Editing List of tunnels in New Zealand

{{Short description|None}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
[[File:North Head Tunnel System I.jpg|thumb|North Head Tunnel System under the South Battery area, Devonport, Auckland, 2006]]

This is a link page for [[railway]], [[road]] and [[waterway]] [[tunnel]]s, including [[hydroelectric]] intakes and [[tailrace]]s and [[Artillery battery|gun battery]] tunnels. It includes artificial chambers but excludes [[List of caves of New Zealand|New Zealand caves]] and [[Mining in New Zealand|New Zealand mines]].

==For hydroelectric usage==
*[[Manapouri Hydroelectric Power Station|Manapouri Power Station]] – Machine hall 111 m long, 18 m wide, 34 m high, and road access tunnel 2040 m long, 6.7 m wide and high, with a [[semi-circular arch]] roof.
*[[Manapouri Power Station|Manapouri Tailrace]] – 2 tunnels – original tailrace tunnel 9817 m long, 9.2 m diameter horseshoe section, commenced 1964, breakthrough 1968 drill-and-blast construction, 16 deaths. Second tailrace tunnel 9829&nbsp;m long, 10.05&nbsp;m diameter, circular section, commenced 1997, breakthrough 2001, commissioned April 2002, [[tunnel boring machine]] construction, 0 deaths.
*[[Tongariro Power Scheme]]. The scheme includes numerous canals and ten tunnels, the longest of which – the {{convert|19.2|km|mi|abbr=on}} [[Tongariro Power Scheme#Eastern Diversion: Whangaehu River to Rangipo Dam|Moawhango-Tongariro Tunnel]] – is the country's longest.

==For Wastewater usage==
*[[Central Interceptor]] - 16.2&nbsp;km - 4.5 m diameter - Point Erin to Mangere Wastewater Treatment Plant, Auckland - Currently under construction for Watercare Services Ltd, est completion 2026
** An additional two connecting link sewers of 2.1 & 2.3 m diameter, length 4.3&nbsp;km

==For military usage==
*[[North Head, New Zealand|North Head]] tunnels, [[Auckland]]
*[[Whangaparaoa Navy Camp]], two sets of tunnels, Auckland
*[[Stony Batter]], [[Waiheke Island]], Auckland
*[[Wrights Hill Fortress]], [[Wellington]]
*[[Cracroft Caverns]] – Chamber, [[Christchurch]]
*[[Godley Head#Military base|Godley Head]], Christchurch
*[[Cashin Quay]] – Extensive network in midway hillside, [[Lyttelton, New Zealand|Lyttelton]]
*[[Taiaroa Head]] and [[Harington Point]], [[Dunedin]]

===For air raid shelters===
*[[Albert Park tunnels]], Auckland – built to shelter civilians in the event of an air raid

