Major upgrades set to transform Far North town

A multi-million-dollar programme of infrastructure upgrades will get underway in Kawakawa this summer, helping prepare the town for future growth while strengthening the resilience of essential water and wastewater services.

The programme is a partnership between Far North District Council and the Government’s Infrastructure Acceleration Fund (IAF), with five key infrastructure projects.

These include:

• water reticulation upgrades
• water supply treatment upgrades
• wastewater reticulation upgrades
• wastewater treatment upgrades
• Greenacres Drive transport improvements.

The projects will provide the infrastructure needed to support housing growth in Kawakawa while improving the performance of existing networks.

Upgrades to water supply and wastewater infrastructure will help ensure services can meet the needs of a growing community, while transport improvements to Greenacres Drive will support access and connectivity for future development.

The programme represents an investment of more than $37 million, with FNDC contributing around $2.9 million, developers $8.7 million and up to $25.6 million in funding through the IAF.

Planning, designing, and consenting are underway, with physical works expected to begin in late 2026 and throughout 2027 on most projects. The work will be delivered in stages with completion expected at the end of 2028.

This substantial investment will deliver long-term benefits for Kawakawa, creating stronger and more resilient infrastructure to support both current and future residents. The new infrastructure will have sufficient capacity and capability to enable at least 310 additional dwellings in Kawakawa that will be delivered between 2028 and 2035. Te Mataora development is the first to receive funding of 42 homes for stage one of a planned 117-home development on Greenacres Drive led by Ngāti Hine Health Trust.

The IAF is administered by National Infrastructure Funding and Financing (NIFF) and supports the delivery of critical infrastructure needed to unlock housing in areas identified for growth.

Further information about the projects and construction timelines will be shared with the community as work gets underway.