NZ Geotechnical Society (NZGS) 22nd Symposium 2025 Auckland
Established in 2021, the Te Ara Tupua Alliance is tasked with delivering a shared pathway on both sides of Te Whanganui-a-Tara, the Wellington Harbour. Tupua Horo Nuku is the Eastbourne branch of the Te Ara Tupua pathway. Totalling 4.4km in length and supported by seawalls and rock revetments, the shared path is designed to improve safety for road and path users whilst connecting to the broader network of cycle lanes and shared pathways in Petone and Lower Hutt in Wellington. Adaptation to address the impact of the sea level rise is increasing the physical and environmental challenges for seawall design and construction. This paper discusses a geotechnical-led design solution that was required to consider complex inter-disciplinary constraints including seismic loading and liquefaction, erosion of beach deposits, adaptability and resilience to sea level rise including wave overtopping, tight spatial constraints in an urban setting, constructability limitations, and resource consent restrictions in a highly valued marine habitat. This case study focuses on the development of an innovative and robust seawall solution, highlighting the importance of cross-disciplinary communication and collaboration to overcome complex challenges.
