Takaka Hill, Nelson

Takaka Hill Works Completed

Client : NZTA

Head Contractor : Fulton Hogan

Six months of hard work on Takaka Hill are now complete!

Following the major storm event in 2025, Ground Anchor Systems was engaged by Fulton Hogan and NZTA to deliver the anchored shotcrete and horizontal drainage works across multiple sites on Takaka Hill. The slips caused significant ground movement, elevated groundwater pressures, and a loss of road width, requiring a fast, coordinated response to stabilise the hillside, dewater the slope, and keep this vital State Highway route open.

Ground Anchor Systems, working alongside Fulton Hogan and Stantec, has delivered all site works on this critical project strengthening the only route between Golden Bay and Nelson.

Across the programme we installed 1000m of ground anchors, 350m² of shotcrete, 1700m of horizontal drains, and 2000m² of coconut matting, all while keeping traffic moving through the site.

This was a huge effort from the crew and a project we’re proud to deliver, improving long term stability and resilience on this vital corridor. Even better, it’s been great to see the works performing exactly as intended. Effective, stable, and already proving their value to the route.


A big thank you to all collaborators for their teamwork and commitment throughout this project.

Maitai Flood Improvements, Nelson

Maitai Area 1 Flood Protection Improvements, Portion 5

Client : Nelson City Council

Head Contractor : Fulton Hogan

Ground Anchor Systems are partnering with Fulton Hogan on the construction of a 45m flood wall, delivering additional protection and resilience to the existing flood defence infrastructure in the area.

Our Casagrande C6 is doing the heavy lifting, running a 270mm down-the-hole hammer to drill a total of 34 post holes up to 4m deep.

Where ground conditions demand it, we're deploying a casing system to manage collapsing soils and keep progress on track.

The crew have done great work pushing through in tough weather, and once our steel posts are concreted in, Fulton Hogan will be completing the timber lagging and remaining site works.

Northbank Road, Marlborough

Northbank Road, Marlborough

Client : Marlborough Roads

Head Contractor : Edridge Contracting

Recently Ground Anchor Systems was engaged by Edridge Contracting to complete some light scaling works on the 17km Northbank site in Marlborough.  The brief was to complete light scaling on the 15m high rock face directly above the road and also work through the vegetated north end of site to remove any lager rocks that posed a risk to the traffic below. 

Over two days our crew safely removed a significant amount of material, improving slope stability and reducing hazards along this key stretch of road.

Dodson Valley / Scotia St Waterways - Nelson

Dodson Valley / Scotia St Waterways - Nelson

Client : Nelson City Council
Head Contractor : Kūmānu

Ground Anchor Systems has been engaged by Kūmānu and Nelson City Council to complete three stream bed upgrade projects across Nelson this year. Dodson Valley and Scotia Street have been completed already with Alton Street scheduled for the end of the year.

Each site has its own challenges and varied ground conditions. Both permeated and temporary 600mm casing was used to mitigate collapsing waterlogged ground and allow for the timber poles to be installed. This was driven using our high torque drive unit.

The design includes both timber pole retaining walls and anchored shotcrete acting as scouring protection during flood events.

These projects have been completed in tight time frames and weather windows to reduce the time in the streambeds and minimise the environmental impact and disruption to local residents.

Tennyson Inlet Road - Marlborough Sounds

Tennyson Inlet Road - Marlborough Sounds

Client : Marlborough Roads

Head Contractor : Downer

Keeping the only road into Duncan Bay open is critical for the Marlborough Sounds community.  

We’re at Tennyson Inlet Road completing stage two of the temporary works: drilling and grouting a row of 45‑degree soil nails into the cut face, followed by bitumen cloth, SE62 mesh and walers to secure the slope.  

With this stage wrapped, Downer can safely cut the face again, and we’ll be back next week to install the final four‑metre temporary nails before assisting with the permanent anchors into the block wall.

Maitai Valley - Nelson

Maitai Valley - Nelson

Client : Nelson City Council

Work is progressing well in Maitai Valley for Nelson City Council, where our team is installing 30 rock bolts embedded 6‑metres into the slope to stabilise the hillside.

