Life at No.22, Snapshots of Tauranga

Snapshots of Tauranga #5

Suzanne

Over the approximately seven years I’ve blogged, Matapihi Bridge has been spasmodically mentioned via cycling and walking exploits. However, what I haven’t done is mention its conception and history.

Iron over the Water

It is amazing to think that of the 7 bridges we cross in Tauranga without a second thought in 2024, a mere 70-odd years ago, 3 of them did not exist, 2 were single lanes, and both rail bridges could be death traps. 

Matapihi bridge heading back home to the city – An ever-changing landscape in more ways than one.
In December 1916, this Meers photograph was printed in the ‘Auckland Weekly News’ with the following caption, “Progress of the Auckland East Coast Railway Scheme: The first piles were driven off the Railway Ferro-concrete bridge to be erected over the Tauranga Harbour.

Between 1910-1924, the bridge was established, taking a few years to build with delays due to WW1 and steel shortages.  When the imported 5¼ ton girders arrived from England, they were assembled at Mount Maunganui and then transported by train to the site. This steel plate girder bridge crosses with its 19 25ft long spans across Te Awanui/Tauranga Harbour, connecting Mataphihi, the Bayfair/Arataki area and the CBD. The first train crossed the bridge at 4.10pm on 21 June 1924. 

Initially, Matapihi Railbridge was a freight train bridge only, though it was used quite extensively by Matapihi residents. There was no walkway, resulting in over 20 people losing their lives before someone decided that perhaps there was a need to establish a pedestrian walkway that we now use. I shake my head at how it took over 20 lives before any action was taken. 

Since then, it has been used by freight trains delivering logs and pulp from Eastern Bay of Plenty to the Tauranga Port, and now more frequently by cyclists and walkers, as well as as a fishing platform daily. For many others and me, it has created another easy way to access the eastern side of Tauranga. With a small sliver of countryness, we get to leave the city behind and head to Papamoa and beyond. Since late 2023, cyclists and walkers can now make their way to Mercury BayPark, where our team play basketball, using a purpose-built cycle/walkway.

I opted for a walk, and the more adventurous always chose to cycle in the rain. Which was welcomed on that day after days of high temperatures.

I say money well spent creating easier commuting options in a city with apparently the worst traffic congestion in the North Island of New Zealand.

My other posts that mention Matapihi can be read here and here

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Published by Suzanne

I'm a lover of creativity and movement, expressed through photography, words, travel and sports. . . . . . .

30 thoughts on “Snapshots of Tauranga #5”

  14. That second image is amazing, especially. If that bridge was such an important connection at the time, it boggles the mind that pedestrian access wasn’t considered to begin with. We don’t have a lock on short-sighted behavior in modern times!

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    1. I’m thinking that those in power didn’t think the pedestrian was warranted back then due to the lack of people living over there?. Perhaps tunnel vision in that they saw it as only servicing the forestry industry.

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