Pukehina Cycleway/Walkway

The Pukehina Ratepayers and Residents Association hold a resource consent to develop a cycleway/walkway from the Pukehina Surf Club around the estuary.

It's an exciting project that aims to connect people to the beautiful estuary environment. 

The pathway starts at the Pukehina Surf Club and follows the footpath along Pukehina Parade to the Boat ramp.  From there you can walk along the grass reserve until you reach the wetland at the accessway (beside 604). 
The next part of the project development starts here, with a wooden boardwalk to be built through the wetland, and a small bridge erected across the outlet to join up to the stop bank.  A mowed pathway currently runs along the top of the stop bank providing great walking and cycling access to the edge of the Pukehina canal.  The route will end here for now and you can follow the same pathway back (see dotted blue line in the picture above). 

For more information on each section of the walkway please see the PDF presentation on this page.  In time there may be the potential to link to Cutwater Road (yellow dotted line), Wharere and Arawa Roads, or perhaps Midway Park, but this will depend on the conservation and wetland area development, and access. 

Actions and progress to March 2026:

• Hosted the 'BridgeIt' team onsite to plan for the placement of the bridge (March 2026).  We have secured a bridge from WBOPDC that will go up onto the stopbank allowing access in all tides.  Aiming to get this installed in May 2026.

• Signed a Grants Agreement with WBOPDC for $200,000 towards to construction of the wetland boardwalk and bridge. (Dec 2025)

• We erected property boundary markers so we can plan where the boardwalk section of walkway/cycleway route will go (completed 16th March 2023)

• Met with MOWS to understand the role they now have with the wetland area and the mahi they will be doing.  We'd like to support them with their weed control efforts so are looking at EEF funding to support this. (Dec 2025 and ongoing)

• Supported Te Wāhapu o Waihi with a grant of $25,000 towards the new carpark, welcome area and signage for Te Heriheri wetland at Cutwater Road. (Oct 2025)

• Attend the Central BOP & Te Puke District Cycleway Walkway strategy meetings to keep updated with regional plans and funding ideas.  (ongoing)

• Supported the community planting day at the koanga at Cutwater Road. (2021)

• We built a set of stairs in Dec 2021 with a bike gutter so the stop bank pathway is more accessible.  Thanks to our local legends, Dennis and Kevin!  

• With support from an Environmental Programme MOWS (Maketu Ongatoro Wetland Society) cleared the gorse and pampus along the stop bank so there is now an area cleared of weeds that is accessible.  This is regularly mowed by Neil Carter the adjacent landowner. 

• With support from BOPRC we commissioned a coastal report in 2021 to investigate options for erosion mitigation in sections 1 of the walkway/cycleway.  We got a one-off grant from BOPRC and were able to contract the surf club to help remove  concrete rubble from the water in front of Oruroa Reserve and boat ramp area.

• Working with Ngāti Whakahemo, WBOPDC, DOC and BOPRC we developed a working plan for the Ororoa Reserve foreshore area.   This included the removal of concrete rubble from close to the banks (over 6 tonnes), sand re-nourishment (using sand from the Surf Club building works/excavation), removal of a lot of rubbish dumped and buried over the years, relocation of picnic tables, topsoil and grassing.  The aim was to create an area that is more accessible for whānau and community for fishing, swimming, picnics and pulling up a boat! An area that looks cared for and loved, and helps to mitigate future erosion.  This of course will also be the first section of the walkway too :)  See photos below!