South Wairarapa District Council has neared completion of an essential water supply resilience project for the Featherston community. The Tauwharenīkau River watermain pipe replacement, which is the single supply of water to Featherston, began in December 2025 and was practically completed on 1 April with the successful connection of the new pipe to the watermain network overnight.

Featherston Councillor and Chair of the Infrastructure Committee Colin Olds says this is a significant milestone for the community. “This project is part of a suite of water infrastructure upgrades for the South Wairarapa community. Since bringing the water capital programme in-house in July 2025, we have been able to achieve cost efficiencies in project delivery and get things done.”

The project involved laying the new pipe, including the section of pipe pulled through a sleeve across the Tauwharenīkau River and lengths at each end up to the points of connection with the water network. The new pipe was installed approximately four metres below the riverbed. The works involved trenching and laying new water pipe alongside the existing one and diverting the Tauwharenīkau River while this was being done.

Councillor Olds shares that protecting Featherston township’s water supply from potential pipeline failure was a top priority for Council. “Since the crossing was originally installed, the riverbed had dropped leaving the exposed pipe vulnerable to failure. Remedial work had been done to maintain the pipe, but pipe replacement was needed and that’s what we’ve done”.

“Thank you to the hard work of our local contractors Fulton Hogan, and the Featherston community for their patience throughout the phases of this work.”

The project will be acknowledged later this month with a Karakia mō te Wai ceremony with mana whenua to celebrate and manaaki the security of safe drinking water for the hapori of Pae tū Mōkai (Featherston).

To find out more visit https://swdc.govt.nz/tauwharenikau-pipeline-river-crossing-replacement/ 

ENDS

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