A message from the council. Frater Lane is roughly parallel to Mahara Lane and about 50 metres to the south of it. This extends the ‘Welcome Mat’ created from bricks at the east entrance to the marae about 2 years ago to the Main Road.
We’re about to start work on the next stage of the cultural thread in Frater Lane.
Work will be starting in late October and is scheduled to go through until late December, weather permitting. (Please see map of work area above).
The cultural thread is a project that reflects the historic village connection with Whakarongotai Marae and incorporates distinctive paving of cultural significance.
This work in Frater Lane follows on from the completion of stage one of the cultural thread which linked the commuter carpark with Mahara Place in 2018.
Work will see a continuation of the distinctive paving from the Marae entrance through Frater Lane. This links the paving design to tāngata whenua and the journey from the Marae to the final resting place at Ruakohatu Urupā.
Stage two work will stop short of the SH1 entrance to Frater Lane which will be completed separately, as part of the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s investment in the town centre to make SH1 a local road.
Future plans for Waikanae town centre
Future plans for revitalising the town centre include improved pedestrian access and better connections to the railway station to make it easier to get around. Plans also include making Mahara Lane more visible from SH1 to encourage people into Mahara Place and establishing better cycling and walking connections to the river.