Local innovation paves the way

Wairoa’s locally-made eco-friendly concrete blocks have been used to repair Mahia East Coast Road.

It marks the first time the innovative solution, known as Ecoreef, has been installed in the region.

Ecoreef blocks are manufactured at Quality Roading and Services (QRS) on Kaimoana Road, and offer an effective, sustainable solution for erosion control.

It took just five days for 135 blocks to be installed at the dropout below Kaiuku Marae. A normal solution using gabion baskets could have taken twice as long to install.

Onsite QRS project manager Chris McGregor says the first installation was daunting, but everything went smoothly. “It was a great result for the community as they were not impacted by prolonged road works.”

The original dropout had reduced the road to a single lane with damage still occurring.

“We’re pleased to have been able to use a locally-made product to get it fixed,” says McGregor.

Ecoreef concrete blocks are hexagonal – inspired by one of nature’s strongest shapes. The 600kg blocks are laid in an offset manner and interlocked to create a strong structure below the road, helping to prevent further erosion.

Ecoreef complements QRS’s established strengths in quarrying (Bluck’s Pit) and concrete manufacturing. Staff started making Ecoreef blocks on 18 February and aim to manufacture 20 blocks per day.

Ecoreef inventor and developer Fred Waiker visited Mahia last week offering advice and support during QRS’s first Ecoreef installation.

His company passionately supports New Zealand manufacturing and the creation of jobs that result from it. “We want youngsters to be involved in those sorts of jobs, get their hands dirty, and see a system that works. I really enjoyed working with QRS local staff.”

As well as McGregor, other staff onsite for the first-ever installation included Mohi Smith, Dre Marsh, TJ Tupai and Steve Ryan.

14 April 2025

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