To complete the drilling safely and accurately, we’re operating from a drill basket suspended by a 60‑tonne crane. Before drilling could begin, the crew manually removed approximately 90m³ of material and vegetation from the slope, a significant challenge given the limited access and the inability to bring machinery onto the face.

Our rope-access team has carried out all clearing work by hand, ensuring the site is prepared to the highest standard.

Once the bolts are installed, they will anchor 180m² of shotcrete, scheduled to be applied as part of the long‑term stabilisation solution.

Princes Road - Nelson

Securing stunning views above the Tasman Bay

Client : Private Residential Development
Scope of Works : Anchored Reinforced Shotcrete Wall Construction

Set high above the Tasman Bay, this residential property has been a long standing project for us, with ongoing stabilisation works carried out since 2009.
Following a significant rain event and subsequent slope movement, our team was engaged to deliver the next stage of remediation. The scope included drilling and installing 21 × 8m ground anchors, reinforced mesh and 16mm steel, and a sprayed concrete finish to provide longterm slope stability.
With steep terrain and restricted access, the use of our skid rig and a spider crane was critical, allowing the works to be completed safely, efficiently, and with significantly reduced manual handling.

After more than a decade of staged works, we’re proud to see this final phase completed and the site secured for our client, all while working in one of Nelson’s most spectacular locations overlooking the bay.

Park Street - Queenstown

Engineering confidence for a Wakatipu lakeside home

Client : Scott Construction New Zealand
Scope of Works : Fully integrated ground-retention package

At Park Street, Queenstown our team has delivered a fully integrated ground‑retention package for a complex urban site. This project brought together everything from ground anchors and bored piles to shotcrete and rope‑access works under one coordinated contract.

This approach allowed us to manage the programme, quality, and risk throughout the early works phase of the project with one point of contact, which is one of the key advantages of working with Ground Anchor Systems.

Our work on this project included:
• Site scaling and preparation
• Installation of multiple anchor rows
• Construction of the bored pile wall
• Reinforcement and shotcrete works to meet high load demands
• Specialist rope‑access rock bolting on a steep, inaccessible cliff face

With the anchors locked off and the retention system complete, the site is now ready for Scott Construction to begin foundation works.

This project is a strong example of what we specialise in, delivering a fully integrated approach to the early works in a project. By working closely with the earthworks contractor, builder, and client, we’re able to provide an efficient, coordinated solution, particularly on sites with complex or challenging ground conditions such as this one.

Ultimately, our role is to give the client confidence, knowing the ground‑retention package is fully managed, technically robust, and tailored to the needs of their project.

Howard Narrows - Nelson

Howard Narrows - State Highway 63, Nelson

Client : Fulton Hogan and NZTA
Scope of works : Rockfall Mitigation Works

Back in May 2025 Ground Anchor Systems was contracted to Fulton Hogan to complete rock fall mitigation works at the Howard Narrows for NZTA.

The works consisted of scaling across 4 sites on the narrow stretch of road. The installation of 86 rock bolts was completed over 15 days of drilling, then a total of 650m2 of Tecco mesh was used to secure the face.

All the drilling was completed using a Crane Basket suspended off a 60ft crane. This allowed for high production and a safer approach compared a traditional A-frame drilling rig.

The onsite geology dictated that a layer of sacrificial Tecco mesh be installed prior to drilling. This then allowed for a top-down approach to stabilise the area with production rock bolts and mesh allowing the drilling crew to work safely below.

This project was successfully completed over a short time frame and in some very challenging weather conditions. The success is due to a strong collaborative approach between Ground Anchor Systems, Fulton Hogan, WSP NZ and NZTA.

Takaka Hill Site B - Nelson

Takaka Hill Site B, Nelson

Client : Fulton Hogan and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
Scope of Works : Anchored Shotcrete

Ground Anchor Systems was engaged by Fulton Hogan and NZTA to deliver the anchored shotcrete works at Takaka Hill Site B following the major storm event in mid 2025. The slip caused significant ground movement and loss of road width, requiring a fast, coordinated response to stabilise the hillside and keep State Highway traffic moving.

