By The symbolic name of the first tunnel boring machine of the new Central Interceptor was unveiled: “Hiwa-i-te-Rangi.” Earlier, a gathering of students was asked to cast votes for their favorite Matariki star in the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) naming competition.
Matariki is the Māori name for a cluster of stars, representing a notion related to harvest, friendship, etc. To make a New Year resolution, Māori will wish upon Hiwa, which implies “vigorous growth.”
After the the EPB TBM arrival in late 2020 in Auckland, it will run 15 to 110 meters underground between Grey Lynn and the Māngere Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The 4.5m diameter x 13km long wastewater tunnel will increase system capacity to 200,000m3 , and support better inflows to the Māngere Wastewater.
