7 September 2021
One of Wellington’s busiest biking routes has just been improved, making it safer and easier for people to cycle and walk around the capital.
The new Cobham Drive walking and cycling paths are part of the harbourside route around Akau Tangi | Evans Bay, named as Tahitai (one tide, one journey). The name Tahitai was gifted by Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika. This part of Wellington’s coast holds strong connections for mana whenua iwi (Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika, Ngāti Toa Rangatira).
Tahitai walking and cycling path along Cobham Drive.
The latest additions to this route—the Cobham Drive walking and cycling paths—were completed in March 2021.
Patrick Morgan from Cycling Action Network says: “As we build a connected cycling network we unlock cycling as a convenient and fun way to get around for people of all ages. Seeing kids biking along Evans Bay makes my heart sing."
When all stages of the harbourside route are complete, people will be able to walk, run, cycle or scoot 7km off-road between Miramar and the central city – providing a healthier, more sustainable way for people to move about the city.
But this work wasn’t just about providing safer walking and cycling paths. It’s also helped improve resilience in an area vulnerable to erosion, extreme weather and sea level rise expected as a result of climate change.
The coastal protection work completed as part of this project includes a new sloping bank of rock—called a revetment—along 430m of coastline. This new bank has been designed to spread the force of the sea to help protect the coastline, the new walking and cycling paths and the state highway.
The nooks and crannies of the new bank will provide more secure and appealing places for kororā (little blue penguins) to nest and moult.
The Cobham Drive paths were delivered by Wellington City Council, with $11.5m of funding from the National Land Transport Fund, Urban Cycleways Fund and Wellington City Council.
As part of the 2021–24 National Land Transport Programme, more than $1.45 billion will be invested to help encourage people to use healthier, more sustainable ways to move around the Wellington region.
2021–24 NLTP Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington regional summary
