Progress - Transport vs Conservation

[Brent George]

This type of improvement to main transport infrastructure has been and will continue to be a common requirements as our nationwide commuting and freight transfers require better, safer roads.  But when it impacts on the conservation estate, there will be points of conflict.

The proposed Mt Messenger Bypass Highway will cost $200M; require 5.2km of new roading plus a tunnel and bridge; and improve travel time by 4 to 6.5 minutes (!).
Stuff - 23-Jan-2019

is it worth it?

[Brent George]

Surveyors Obstructed from Entry:
Stuff - Taranaki Daily News: 15-Jan-2021

Reading the story one gets the distinct impression that there are two very different interpretations as to what really transpired here.
And the surveyors appear to be stuck in the middle of the "discussion".

[Brent George]

Cars could travel Taranaki's Mt Messenger Bypass in 2026, a decade after it was first announced
Stuff - Taranaki Daily News: 16-May-2022

Motorists could be driving along the SH3 Mt Messenger Bypass as soon as 2026, a decade after the multimillion-dollar project was first announced.

The crash and slip-prone stretch near Taranaki’s northern border is a crucial artery for the region.

[Brent George]

Two-metre tall concrete wall and extra security staff for Mt Messenger after site occupiers evicted
Stuff - Taranaki Daily News: 13-Sept-2022

A two-metre concrete wall has been built in front of a worksite at the top of Mt Messenger as the $280 million bypass gets back on track after the eviction of protesters.

The barrier, built from interlocking concrete blocks, with “no trespassing” signs, has been put in place by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, along with extra security.

The move follows a police operation last Thursday that brought an end to a 26-day site occupation and saw traffic on Taranaki’s main arterial route over the mountain, State Highway 3, stopped for about three hours.