44 Bowen Street
Private Bag 6995
Wellington 6141
New Zealand
T 64 4 894 5400
F 64 4 894 6100
www.nzta.govt.nz
12 June 2026
Nic Lane
[FYI request #34747 email]
REF: OIA-22262
Dear Nic
Request made under the Official Information Act 1982
Thank you for your email of 20 May 2026 requesting the fol owing information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
Congratulations on building a new public multi-user route between Te Whanganui-a-Tara and Te
Awa Kairangi.
Can you please provide: Design information around Te Ara Tupua's pedestrian ramp Te
Wharepōuri, including:
Longitudinal profile drawings
Gradient calculations of its rise, as wel as its landings; internal discussions around NZS
4121
The fol owing documents fal within the scope of your request and are enclosed:
• Attachment 1 - Design Summary Report_ Geometrics
• Attachment 2 - Issue for Construction drawing (longitudinal profile)
Information relating to NZS 4121 is included in section
3.4.5.1 and Appendix D of Attachment 1.
Certain information has been withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Act to protect the privacy of natural
persons. I do not consider that the public interest in release outweighs the need to withhold this
information.
How did Waka Kotahi formal y, or otherwise, engage in partnership with the disability
community, what guidance was received?
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) as part of Te Ara Tupuna Al iance, engaged with the
disability community through several channels during the design and construction phases.
A Project Liaison Group (PLG) was established to keep walking and cycling stakeholders informed.
This group included representatives from organisations such as Living Streets Aotearoa.
Targeted engagement was also undertaken with:
• Wel ington City Council Accessibility Advisory Group
• Hutt City Council Wheels and Canes Accessibility Forum
In addition, an independent accessibility audit of the detailed design occurred. Feedback from the
accessibility auditor was also sought on specific construction matters as they arose.
How much was budgeted for independent accessibility reviews, and who was contracted to
undertake these?
An independent accessibility audit was undertaken by CCS Disability Action.
The total budget for combined assurance activities (including Safe System audits, accessibility audits,
and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) reviews) was approximately $75,000.
Did you create any user profiles in the design process; does Waka Kotahi's have Access
Standards or strategies
Specific user personas were not developed for this project.
The design was informed by recognised guidance,
Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 6A and
NZTA
Pedestrian Network Guidance.
What is your commitment to Universal Design?
Te Ara Tupua was delivered in accordance with the project’s Minimum Requirements, which
incorporate accessibility considerations and align with relevant design guidance.
What is your definition of a pedestrian?
NZTA’s definition of a pedestrian is set out in
Walking in New Zealand: Pedestrian Network Guidance
(1 February 2025, version 1.1). While this definition is not reproduced in the attached documents, it is publicly available on the NZTA
website here: https://nzta.govt.nz/assets/Walking-Cycling-and-Public-Transport/docs/pedestrian-
network-guidance/docs/1-Walking-in-NZ-Feb-2025.pdf
In line with NZTA policy, this response wil soon be published on our website, with personal
information removed.
Under section 28 of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review the decision to
partial y withhold information. The Ombudsman’s contact details are available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
If you would like to discuss this reply with NZTA, please contact Ministerial Services by email to
[NZTA request email].
Yours sincerely
Josh Driscol
Manager Ministerial Services
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