Throughout New Zealand and the world, commercial boat harbours and marinas are centres of economic activity. They provide hubs of infrastructure to support marine trades, marine tourism operators and fishing.
Whakatāne has a thriving boat building industry, but we need improved infrastructure for launching (getting the boats into the water), finishing, and supporting the quantity of vessels built here. Currently, there is a shortage of marine infrastructure in the North Island and boats based in Whakatāne must travel out of the region for maintenance.
In 2018 Council identified that the marine industry would contribute to supporting the region through economic development and increased local employment. The creation of additional berthage and marine maintenance facilities in a dedicated boat harbour was devised as a way to deliver such a strategy.
This vision and project were supported by central government’s Provincial Growth Fund, via Kānoa - Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit. The project was granted the opportunity to use the fast-track resource consenting process offered under the government’s COVID-19 Recovery Act 2020.
As a result, a transformational partnership was formed between the Crown, Te Rāhui Lands Trust, Ngāti Awa Group Holdings Limited and Whakatāne District Council to create the Te Rāhui Herenga Waka Whakatāne 2021 Limited Partnership.
The Partnership is set to develop a fit-for-purpose boat harbour on Te Rāhui Trust land which will provide safe berthage for around 60 charter boats, aquaculture boats, fishing boats and any vessels needing berthage , away from the river. At the same time, the project will ensure long-term holistic benefits to the whenua, the beneficiaries of the Te Rāhui Lands Trust, Ngāti Awa and the Whakatāne District through employment opportunities, and economic uplift of Māori owned land.
The development of the harbour will provide an on-site marine training school, a boatyard and a travel lift which will allow more people to be trained and positioned for the jobs created through the project. When all the associated businesses and services are considered, it is anticipated the boat harbour will provide employment for as many as 600 people. It is designed to world-class marine environmental standards.
Whakatāne Boat Harbour - Artist's impression
For more information about the boat harbour visit: www.terahui.nz
Partners
- Te Rāhui Lands Trust
- The Crown
- Ngāti Awa Group Holdings Limited
- Whakatāne District Council