==For transportation==

===Rail tunnels===
{{see also|Rail transport in New Zealand}}
;Longest bored tunnels
From longest to shortest.
#[[Kaimai Tunnel|Kaimai]] – 8879&nbsp;m – opened 12 September 1978 – near Apata on the [[East Coast Main Trunk]] railway line to [[Tauranga]], the longest rail tunnel in New Zealand.
#[[Rimutaka Tunnel|Rimutaka]] – 8798&nbsp;m – opened 3 November 1955 – between [[Upper Hutt, New Zealand|Upper Hutt]] (Wellington) and [[Featherston, New Zealand|Featherston]] ([[Wairarapa]]), replaced the [[Rimutaka Incline]], a [[Fell mountain railway system|Fell]] [[mountain railway]], the longest tunnel in New Zealand that carries regular passenger trains.
#[[Otira Tunnel|Otira]] – 8566&nbsp;m – opened 1923 – between [[Arthur's Pass]] and Otira, in the [[Southern Alps]] on the transalpine [[Midland Line, New Zealand|Midland line]] – continuous 1 in 33 grade – electrified until 1997.
#Tawa No 2 – 4324&nbsp;m – opened 1935, goods on one line, 1937 all traffic – longest double-track tunnel in New Zealand.  Between [[Ngauranga]] ([[Wellington]]) and [[Glenside, New Zealand|Glenside]] ([[Tawa, New Zealand|Tawa]]). With the Tawa No 1 Tunnel (1238&nbsp;m), part of the [[Tawa Flat deviation]].
#Tikiwhata – 2989&nbsp;m – opened 1943, between [[Wairoa]] and [[Gisborne, New Zealand|Gisborne]].
#[[Lyttelton Rail Tunnel|Lyttelton]] – 2596&nbsp;m – opened 9 December 1867,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://library.christchurch.org.nz/heritage/earlychristchurch/lytteltontunnel.asp
|title=The Lyttelton Tunnel
|publisher=Christchurch City Council
|accessdate=2006-08-08}}</ref> between [[Heathcote Valley]] ([[Christchurch]]) and [[Lyttelton, New Zealand|Lyttelton]].
#[[Turakina, New Zealand|Turakina]] – 2091&nbsp;m – opened 1947, between [[Marton, New Zealand|Marton]] and [[Whanganui]].

;Shortest bored tunnels
#A 39.83 m long tunnel – opened 1906, between Staircase and Avoca, [[Midland Line, New Zealand|Midland Line]].
#A 42.05 m long tunnel – opened 1891, near [[Woodville, New Zealand|Woodville]], in the [[Manawatū Gorge]] – was daylighted in 2008.

[[File:Tranzrail bumblebee.jpg|thumb|right|500px|An EF electric locomotive on the [[North Island Main Trunk]] line, 2006]]

;Other rail tunnels
*[[Purewa Tunnel]], an 800m tunnel on the [[Eastern Line (Auckland)|Eastern Line]] in Auckland
*[[Poro-O-Tarao Tunnel]] an 1,272m tunnel on the [[North Island Main Trunk]] line in the [[King Country]] (replacing an 1880s tunnel)

;Disused rail tunnels, North Island
*On the [[Wairarapa Line]] before the opening of the [[Rimutaka Tunnel]] in 1955:  
**Cruickshanks – opened 1 January 1878, between Mangaroa and [[Upper Hutt]].
**Mangaroa – 152 m – opened 1 January 1878, at Tunnel Gully recreation area, [[Te Mārua]], [[Upper Hutt]]. Now a walkway.
**Summit – 584 m, and three shorter tunnels (Pakuratahi, Siberia, Prices) :opened 12 October 1878 on the [[Rimutaka Incline]]. On the [[Rimutaka Rail Trail]].
*Okaihau – on the never-opened extension of the [[Okaihau Branch]] to [[Rangiahua]], unused but can be walked through – easily spotted from SH1 passing Okaihau township. This tunnel is part of the Opua to Horeke Cycleway
*[[Parnell Tunnel]] – single track, on the [[Newmarket Line]], adjacent to the current double-track tunnel. Closed, with no public access.
*Karangahake – 1100 m, in the [[Karangahake Gorge]], on the former East Coast Main Trunk, closed in 1978. Now a combined walkway and cycle path (part of the [[Hauraki Rail Trail]]).
*No.8 tunnel bypassed in 1985 by the Mangaonoho Deviation of the North Island Main Trunk. (The first seven tunnel numbers are from the [[Johnsonville Branch]], the former NIMT line.)
*No.19 tunnel daylighted in 1972, on the section of line bypassed in 1985 by the Mangaonoho Deviation of the North Island Main Trunk.
*[[Mangaonoho railway station#Makōhine Tunnel|No.9 tunnel]] opened out (day-lighted)<ref>New Zealand Railway & Tramway Atlas fourth Ed</ref> at the west end of the Makohine Viaduct in 1984, on the North Island Main Trunk.
*No.10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F tunnels bypassed in 1981 by the Mangaweka Deviation of the North Island Main Trunk. All are on private land.
*No.11 tunnel south of Taihape bypassed in 1985 by a deviation of the North Island Main Trunk.
*No.12 (Hedgehog) tunnel north of Taihape bypassed in 1985 by a deviation of the North Island Main Trunk. Adjacent to State Highway 1. Tunnel no longer exists after a realignment of SH1.
*No.15 tunnel bypassed in 1987 by the Ohakune-Horopito deviation of the North Island Main Trunk. Accessible from one end only.
* Mercer tunnel daylighted in 1937. (A total of 13 tunnels have been removed from the NIMT from Mangaonoho to Mercer. The total length of these removed tunnels is 2,642 metres.)
*[[Poro-O-Tarao Tunnel]] – 1071 m, replaced by new tunnel on a deviation in 1980.
*Four tunnels on the closed [[Moutohora Branch]], lengths (Nos 1 to 4); 185m, 258m, 45m, 90m. One tunnel is accessible on a public walkway, the others can be viewed from public roads.
*Historically one or more tunnels may have been built on the closed [[Ngatapa Branch]] but no trace exists today.
*No 24 tunnel on the [[Palmerston North]] – Gisborne line – 123 m long (collapsed).
*No 12 tunnel – 27m, on the [[Wellington & Manawatu Railway]] (now [[Kapiti Line|Kapiti]] section of NIMT) between [[Paekākāriki]] and [[Paraparaumu]] – abandoned in 1900.
*No. 3, 4 and 5 tunnels on the Palmerston North Gisborne line were daylighted in 2007.
*No.4 ([[Kai Iwi]]) tunnel on the Marton New Plymouth Line was bypassed in 2008.

