Waipapa is located on SH10 to the west of Kerikeri. The SH10 Waipapa Corridor Improvements project was completed in October 2021 and included a new roundabout and improvements to the town’s roading network.
Both Waipapa and Kerikeri are growing at a rapid rate, with Waipapa providing commercial facilities for the surrounding area.
The previous crossroad intersection at the corner of SH10 and Waipapa Road did not allow traffic to flow onto and off the state highway safely and efficiently, particularly at peak times.
The area was unappealing to pedestrians and cyclists due to the speed of motorists and a lack of safe access or crossing points.
Waipapa is on the Twin Coast Discovery Route and connects important tourist attractions in the North. The crossroad intersection presented an increasingly significant constraint to freight and visitor movements.
A single lane roundabout was built at the intersection of SH10 with Waipapa Road and Waipapa Loop Road.
Maritime Lane was extended to join Klinac Lane, providing an alternative route between the southern and northern sections of the township to help balance traffic flow onto the roundabout.
A bridge was built over the Whiriwhiritoa Stream as part of this new road link.
The project provided improved pathways and crossing points for people wanting to walk or cycle through or around the township.
Waipapa Loop Road was closed at the northern end to prevent unsafe traffic movement onto the state highway at this point. A carpark was created at the northern end of Waipapa Loop Road, with pedestrian access to the shops on SH10.
Waipapa’s stormwater system was replaced and upgraded. The previous system had reached the end of its asset life.
Power cables were moved underground into shared service trenches, where fibre optic cable was laid to enable residents and businesses to connect to ultra-fast broadband.
The SH10 Waipapa Corridor Improvements project:
The project supports the growth of Waipapa, helping create jobs for local communities.
By making it safer and easier to move through the intersection, the project also improves the experience of people heading to or from Kerikeri along Waipapa Road or travelling the Twin Coast Discovery Route. This supports Northland’s tourism industry and broader economic development.
$9 million of the estimated project cost came from the Provincial Growth Fund.
$15.5 million came from the National Land Transport Fund.
