Cambridge Water Tower to be restored

Friday, 22 May 2026

More than 10 years after it was first designated as earthquake-prone, Cambridge Water Tower will be restored and strengthened this summer at a cost of up to $2.5 million.

Waipā District Council’s finance and corporate committee voted on Wednesday to strengthen the earthquake-prone landmark which has stood in the centre of Cambridge for the past 124 years.

An earthquake assessment in 2014 found the registered Category 2 heritage building met 25% of the New Building Standard (NBS), meaning the council had to decide whether to remove or restore the water tower. A later assessment found the tower only met 20% NBS.

The project is included in the 2025-34 Long Term Plan. After an initial budget of $1,895,200, it has since been adjusted to $2.5m in the draft 2026/27 Annual Plan to reflect updated cost estimates.

Councillors have asked council staff to find external funding to offset the expected $2.5m cost.

Mayor Mike Pettit said it had been a difficult decision with strong views on both sides, but the outcome reflected a pragmatic path forward.

“It’s not a decision we made lightly, given our financial situation, but we had a clear health and safety obligation to act. The tower is earthquake prone and is right next to the Resthaven retirement village - that’s not something we could ignore.

“When we consulted with the community in 2024, the estimated strengthening cost was $6 million - a figure that made removal the more realistic option. Since then, our staff and engineers have worked hard to find a viable solution for restoration, and that work has paid off.

“The cost has come down significantly, and when you weigh that against the heritage value and the complexity and potential cost of obtaining a demolition consent, strengthening is clearly the right call.”

The committee voted to progress a contract with Hamilton-based engineering specialists Surfprep Limited to carry out detailed design and strengthening works, with the existing water tank retained.

The strengthening solution will use an internal reinforced concrete shell bonded to the inside face of the brick wall, mechanical anchors and new micro-pile foundations. Extensive on-site and laboratory testing was carried out to refine the design and increase cost certainty.

The work also includes a full exterior maintenance programme. This is the first significant maintenance the brick structure, one of only two of its kind left in New Zealand, has ever received.

Work is expected to take place over the 2026/27 summer, subject to resource consent approval.