;Disused rail tunnels, South Island
*Hunts Road – former [[Catlins River Branch]], 221 m long. Public walkway access. This was the southernmost tunnel in New Zealand.
*[[Wyndham Branch|Glenham Branch]], 301 m long. Possible public access. The second most southerly tunnel.
*Spooners Range Tunnel – 1352 m long, on the closed [[Nelson Section]]. Accessible by public walkway, this is the longest disused rail tunnel in New Zealand.
*Kawatiri Tunnel – 185 m long, also on the closed [[Nelson Section]]. Accessible by public walkway.
*No 4 Tunnel – south of [[Oaro]] township on the [[Main North Line, New Zealand|Main North Line]]. Access on foot south of township via a railway bridge.
*Chasm Creek – former Seddonville Branch. Accessible by public walkway.
*Charming Creek – former private coal railway. Accessible by public walkway.
*Former coal tramways at [[Stockton, New Zealand|Stockton]] and [[Denniston, New Zealand|Denniston]]. Public access.
*[[Cape Foulwind]] – former quarry line. Public access but tunnel has largely collapsed.
*Rewanui Incline – two short tunnels now used by access road.
*Puketeraki – 157 m long. Line deviated around in a cutting. Partly collapsed and ends have been fenced over. Abandoned about 1936<ref>http://rsnz.natlib.govt.nz/volume/rsnz_70/rsnz_70_03_004000.html Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Vol 70</ref>
*[[Roseneath, Otago|Roseneath]], [[Dunedin]] – 101 m long, line deviated through new tunnel. Status unknown. Appears to have been filled in at entrances.
*[[Caversham, New Zealand|Caversham]], [http://www.cavershamtunnel.org.nz/briefhist/ Tunnel History] Dunedin – 865 m long, line deviated through new double-track tunnel. Public access to both ends but it is quite muddy. The access down the steps between intersections with Ensor Street and Townleys Road has been fenced off, but easy to get under, on the opposite side of the road to the Caversham entrance of the current tunnel. The old tunnel has been suggested as a possible cycle route linking central Dunedin with its western suburbs.
*Chain Hills (Wingatui) – 462 m long, line deviated through new double-track tunnel.[https://www.panoramio.com/photo/15315649 Tunnel Images] Tunnel gated shut both ends and on private land.
*Three tunnels on the [[Otago Central Rail Trail]] (former [[Otago Central Railway]]), ranging in length from 152 to 229 m. All have public access.
*Three tunnels on the former [[Roxburgh Branch]] ranging from 226 to 443 m. All three tunnels are now part of a rail trail with public access.
*Rakis and Tapui Tunnels on the former [[Ngapara and Tokarahi Branches|Tokarahi Branch]]. Can be seen from roads, on private land.
*Conical Hill – 71 m long, on the former [[Tapanui Branch]]. Public access through walkway.
*Tunnel Hill Historic Reserve – between Balclutha to Owaka, 200 m long,<ref>{{Cite web|title = Clutha Country|url = http://www.cluthacountry.co.nz/Visit/must.html|date = 2009-04-18|accessdate = 2015-08-02|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090418155232/http://www.cluthacountry.co.nz/Visit/must.html|archivedate=2009-04-18 |url-status = dead}}</ref> public access through walkway.
*No.22 Tunnel on the [[Main North Line, New Zealand|Main North Line]]. Daylighted in 1981.
*No.23 Tunnel on the [[Main North Line, New Zealand|Main North Line]]. Daylighted in 1979.

