Te Kupeka o Waimātaitai is a cornerstone of Invercargill’s recently upgraded flood protection scheme. It provides crucial protection for 116 properties in the immediate vicinity and is a vital link for Invercargill Airport, the region’s gateway for 320,000 passengers and freight annually.
Associate Minister for Regional Development, the Honourable Mark Patterson, joined Environment Southland Chairman Nicol Horrell, Ngāi Tahu ki Murihiku representative and Kaupapa Taiao Manager of Te Ao Marama, Dean Whaanga, and Justin McDowell, Chief Operating Officer for Fulton Hogan NZ Construction, to mark the official opening.
Originally announced in 2020 as part of the Government’s “shovel-ready” funding for six climate resilience projects in Murihiku Southland, all part of the Resilient River Communities initiative, construction of the pump station began in October 2022. The project reached completion with the commissioning of the new facility in July 2024.
This work was complemented by an Environment Southland-led project to upgrade the Waihōpai River stop bank (true left), along with the replacement of the Stead Street stop bank with a sheet pile wall and upgrades to the adjoining Cobbe Road stop bank, led by Invercargill City Council. Together, these three projects significantly enhance flood resilience for the community and Invercargill’s critical infrastructure.
The name Te Kupeka o Waimātaitai, gifted by the Waihōpai Rūnaka Cultural Narratives Committee, reflects both the functional and cultural significance of the site. It includes the pump house with its two impressive fish-friendly pumps, the outlet pipes running beneath Stead Street to the estuary, a viewing platform with interpretive panels, and the artistic elements (mahi toi) adorning the structure. Waimātaitai refers to the mix of coastal sea and freshwater that creates the brackish waters of an estuary, while Kupeka represents a long fishing net.
The pump station’s 22-tonne twin Archimedes screw pumps provide safe passage for valued mahika kai species, in line with the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater introduced in 2020. This aligns with Ngāi Tahu ki Murihiku’s aspirations to restore the health of Kōreti New River Estuary, supporting the protection and sustainability of important fish species.
For more information about projects in Southland, take a look here.
