Two new toilet blocks in time for Christmas

Two new toilet blocks in remote and popular locations have been completed in time for summer - one at Te Paki and the other at Lake Manuwai.

Te Paki is 17km south from Cape Reinga. The giant Te Paki Sand Dunes, located at the northern tip of Ninety Mile Beach, are 10 square kilometers of sand surrounded by campgrounds, great walking tracks and a variety of recreational activities.

The project has been supported by Te Papa Atawhai and by Ngāti Kuri (iwi/kaitiaki).  A supply partnership is being established with Ngāti Kuri to monitor and service the facility which supports local employment and provides for good oversight of the building in a very remote location. The toilet building sits discretely in the natural landscape. Final works are underway to fence the area.  

The second toilet block is located at popular Lake Manuwai, a constructed lake 15km north-west of Kerikeri. This self-contained unit is a waterless dry vault with two unisex toilets, a small service bay for cleaning equipment and a changing room with seating. No running water will be available, so hand sanitizer will be provided. Waste will be stored in lined, concrete underground holding tanks that are pumped out when needed and the waste taken off-site for disposal. Although delivery and construction of the unit was subject to scheduling delays (due to COVID-19 related staff shortages for the supplier) and ground conditions were difficult due to high rainfall, the installation has now been successfully completed. Final works are underway to install a path to the building from the carpark.  

The two new toilet blocks have been co-funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment from round five of the Tourism Infrastructure Fund (TIF). Go here to find out more about the fund and other government funded tourism projects.