===Road tunnels===
[[File:Mount Victoria Tunnel.JPG|thumb|right|Western portal of SH 1 Mount Victoria Tunnel, Wellington]]
[[File:Okau Road tunnel.jpg|thumb|Eastern portal of the Okau Tunnel, standing on the bridge]]
;On State Highways
* Arras Tunnel – on [[State Highway 1 (New Zealand)|SH 1]] underneath the [[National War Memorial (New Zealand)|Pukeahu National War Memorial Park]] in Te Aro, Wellington, three lanes northbound. Opened 29 September 2014. The tunnel is named after the town of [[Arras]] in France, under which the New Zealand Tunnelling Company dug tunnels during the First World War.
*Awakino Gorge Tunnel – on [[State Highway 3 (New Zealand)|SH 3]] between [[New Plymouth]] and [[Te Kūiti]]. Single lane. This tunnel was permanently closed in mid-2021,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rilkoff |first=Matthew |date=2021-05-20 |title=Historic Awakino gorge SH3 tunnel days away from closing |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/300313373/historic-awakino-gorge-sh3-tunnel-days-away-from-closing |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref> and has been bypassed by two bridges across a corner of the [[Awakino River (Waikato)|Awakino River]], on the other side of the river to the tunnel.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/awakino-gorge-to-mt-messenger-programme/awakino-tunnel-bypass |title=Awakino Tunnel Bypass |work=NZ Transport Agency |accessdate=18 February 2020}}</ref>
*[[Homer Tunnel]] – on [[New Zealand State Highway 94|SH 94]] between [[Hollyford River|Hollyford Valley]] and [[Milford Sound]], [[Fiordland]], 1200 m long. Completed 1953, opened 1954, Mean altitude 945 m. Unlined rock.
*Johnstone's Hill Tunnels – twin tunnels on [[State Highway 1 (New Zealand)|SH 1]] [[Auckland Northern Motorway]] extension (Toll) near Puhoi, 340 m long. Opened 25 January 2009.
* [[Lyttelton road tunnel]] – on [[New Zealand State Highway 74|SH 74]] under the Port Hills between Lyttelton and the [[Heathcote Valley]] in Christchurch, 1900 m long. Opened 1964.
* Moki Tunnel – on [[New Zealand State Highway 43|SH 43]] between [[Whangamōmona]] and [[Taumarunui]], approx 200 m long. Single lane, uses wooden shoring. 
* Mount Messenger Tunnel – on [[State Highway 3 (New Zealand)|SH 3]] between [[New Plymouth]] and [[Te Kūiti]]. This section of State Highway 3 will be bypassed by about 5&nbsp;km of new highway alignment that will include a short tunnel, east of the present tunnel.  NZTA 2017
*[[Mount Victoria Tunnel]] – on [[State Highway 1 (New Zealand)|SH 1]] under [[Mount Victoria (Wellington hill)|Mount Victoria]], 623 m long, opened 1931.
*Paratitahi Tunnels – twin tunnels on [[State Highway 1 (New Zealand)|SH 1]], 11&nbsp;km south of [[Kaikōura]].
*Raramai Tunnels – twin tunnels on [[State Highway 1 (New Zealand)|SH 1]], 14&nbsp;km south of Kaikōura.
*[[Terrace Motorway Tunnel]] – on [[State Highway 1 (New Zealand)|SH 1]] under The Terrace, Wellington, 460 m long. Opened 1978, three lanes (two northbound, one southbound), 
*[[Victoria Park Tunnel]] – on [[State Highway 1 (New Zealand)|SH 1]] in central Auckland, 440m long, 3 lanes of northbound traffic (none southbound). Opened 14 November 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/victoria-park-tunnel |title=Victoria Park Tunnel |date=31 October 2011 |accessdate=1 November 2011}}</ref> The positioning of the tunnel allows a southbound tunnel to be built in the future (project yet to receive construction funding).
*[[Waterview Tunnel]] – on [[New Zealand State Highway 20|SH20]] from Mt Roskill to Point Chevalier in central Auckland. At 2,400m it is the longest road tunnel in New Zealand. It opened on 2 July 2017 as part of the [[Waterview Connection]], carrying three lanes of northbound and southbound traffic as part of Auckland's [[Western Ring Route]]. 
;On other roads
*Okaihau, a short tunnel north of Okaihau constructed for the [[Okaihau Branch]] railway, which is now part of the Opua to Horeke Cycleway.
*Huntly, a short tunnel just outside of Huntley on Rotowaro Road constructed under a mine-site road.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Google Maps |url=https://www.google.com/maps/@-37.5984604,175.0761605,3a,75y,265.07h,78.64t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1seX3n6ZRluKQdSOXDLx9wzQ!2e0!6shttps://streetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com/v1/thumbnail?panoid=eX3n6ZRluKQdSOXDLx9wzQ&cb_client=maps_sv.tactile.gps&w=203&h=100&yaw=68.85261&pitch=0&thumbfov=100!7i16384!8i8192 |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=Google Maps |language=en}}</ref>

