Mauri stone laid for Bridge to Better

A dawn ceremony held this morning at the corner of Bridge Street and Haven Road marked the start of the substantial construction phase of the Bridge to Better project, with iwi laying a mauri stone to acknowledge the significance of the site and the work now underway.

Iwi representatives, elected members and representatives from Isaac Construction gathered for the ceremony, which took place at the edge of the former Te Paruparu estuary, recognising the historical and cultural significance of the coastal environment.  

Te Ātiawa o te Waka-a-Māui Chief Executive Justin Carter said the project is about taking shared responsibility for the future of the city centre.  

“When a streetscape is shaped by where it is, it builds pride and a sense of belonging, and that’s what helps create a destination we can all be proud of,” he said. 

City Revitalisation Taskforce Chair Deputy Mayor Pete Rainey said the ceremony marked an important transition for the project. 

“This was a moment to pause before the next stage of work begins and to acknowledge the significance of this place. 

“Bridge to Better is about more than replacing infrastructure. It’s about shaping a city centre that reflects the identity of Whakatū and supports connection, wellbeing and resilience over the long term.” 

Nelson Mayor Nick Smith said the project represents a major investment in the future of the city centre. 

“Bridge to Better is a key part of Council’s plans to revitalise our city centre. We are fortunate to have secured $36.3 million of the $78 million cost from Government. 
  
“The key driver for Bridge to Better is old infrastructure that is too small and outdated to support new development in this part of the city. If we don’t do this upgrade, we will see continued deterioration and increasing risks of infrastructure failure. 
  
“It makes sense, given the disruption from ripping up the street for replacement pipes, that we redo all of the infrastructure and streetscape at once. It’s about doing it once and doing it properly.” 

Bridge to Better is a staged city centre upgrade focused on Bridge Street and surrounding streets. The project prioritises the replacement of ageing water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, alongside streetscape improvements to enhance accessibility, safety, urban greening and city centre activity. 

The $78 million project is jointly funded by the Government and Nelson City Council. This includes Government funding of $36.3 million from the Infrastructure Acceleration Fund (IAF) managed by National Infrastructure Funding and Financing (NIFF), with the remaining funding provided through Council’s Long Term Plan.  

Enabling works were carried out in the city centre during 2025. Construction is now progressing into the main phase of work and will continue in stages through 2026 and into 2027. 

ENDS

Contact: media@ncc.govt.nz

For more information visit Shape Nelson.