4 | Tutukaka Marina T T Richard Loader Marina recovers from tsunami surge Tutukaka Marina suffered significant damage from the tsunami surge in 2022. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT +64 27 444 2368 | sales@tallykey.co.nz | www.tallykey.co.nz Proud to serve Tutukaka Marina At 9.30pm, January the 15th 2022, about three hours after the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’api volcanic eruption, a tsunami scale surge of water entered the Tutukaka Marina, causing significant damage to boats, berths and other marina structures. While the seismic reading on the underwater volcanic eruption was relatively small at 5.5, it sent a shockwave three times around the world and has been referred to as a 1/1000-year occurrence. The hub of the Tutukaka coast, Tutukaka Marina sits halfway between Auckland Marina and the Bay of Islands, on Northland’s east coast. While owned by the Whangarei District Council, the Tutukaka Marina Management Trust (TMMT) holds a lease for the marina until 2053. Referred to as a mid-sized marina by New Zealand standards, Tutukaka Marina has 254 berths, of which 54 were significantly compromised or destroyed by the volcanic surge. Traditionally important as a game fishing hub, more recently the marina has become significant as the gateway to the Poor Knights Islands’ marine reserve. New Zealand’s largest dive company also operates from Tutukaka. Marina Manager Dylan Lease says because of the marina’s significance it was crucial for local businesses, boat owners and the marina facility that the 54 berths and other related structures were reinstated, and also strengthened to make them more resilient to a future tsunami surge. An engineering assessment carried out on the remaining 200 berths, determined that those floating structures and piles remained uncompromised. Just after the tsunami rolled through, Herons Construction provided TMMT with a large work barge and crew to assist with the demolition and salvage operation. “We had cranes lifting broken pontoons, boats, and piles out of the water. The last two weeks in January after the event were spent making the remaining facility safe,” says Dylan. “We also had Commercial Dive Specialists complete underwater, above water and drone survey work before any redesign could commence,” he says. TMMT enlisted Shorewise Engineering Consultants to undertake the design work. Shorewise has been heavily involved with the new marina in Waiheke and many marine projects up and down New Zealand. “The planning and design included a lot of modelling in terms of water speed. To mitigate “The project is about protecting our structures, protecting boats, and all the surrounding businesses here including dive tourism, restaurants and shops.” against any future tsunami damage, Shorewise Engineering had to find a point where the structures being rebuilt could handle up to a certain water force speed that was practical. Of course, beyond that point, you can’t do anything.” With Total Marine Services engaged as lead contractor, the physical construction work commenced February 2023 and is now three quarters of the way through, with early July targeted as the completion date. “We’re now rebuilding L Pier, which was completely removed because it was so badly damaged. Any wooden piles in any of the berths or other structures will be replaced with hollow steel tubes driven into the ocean floor, and then sleeved. “The fuel jetty at the front of the marina was hit first. In addition to using steel piles, the design includes a massive hinging system so that the fuel jetty can flex during a large surge event. “Looking ahead to the future, Shoreline and world leading tsunami and hydrology expert Jose Borreo, have put computer modelling together that shows if we reconfigure our breakwater we can reduce the speed of the water entering the marina by many knots. But that’s a project for the future.” From the destruction caused in January 2022, Dylan acknowledges that a more resilient marina will emerge. “The project is about protecting our structures, protecting boats, and all the surrounding businesses here including dive tourism, restaurants and shops. So there’s a whole spin-off to protecting the marina.” Tutukaka will also be one of, if not the first, location to receive the benefit of a new Civil Defence siren system, that can be sounded in a localised area, and will include an audible voice warning tailored for the emergency.
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