In rural [[Taranaki]], all single lane:
*Huinga Tunnel, near the village of the same name, provides access to an isolated valley.
*Kiwi Road Tunnels: the eastern one on Kiwi Road, the western on Moki Road, near Uruti Road.
*Makahu Tunnel on Brewer Road, providing access to the small village of [[Makahu]] (white hawk).
*Matau Tunnel on Mangaoapa Road, connecting Matau and Douglas via Kiore.
*Moki Stock Tunnel, hidden away in the bush to the east of the Kiwi Tunnels.
*Okau Tunnel, approximately 100 m long, on the [[Tongaporutu]]-[[Ōhura]] road 4&nbsp;km from SH 3, which is unusual in that it abuts directly to a bridge.
*[[Tangahoe River#Tunnel|Tangahoe Tunnel]] in South Taranaki – was re-opened in 1997.
*Tarata Tunnel on Otaraoa Road, about 30 m long, built as the hill above was unstable.
*Te Horo Stock Tunnel, near the Whitecliffs Walkway
*Uruti Tunnel on Uruti Road, connecting the Pehu Valley with SH 3. It is both the longest (at about 200 m) and least stable tunnel in Taranaki.  It took seven years to construct and opened in 1923.  Signs at each end recommend not walking through it and stopping is prohibited.  It looks like a mine shaft with its inverted V-shaped top, has a wooden ceiling, and reinforcing planks along its walls.
*Whangamōmona Road Tunnels, two short tunnels, 4WD only
*Fraser Smith Road Tunnel. Short tunnel on gravel road near Awakino. Not to be confused with the Awakino Tunnel on State Highway 3. Provides access to nearby farms.
There are 3 other tunnels on tracks in the Taranaki area; Aukopae (closed), Graylings cattle tunnel, Waikawau beach tunnel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ketenewplymouth.peoplesnetworknz.info/en/taranaki_tunnels/all/topics?number_of_results_per_page=50&page=1|title=All Results in Taranaki Tunnels topics - Taranaki Tunnels - Kete New Plymouth|website=ketenewplymouth.peoplesnetworknz.info|access-date=2016-05-16}}</ref>

