We're relocating cables and substations to make room for a new bridge, stop banks, and shared paths as part of the Te Awa Kairangi project.

About the project

Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi is a transformational project for Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai - Lower Hutt. It includes:

• Crucial flood protection and river restoration work
• Improvements to public transport, walking & cycling routes, local roads and the SH2 Melling Interchange
• Urban revitalisation of the Lower Hutt city centre and a new pedestrian bridge over the river

Te Awa Kairangi is a partnership between iwi Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika and Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Greater Wellington, Hutt City Council and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. Check out the official project website for more information at teawakairangi.co.nz.

Wellington Electricity's involvement

To enable these works, Wellington Electricity has been requested to relocate substations and underground electricity cables currently within the construction zone. This ensures that the electricity network remains safe and reliable while the flood protection upgrades take place.

Important note about timing and distances

All timings, work locations, and distances provided below are indicative only. They may change due to weather conditions or other factors that can arise during underground excavation.

We’ll update this page regularly to keep you informed. For the most current information, please check back often.

Typical hours of work:

• Day works: 7:30am – 6:00pm, Monday to Saturday
• Night works: 7:00pm – 5:00am, Monday to Saturday (only in some industrial areas)
• No work on Sundays or public holidays

Christmas shutdown: All work will pause mid-December to mid-January (dates confirmed closer to the time)

Traffic management and access:

• At least one lane will remain open where possible
• Access to businesses, homes, and riverside pathways will be maintained
• Lane closures and stop/go operations will be used.

Where we'll be working

Our involvement will be delivered in three sections to minimise disruption, keep access open wherever possible, and complete the project as quickly and safely as we can. Each section will involve trenching, cable removal or installation, and reinstatement of surfaces.

Please see a map below of the three sections and the routes they take.

Key:

Section 1: Connolly Street to Dudley Street

Timing: November 2025 to April 2026

What’s happening:

• We’ll be digging trenches, removing cables, then reinstating the surface once the cables are removed.
• Four crews will be working at once to minimise disruption and to complete work as quickly as safely possible.
• Two daytime crews  operating, spaced apart for safety and to reduce congestion around each work site. At time 
• Night time crews may be working 

Crew locations:

• Day crew 1: Starting at Connolly St substation working towards Melling Link Rd roundabout.
• Day crew 2: Starting on Rutherford St past Harvey Norman heading towards Dudley St.
• Night crew 3: Starting Melling Link Rd roundabout working towards Melling Bridge along Rutherford.
• Night crew 4: Starting Melling Bridge working towards stop bank at Repco and across roundabout towards Queens Dr (past Harvey Norman) along Rutherford.

Section 2: Marsden Street to Queens Drive

Timing: November 2025 to April 2026

What’s happening:

• We’ll be digging trenches, installing new cable ducts, and reinstating the surface as we go.
• We’ll have three daytime crews working at once to minimise disruption and to complete work as quickly as possible.
• Each crew will be spaced apart for safety and to reduce congestion around each work site. No night works are currently planned for this stage.

Day crews:

• Crew 1: Starting under Ewen Bridge and working eastwards.
• Crew 2: Starting on Marsden Street and working towards the east abutment of Ewen Bridge.
• Crew 3: Starting from the west abutment of Ewen Bridge and continuing towards Queens Drive.

Section 3: Dudley Street to Queens Drive

Section 3 is scheduled to commence in March 2026, with more detail available closer to the time.