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Transport Projects

Tarata Road Projects

Keep up to date with roading projects on Tarata Road, including those funded by the Junction Road Endowment Fund.

Background

Tarata Road is a rural road stretching from the eastern boundary of the Inglewood Township to the New Plymouth District / Stratford District boundary at Purangi, a distance of about 36 kilometres.

The road is currently sealed, except for the last two km at the regional boundary.

The road is subjected to high levels of heavy traffic from forestry operations from both the New Plymouth and Stratford districts.  

Existing levels of service will be maintained for this year (2024/2025) and we are doing further work with the community on future levels of service, which will be considered through the 2025/2026 and 2027/2028 Annual Plans.

 

Tarata Road Projects

Projects

Details

Status

Funding Source

Roadside Drainage Works

We are currently working on improving the roadside drainage from the NPDC/SDC boundary through to Suffolk Rd

Due for completion mid-August

51% NZTA
49% NPDC

Roadside Drainage Works 

Autawa Road 

Due for completion by end of August

51% NZTA

49% NPDC

Sealed Pavement Repairs

Temporary pothole repairs carried out every three weeks. (See update below) 

Ongoing over winter

51% NZTA

49% NPDC

Road Reconstruction

Rebuilding the road following recent earthworks to improve visibility – Purangi Saddle (See update below).

January – April 2025.

51% NZTA

49% NPDC

 

Our network inspectors will continue to monitor Tarata Rd for pavement defects and prioritise repairs.

Junction Road Endowment Fund 

NPDC was the owner of approximately 544 hectares of farmland around Junction Road which was subject to 25 leases.

The Taranaki County Reserves Act 1966 (the Act) vested the land in the former Taranaki County Council (now NPDC) as freehold land as an endowment for County purposes.

Section 4 of the Act stated that part of the revenue from the leases be applied towards the cost of administration and management of the leases with the balance used for maintenance and improvement of Junction Road (now Tarata Road).

In 2010 we approved the sale of 25 Junction Road Leasehold Endowment properties owned by NPDC.

The freehold interests in 24 of these farmland properties generated $7.68m when sold and the proceeds put into an endowment fund.

Taking in to account the interest generated and what has been spent to date, there is currently about $8.30m in the Endowment Fund, which is held on a term deposit with BNZ Bank.

Community meetings and surveys were held in 2014 and 2018 to get feedback, views and preferences on a draft 10-year road and maintenance work programme for Tarata Road.

The last survey was carried out at the same time as public consultation on the NPDC’s  2018-2028 Long-term Plan and the list of projects decided on are included in the document below (see pages 4-7).

June 2025: A report is being presented at the Council meeting on 24 June where the Mayor and Councillors will consider using $3M from the Tarata Road Endowment Fund to match $3.2M of funding from NZTA Waka Kotahi (NZTA) for resilience projects on Tarata Road.  See the agenda here. 

Junction Road Endowment Fund 2018 Work Plan

Project updates 

The following projects are scheduled for 2024/2025

Project

Status

Date

Tarata Saddle Safety Improvements

Completed

 
Revise current work plan  Identify sites for consultation with community. Ongoing

 

Documents

Frequently Asked Questions

Page last updated: 11:49am Wed 02 July 2025

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06 759 6060 enquiries@npdc.govt.nz
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