Our scope included a 350m² anchored shotcrete wall, two 20 metre ground beams, and 120 nine metre ground anchors. Working directly beneath the highway in an extremely tight corridor, our team sequenced the works to maintain traffic flow while managing multiple active work fronts.

The project began with a four metre strip of shotcrete beneath the highway, followed by construction of the ground beams. This allowed us to track our 23.5 ton excavator onto the beam with a long reach DTE mast to drill the upper anchors, before lowering our 400kg hydraulic skid rig to complete the lower anchors 13 metres below. Shotcrete was applied using our excavator mounted robot where possible, transitioning to hand spray as we reached the limits of machine access.

Despite challenging ground conditions, extreme weather, and a tight pre Christmas deadline, the team delivered a high quality result through strong planning and collaboration with Fulton Hogan and other contractors on site.

Takaka Hill is a lifeline for the region, and we’re proud to be trusted with work that directly supports the daily movement and safety of the local community.

Takaka Hill Site C2 - Nelson

Takaka Hill Site C2, Nelson

Client : Fulton Hogan and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
Scope of Works : Horizontal Drain Install

Ground Anchor Systems was engaged by Fulton Hogan and NZTA to install the horizontal drainage across multiple sites on Takaka Hill following the major storm event in 2025. With significant ground movement and elevated groundwater pressures, deep dewatering was essential to stabilise the slope and keep the highway open.

Using our Casagrande C6 XP2 rig, we’ve been drilling drains up to 70 metres through complex ground conditions, requiring temporary casing and adapted drilling techniques to maintain progress. To date, more than 1,700 metres of drains have been installed across two sites, with works expected to wrap up in mid‑April.

Early results have been extremely positive. Continuous flows from the arrays and monitoring of nearby piezometers show a clear drop in groundwater levels.

Takaka Hill is the only route over the range, relied on daily by locals, freight operators, and visitors. It's a privilege to contribute our expertise to a project that underpins that reliability.

Progress Update: Foundations for the Blanket Bay Glenorchy Solar Array Near Completion

We're thrilled to announce that the foundation works for the Blanket Bay Glenorchy Solar Array are nearing completion! This project is a key part of an innovative solar package led by Queenstown Solar, driving sustainable energy solutions in our region.

Our team at Ground Anchor Systems was engaged to deliver 64 micropile foundations, tailored to tackle the variable ground conditions unique to this location. Leveraging advanced techniques and expertise, we ensured the highest standards of quality and precision throughout the process..

A big shoutout to everyone involved in making this project a success

Active Slip Monitoring

In 2019 heavy weather caused a large slip above a section of the Coppermine Trail between the Maitai Dam and Smiths Ford, Ground Anchor Systems was engaged by the Nelson Tasman Cycle Trust to clear the slip debris from the trail and reinstate the track for use by cyclists and walkers.

The section of track requiring remediation is only accessible via a walking track, because of this vegetated Flex MSE bags where utilized for the retaining structure required to reinstated the track, the Flex MSE bags where filled with media offsite and helicoptered to the slip site to form the track back to its original location.

Following the tracks reinstatement Ground Anchor Systems has undertaken rope access monitoring on a series of datum points placed across the slip, the slip is monitored on a bi-weekly basis or after weather events that exceed a threshold based of rainfall at the Maitai Forks.

This recurring observation ensures this section of the Coppermine Trial is safe for the cyclists and walkers that regularly frequent the track.

Raising the Flag - Nelson Cathedral

Something a little different for the rope access team today.

Vandals at Nelson Cathedral cut the rigging lines that are used to hoist flags high above the cathedral bell tower, with the previous rigging line fully removed we climbed the flag pole atop the tower to install the new rigging lines through the block at the top of the pole so the flag could again be hoisted.

Pole climbing is not a technique often used in rope access, it requires progressively shifting a series of “pole snatch’s” connected to the harness and foot loops and shifting the climbers weight between the harness and foot loops shifting the unloaded snatch one at a time, it is a relatively slow ascent technique used when direct access to the top of the structure is not possible.

The flag has been hoisted and is no blowing in the breeze.