Media File No. 250119

Whangarei Harbour bridge

Called Te Matau ā Pohe, or "The Fishhook of Pohe", and once you see it, it's easy to understand how one Northland town's new bridge got its name. Thousands of Whangarei residents gathered to celebrate the completion of the project, and while it's been built to alleviate traffic, its design is stopping traffic too. This morning, Te Matau ā Pohe lifted to allow a flotilla of waka, boats, kayaks and even paddle-boarders through as part of the opening ceremony. "With this bridge we're lifting innovation," says Whangarei district councillor Jeroen Jongejans. "We lifted the local economy by 17.5 million, and we lift the way people look at Whangarei. It's very broad, very positive and it's the catalyst for a lot of new things in Whangarei." A parade kicked off festivities on the bridge, and vintage cars, trucks and motorbikes became the first vehicles to cross.