What is Te Whau Pathway?
Te Whau Pathway is a 4-boardwalk and concrete path following the Whau River. It will be Auckland’s only off-road route to connect the Waitematā and Manukau harbours. To find out more, please see our route map.
The pathway aims to connect people and places to each other and to blue and green spaces.
‘Pathway’ describes a wide smooth path that does not allow vehicles such as cars, vans and trucks. Sometimes we call it a shared pathway as all active modes of transport – from wheelchair users to cyclists – are encouraged to share the route.
The pathway is accessible and is for everyone to enjoy. Some parts of the path are already finished and you can enjoy these now. The majority of the pathway is still to be built and will be done in stages. Once complete, the pathway will offer a unique experience along the awa and through dense mangrove.
Te Whau Pathway is a 4-metre-wide shared path that will one day connect the Manukau and Waitematā harbours.
Once completed, it will link an estimated 100,000 residents in Green Bay, Blockhouse Bay, Avondale, New Lynn, Kelston, Glendene and Te Atatū South.
The pathway will support connections to 35 schools with 17,487 students, as well as 33 parks and reserves, providing safe off-road facilities for travelling to work, school, shops and recreational destinations.
The pathway is being built in sections, but to be effective these sections need to be connected.
Many of the on-land sections are already completed. Boardwalk sections are required to link these together and create a continuous route.
Completed on-land concrete path sections include:
- Portage Road (on-road) from Kinross Street to Wolverton Street
- Olympic Park
- Rizal Reserve
- Ken Maunder Park
- Archibald Park
- McLeod Park
- Horowai / Roberts Field
- Tiroroa Esplanade
- Northwestern Cycleway to Horowai / Roberts Field
Maps can be found here.
The section from Wingate Street to Ken Maunder Park is currently under construction and is scheduled to be completed in November 2026.
Modelling by Flow Transportation Specialists forecasts that 328,500 people will use the pathway for walking or cycling.
Key features include
- A wide 4-metre path, away from busy roads
- Low gradients and accessibility-friendly design to enable a wide range of users to enjoy it
- Surface materials designed to reduce the risk of slipping
- CCTV and lighting for safety and extended hours of access
- Connections to bus routes
- Access to the water along the Whau River
The entire route has resource consent.
What has been achieved so far?
Te Whau Pathway Environment Trust and Auckland Council, together with project partners, have been working to deliver economic, environmental, social and cultural benefits. Highlights include:
- Construction of the pathway has created 50 jobs
- 39 events engaging rangatahi and the community in learning about the Whau River
- 388 people have kayaked on the Whau
- 143 students have rowed on the Whau
- 470 students have learned about water quality testing
- 388 students have created nature art
Project timeline
The pathway began as an idea in 2014. Since then, it has been a collaborative effort. Here are the major project milestones from 2014 to 2024.
Idea seeded for coastal walkway that follows the Whau River
Whau Pathway Trust & PSG formed
Project engagement & planting days commence
Scheme design begins
Archibald, Ken Maunder, Olympic and McLeod Parks paths constructed
Extensive community consultation on scheme/pathway design
Roberts Field and Tiroroa Reserve paths constructed
Archibald Park Pontoon built
Ongoing community consultation
Resource consent public notifications and hearings
Public information days
Resource Consent granted
Funding of $35.3 million granted
Works at Rizal Reserve commence
Design consultation commences
Design work commences
Rizal construction completed
Community engagement ongoing
First CLG meeting
Detail design for Section 5 completed.
Detail design for Section 2 90% complete
Funding shortfall identified and scope reduction agreed
Report taken to Governing Body 23 February
Options analysed
Support from Governing Body to retain design
Additional funding granted
First pile in the ground, the Horowai Connection (Roberts Field)
First pile in the ground, the Northwest Connection SH16
Finishing the Northwest Connection SH16
Finishing the Horowai Connection (Roberts Fields)
A build timeline and a consultation timeline are also available.
Why is it in five sections?
Te Whau Pathway is a complex project because of its length and because of different environments – through water and overland. It will connect to other transport projects such as the New Lynn Transport interchange, the New Lynn – Avondale cycleway and the proposed Te Atatu Bus Interchange. The pathway was split up into five sections to make it more manageable.
- Portage Road to Olympic Park
- Olympic Park to Ken Maunder Park
- Ken Maunder Park to Archibald Park
- Archibald Park to Laurieston Park
- Laurieston Park to State Highway 16 North Western cycleway.
See our Section Map page to see an overview.
Project focus 2024-2026
The current focus of the project is to build two sections of boardwalk in Te Atatū South. This priority connection in the Henderson-Massey Local Board will be the entry point to Te Whau Pathway and a key connection point between the existing Northwestern Cycleway.
Northwestern Connection (SH16)
The Northwestern Connection is the boardwalk section that links Bridge Avenue (by Te Atatū Boating Club) with the Northwestern cycleway.
Horowai Connection
The Horowai Connection is the boardwalk section that will link Roberts Fields and Bridge Ave.
View detailed maps. You can view both areas that currently have funding on the Section Overview map.
What happens in 2026?
Construction of the Rizal Crossing is soon to get underway. This area will connect Rizal Reserve to Ken Maunder Park via a new bridge crossing over Te Whau River. This is a high priority zone for the Whau Local Board, connecting the New Lynn and Avondale communities and building on the existing walking and cycling network.