Mangere Bridge information day this Saturday
People will be able to walk over the Manukau Harbour this weekend where the new Mangere Bridge is being built.
They are invited to an information day this Saturday for the old Mangere Bridge replacement project.
People can meet the team behind the bridge build and learn more about the new walking, cycling and fishing bridge spanning the harbour.
The information day will be held from 9.30am to 1pm at the Waterfront Reserve in Mangere Bridge.
Visitors will be able to walk on the temporary staging, which is like a temporary road in the harbour, said Waka Kotahi senior manager project delivery Andrew Thackwray.
The staging allows cranes to move out over the water alongside where the new bridge is under construction.
Earmarked for completion in 2022, the new bridge will restore the walking, cycling and fishing connection to the Mangere Bridge and Onehunga communities.
The new bridge will boost space between the piers for waka, canoes and small watercraft to sail through Mangere Inlet.
Thackwray said the event will be a great chance for people to see close up what the team is doing.
"They are very proud of the progress they are making and will be on site to explain what they're doing and answer any questions," he said.
A sausage sizzle and activities to entertain children are also planned.
A limited number of people will be able to check out the big cofferdams created in the harbour to build the bridge piers.
A cofferdam is a watertight box made from joined steel plates driven up to 20 metres below the seabed and rising above the water level at high tide.
Workers had to pump 1.4 million litres of water to create a dry working space in one of the biggest cofferdams which stretches 25 metres by 12.5 metres.
A crane lowered a digger into the cofferdam to dig through 2.5 metres of mud to reach the seabed.
Workers then had to remove 1100 cubic metres of mud - enough to fill 187 trucks.
They poured a concrete floor which will be the foundation of construction of the first pier.
“The cofferdams and the temporary staging will only be in place for as long as they’re needed to construct the bridge, so this is a one-off chance for some people to come and see them up close and understand what they’re for," Thackwray said.
Tickets to the site tour will be limited and subject to health and safety requirements.
This part of the information day may be cancelled if bad weather hits.
By-election for Otara-Papatoetoe area
Just to let everyone know that we have another by-election happening, and here is the reason why. Below are details and dates, so keep an eye on your letter boxes.
The Manukau Court’s Ruling
The Manukau District Court determined that the Papatoetoe subdivision result of the Ōtara–Papatoetoe Local Board election was invalid, ruling that the outcome had been “materially affected” by voting irregularities. Judge Richard McIlraith found that the scale and nature of the irregularities met the legal threshold required to void an election under New Zealand’s local electoral laws.
In his decision, Judge McIlraith stated that the evidence presented — including reports of stolen voting papers, fraudulent use of ballots, and other procedural irregularities — was sufficient to conclude that the integrity of the election had been compromised. The court noted that at least 79 voting papers were identified as having been cast without the rightful voter’s knowledge during a judicially supervised examination of ballot boxes.
While the judge acknowledged that the election had been administered “properly and in accordance with all requirements” by Independent Election Services and the electoral officer, he concluded that the fraudulent activity originated outside the official process and nonetheless impacted the final result to a degree that required the election to be voided.
As a result of the ruling, the court ordered that a new election must be held, with Auckland Council confirming that the fresh poll must be completed by 9 April 2026
Poll: 🗑️ Would you be keen to switch to a fortnightly rubbish collection, or do you prefer things as they are?
Aucklanders, our weekly rubbish collections are staying after councillors voted to scrap a proposed trial of fortnightly pick-ups.
We want to hear from you: would you be keen to switch to a fortnightly rubbish collection, or do you prefer things as they are?
Keen for the details? Read up about the scrapped collection trial here.
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83.6% Same!
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16.4% Would have liked to try something different
Today’s Mind-Bender is the Last of the Year! Can You Guess It Before Everyone Else? 🌟🎁🌲
I dance in the sky with green and gold, a spectacle few are lucky to behold; I’m best seen in the south, a celestial sight—what am I, lighting up the New Zealand night?
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
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