Awaroa/Godley Head near Christchurch has reopened to the public following a successful $1.4 million restoration project. The popular World War 2 coastal defense heritage site now features restored gun emplacements, military structures, walking and mountain biking tracks, a campsite, and bookable accommodation at Lighthouse Cottage.
The reopening ceremony included a sunrise blessing from Ngāti Wheke, highlighting the significance of the site for Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke whānui. Prior to its closure in 2021 due to asbestos and soil contamination, Awaroa/Godley Head attracted over 100,000 visitors annually.
DOC Mahaanui operations manager Andy Thompson expressed excitement about the site’s reopening, emphasizing its cultural and recreational value. The remediation project, which addressed the contamination issues, was a collaborative effort involving Sephira Environmental, ENGEO, Citycare, and Protranz Earthmoving.
The restoration project at Awaroa/Godley Head is a finalist for Best Contaminated Site Remediation Project in the Australasian Land and Groundwater Association Awards 2024. Despite incidents of graffiti and vandalism during the closure, efforts have been made to clean up the site, with ongoing maintenance planned.
Visitors are advised to follow on-site guidelines, including keeping dogs on leads and refraining from digging in capped areas with residual contaminants. The remediation was funded in part by the Ministry for the Environment’s Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund.