In Wellington:
*[[Hataitai]] bus tunnel – 388 m long, single lane – under Mount Victoria; opened 1907 as a [[Wellington tramway system|tram]] tunnel.
*[[Karori]] Tunnel – 74 m long – between [[Kelburn, New Zealand|Kelburn]] and [[Karori]]; opened 1900.
*[[Moa Point]] Tunnel – under the safety zone at the south end of Wellington International Airport's runway.
*[[Northland, Wellington|Northland]] Tunnel – 90 m long – between Northland and Karori, opened 1927.
*[[Seatoun]] tunnel – 144 m long – between Strathmore and Seatoun, opened 1907. <!-- Lengths from NZ Railway & Tramway Atlas -->

==Proposed or planned ==

===Road===
*Kaimai road tunnel – A tunnel through the Kaimai Range in order to provide a better roading connection between the [[Waikato]] and [[Bay of Plenty Region|Bay of Plenty]] regions has been proposed. One option for this tunnel includes building it near the existing [[Kaimai Tunnel|Kaimai Rail Tunnel]].<ref>{{cite news|title=$2 billion Kaimai tunnel proposed|url=http://www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz/news/2-billion-kaimai-tunnel-proposed/1027329/|accessdate=28 November 2011|work=Bay of Plenty Times|date=16 September 2010}}</ref> 
* [[Wainuiomata Tunnel]], part of a proposed road link between the Hutt Valley, north of Wellington, and Wainuiomata.  Eventually completed as a utility tunnel.

===Rail===
*[[Auckland city centre rail tunnel|Auckland City Rail Link]], Auckland. These are paired 3.5&nbsp;km rail tunnels under construction beneath the [[Auckland CBD]] between [[Britomart Transport Centre|Britomart]] and [[Mt Eden]]. Construction began in 2016 and is scheduled to be completed in 2025.

===Mixed Use===
*[[Second Harbour Crossing, Auckland|Second Harbour Crossing]] in Auckland, likely to be a tunnel option that could incorporate the [[Victoria Park Tunnel]]{{Citation needed|date=October 2013}}. While historically a road tunnel was seen as a priority, the present plans are likely to prioritise rail first due to capacity issues of the [[Northern Busway, Auckland|Northern Busway]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20030202155401/http://trains.wellington.net.nz/tunnels.html New Zealand Railway Tunnels at http://trains.wellington.net.nz]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130504211025/http://trains.wellington.net.nz/tunnels2.html New Zealand Railway Tunnels at 31 March 1975 ]
*''Exploring New Zealand's Ghost Railways'', David Leitch and Brian Scott, Grantham House Publishing, Wellington (1995).
*''New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas'', Quail Map Co, UK (various editions)
*[http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/T/TunnelsRailAndRoad/TunnelsRailAndRoad/en ''Tunnels'' in the 1966 Encyclopaedia of New Zealand]

[[Category:Lists of tunnels|New Zealand]]
[[Category:New Zealand transport-related lists|Tunnels]]
[[Category:Railway tunnels in New Zealand| ]]
[[Category:Lists of buildings and structures in New Zealand|Tunnels in New Zealand]]