The ‘proposed’ Whitianga Bridge

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May 13, 2025

From the Editor: It began as a wild idea which by the way has surfaced and been debated at different times in Mercury Bay’s local history. Many years ago, the concept of a curved bridge was put forward at the local Council level. Perhaps this means it is not such a wild idea but an…

This is not the bridge, but a concept drawing of a bridge.

In The Informer, 25 February 2025, page 12, we published this as a wild idea, but now Mr. Lane has international clients with funds to invest.

In addition, since being published, Mr. Lane has received many responses, all of which were in favour of the Bridge. He recounts one resident’s response at Cooks Beach.

“We have a voluntary serviced Fire Station, but where is our Ambulance Station? A bridge can get an ambulance here in 5 minutes. I ask myself, why is it that we have no bridge? We should have had a bridge years ago – if only to save lives in a medical emergency. It is overdue and badly needed,” she said.

Committed to see the bridge a reality – it’s the 21st Century

FROM ROCKY LANE

The word ‘Whitianga’ translated to English means, “Crossing”. So where is this crossing?

As far back as the 50s, when I was raised on a farm at Hot Water Beach, the crossing over to Whitianga has been problematical. I’ve been away in Asia for 34 years. Now, back in my hometown, Whitianga to retire, I still can’t find this crossing, now 70 years later,” says Mr. Royce Lane, formally in the legal profession, practising most of his life in Asia. “I have measured it, its 50 kilometres by car from Ferry Landing to the wharf in Whitianga, while in fact the actual distance between the two is about 200 metres. So why the 50km then?

One could never find such a scenario in another part of the world. To me it is unbelievable and in terms of 2025, it is unacceptable. Call me Moses or whatever, but I feel I must get this bridge built to produce a crossing. The people badly need it, and I feel this huge challenge to find a way to deliver it”.

I call it a ‘humanitarian’ cause (much needed). The idea/project has already got some traction – some have already indicated a commitment to the construction of such a bridge. Of course, there will need to be toll gates probably at $5.00 per car, which is cheaper than the present $8.00 return ferry ride without transport available when arriving at Ferry Landing. The toll on heavy vehicles will be more and free for emergency vehicles. A significant aspect will be a draw bridge to allow large vessels to have access in and out of the estuary.

For the boat owners, don’t worry. The bridge crossing will be further up past the Marina and also past the Waterways entrance. This the same engineering that happened with the Harbour Bridge in Auckland.

Letters have already been dispatched to all related authorities to get this project as a valid possibility into the minds and views of our community leaders.” Should legal issues arise, and there will be those of course, I can do this work pro bono for my hometown. I am passionate about this and I sense I have returned to my hometown to help make this happen. In my years in Asia, I worked with many who brought big dreams to fruition. My email is open for those who want to share their views regarding the need for the bridge. Rockypower@myyahoo.com