing the Ruahine Range.
• Roundabouts were built at both the eastern and western entrances for safer access.
• The route includes six bridges — two of them over 300 m long — and 40 culverts to manage water flow. (Fulton Hogan)

How steep is Te Ahu a Turanga?

What is the gradient of the new highway?

The maximum gradient on Te Ahu a Turanga is 8%, designed to meet modern heavy-vehicle safety standards. Cuts along the route reach up to 55 m in depth, and embankments rise up to 28 m high, reflecting the challenging terrain. (Fulton Hogan)

How does it compare to the old gorge road?

• The old Manawatū Gorge road had steeper, more variable gradients and tighter curves that frequently caused issues for trucks and caravans.
• The new highway maintains a consistent 8% maximum gradient across its entire length, making it far more predictable for heavy vehicles.
• Six bridges allow the road to traverse valleys without the sharp descents that plagued the old route. (Fulton Hogan)

The implication: for truck operators moving freight between Palmerston North and Napier, the consistent gradient means fewer gear changes, lower brake wear, and more predictable journey times.

What was the purpose of Te Ahu a Turanga?

Why was a new highway needed?

The primary driver was resilience. The Manawatū Gorge road — the former SH3 — suffered repeated closures due to slips, with the final shutdown in April 2017 after a major slip made the road unsafe. Communities on both sides of the Ruahine Range faced long detours via the Saddle Road or through the Pahiatua Track, adding 30–60 minutes to each trip. Fulton Hogan (project contractor) notes that the new highway was built to reconnect the Manawatū and Hawke’s Bay regions with a reliable, all-weather route.

What are the key design features?

• Four lanes for safer overtaking and heavy-vehicle use.
• Six bridges, including two over 300 m long.
• 40 culverts and 5 km of constructed streams for stormwater management.
• Six wetlands to filter runoff and manage flood flows. (Fulton Hogan)
• Roundabouts at both ends of the highway for safer entry and exit.

What does Manawatū mean in Māori?

What is the meaning of Te Ahu a Turanga?

Te Ahu a Turanga refers to a prominent ancestor or landmark of significance to local iwi in the region. The name was gifted by mana whenua (the local people with territorial rights) and reflects the deep cultural connection between the land and its original inhabitants. The full name, Te Ahu a Turanga – Manawatū Tararua Highway, honours this heritage while also naming the regions the road connects.

How is the name connected to the region?

• “Manawatū” itself is said to mean “heart standing still” or “breathless”, referencing the story of the warrior Haunui-a-Nanaia who called out in awe at the landscape.
• “Tararua” refers to the Tararua Range, and “Te Ahu a Turanga” is a name tied to the ancestral history of the area.
• Local iwi were closely involved in the naming process, ensuring the highway’s identity reflects the cultural landscape it traverses. (Fulton Hogan)

The pattern: unlike many infrastructure projects where Māori names are added as a label, this highway’s name was woven into the project from the start, with iwi consultation shaping both the identity and the environmental design.

Is there a shared pathway on Te Ahu a Turanga?

Where can I find a Te Ahu a Turanga walk route map?

Yes — a dedicated shared user path runs alongside the highway. Regional tourism body Manawatū & Palmerston North (regional tourism authority) provides route information and a map for the 10.5 km shared path. The trail is suitable for both walking and cycling, with a sealed surface typically 3 m wide. Rest areas and interpretive signage are positioned along the route.

How long is the shared user path?

• The path is described as 10.5 km by regional tourism sources, and 12 km by Te Āpiti (regional trails organisation) depending on the exact start and end points.
• It is designed as the main active-transport spine across the Ruahine Range.
• It offers panoramic views of the Manawatū and Tararua regions, the Ruahine and Tararua Ranges, the Manawatū River, and the townships of Ashhurst and Woodville. (Manawatū & Palmerston North)
• The path will eventually link with the Manawatū Gorge Track and the future Lindauer Trail to form a full loop around the gorge. (Te Āpiti)

What this means for cyclists: a 10.5–12 km sealed climb across the Ruahine with rest stops and views — effectively a purpose-built cycle touring route that didn’t exist before.

For walkers planning the route, the Map of New Zealand: Detailed, Tourist & Printable Guides provides broader regional context, while AA Road Closures South Island Today: Live Updates is useful for checking current conditions on connecting roads.

Eight more engineering specifications round out the picture.

The numbers reveal a project that reshaped the landscape at an industrial scale — 55 m cuts and 28 m fills — while also trying to put water management at the centre.

Timeline

• 2017 — Manawatū Gorge road closed due to major slips. (Fulton Hogan)
• January 2021 — Construction of Te Ahu a Turanga begins. (Fulton Hogan)
• December 2024 — Highway opens to traffic.
• 2025 — Shared user path expected to open. (Te Āpiti)

The catch: while the highway opened on schedule, the shared path — a key promise for active transport — still doesn’t have a confirmed opening date beyond “2025”.

What we know and what’s unclear

Voices on the project

“Te Ahu a Turanga is a project that will transform how people and freight move between the Manawatū and Hawke’s Bay.”

— NZ Transport Agency (national roading authority) spokesperson, opening announcement

“This is a proud moment for the team that has worked on this project for the past four years. The new highway will provide a safer, more reliable connection for generations to come.”

— Fulton Hogan (project contractor) project manager, construction completion statement

“The shared path will be the main spine across the Ruahine Ranges, combining with the Manawatū Gorge Track and the future Lindauer Trail to form a full loop around the gorge.”

— Te Āpiti (regional trails organisation) representative

For the communities of Ashhurst and Woodville, the highway restores a connection that was broken for seven years. For walkers and cyclists, the shared path adds a new recreational asset across the Ruahine Range that simply didn’t exist before. The trade-off is that the old gorge road is gone — and with it, the scenic intimacy of that route. For anyone planning a trip through the region, the choice is clear: take the new highway for reliability, or watch for the shared path opening in 2025 if you want to experience the landscape on foot or by bike.

Frequently asked questions