17 August 2022:

We’re pleased to have members of the NZ Defence Force (NZDF)’s 2nd Engineer Regiment on secondment on the Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway Project.

Shown here are Defence Force engineers Ryan Hay, Jared Greenfield and Kieran Cropp on earthmoving equipment they’re using as part of a training programme, following the signing of an MOU between Fulton Hogan and NZDF.

Eighteen soldiers have been already been inducted and embedded with the earthworks teams, operating machinery under the guidance of project trainers, Mike Tait and Colin Landy.  The NZDF’s objective is to give the Linton Military Camp-based soldiers experience with machinery that isn’t available within NZDF.

It’s envisaged the partnership will continue for the remainder of the project, with groups of up to four NZDF personnel seconded to the project at any one time, for up to six weeks each.

The MoU furthers Fulton Hogan’s 80-year relationship with NZDF in delivering and managing infrastructure assets. These currently include another Manawatū-based project – the $70 million RNZAF Base Ohakea project.

Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway is a four-lane, 11.5km-long highway between Ashhurst and Woodville in Manawatū.