Hairini Bridge

Hairini Bridge
Image courtesy of Justine Neal

The first pile of the bridge at Hairini, to connect Tauranga with the southern side of the Bay of Plenty, was driven on Friday 7 October 1881. The townspeople were asked to regard the day as a holiday from 1.00pm and to attend the ceremony.  The completed bridge was opened on 6 April 1882 by the County Engineer, Captain Turner. It was the largest structure of its kind in the country.

By 1912 its dilapidated state was causing concern and the Tauranga County Council agreed it needed replacing. It seems some things never change ........ by January 1920 its state was regarded as dangerous and the Council was going to have to make temporary repairs while waiting for the Government to make good its pledge to undertake the construction of a new bridge at the cost of 6,000 pounds (without approaches).