Whangarei's Te Matau a Pohe bridge across Hatea River is up for another major engineering award.
The bascule bridge is a finalist in the Association of Consulting and Engineering Professionals of New Zealand (ACENZ) awards.
The association's annual Innovate NZ awards, which are being held in Christchurch on Saturday, celebrate engineering excellence and previous winners are some of the greatest projects in New Zealand's engineering history including Auckland's Britomart Transport Centre, Wairakei Geothermal, the Sky Tower and Wellington's Westpac Trust Stadium. Major engineering projects from all around the country are in contention for national recognition at the 50th anniversary, with Te Matau a Pohe up against projects such as Victoria University's Wellington Campus Hub, the Hagley Oval Pavilion, the Point Resolution Bridge, the New Plymouth Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Picton Wastewater Outfall and the Waikato Expressway's Ngaruawahia Section.
ACENZ chief executive Kieran Shaw said: "Every day without a second thought - and often with our lives depending on it - we rely on good engineering and professional advice throughout our daily routine: water, roading, buildings and electricity infrastructure. These projects in the built and natural environment contribute greatly to New Zealand society." In 2014 the $32 million Te Matau a Pohe won the supreme and transportation infrastructure awards.
The bridge opened in July 2013 and is modelled on the traditional Maori fish hook, hei matua, which represents strength, good luck and safe travel.
