Te Matau A Pohe - Hatea River Bridge Whangarei

UK based Knight Architects, who specialise in bridges, were responsible for this crossing of the Hatea River. It is designed to by-pass traffic from the Whangarei Town Basin. Centrepiece of the 265 metre bridge is a 25m lifting section using what is known as a bascule design. The lifting section is counter-weighted so that it is continuously balanced as it moves to provide clearance for boats moving upstream to the Town Basin. The shape of the lifting section refers to a fishhook. Hence the bridge name Te Matau A Pohe or Fishhook of Pohe. It provides a link to Pohe Island which historically had been Maori fishing grounds.

Image Credit: Alanah Stigsdottir