Cut 13 and Cut 28 - Te Ahu a Turanga - Manawatū Tararua Highway

2022 - 2025

Rock Control was engaged by the Te Ahu A Turanga Alliance to deliver critical stabilisation works along the new highway alignment, with a particular focus on the Cut 13 and Cut 28 sites. Our scope included anchor and drainflow installation, shotcrete application, macmat placement, and other support works to assist the Alliance in progressing this major project. In total, we installed more than 1,600 anchors, sprayed around 2,500 m³ of shotcrete, and placed over 11,000 m² of rockfall mesh.

Our involvement began in 2022 with a small package of stabilisation works at Cut 13. Thanks to the quality of our workmanship, strong client communication, commitment to safety, and local presence through our Whanganui–Manawatū hub, our role quickly grew to include some of the largest stabilisation packages on the project.

Among the most challenging aspects was Cut 28 – the deepest cut on the alignment, reaching 63 metres. The steep terrain, variable ground conditions, and constantly changing environment required tailored solutions. Treatments were carefully selected for different ground conditions, from stabilising exposed bedrock faces to preventing surface fretting. In some areas, we applied Pro-Granite, a sprayed medium that encourages vegetation growth, which was then secured with black netting to hold the surface while vegetation establishes.

We’re proud to share that this project is a finalist in the 2025 CCNZ Canterbury Westland Awards, Category C: Projects with a value of between $1 million and $5 million.