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Say Hi to Beca in Hawke's Bay
From primary production to roads, transport infrastructure, water, land development and industry growth, Hawke’s Bay is a hive of activity – a lot is expected to continue to change and we’re excited to bring our expertise in multiple engineering industries to help drive this ongoing development.
Say hi to our team in Hawke's Bay who have been working with local customers, providing our full range of engineering and consulting services to support local projects in the region.
Based primarily out of Hastings, we also support clients in Napier and right across the wider Hawke’s Bay region – from councils and infrastructure owners to manufacturers, processors and growers. As part of one of New Zealand’s larger engineering companies, we offer general and custom engineering services that keep essential infrastructure running and help local businesses improve performance, reliability and productivity over time.
Engineering Services in Hastings, Napier, and Around Hawke's Bay
Our Hawke’s Bay team provides a mix of civil, structural, geotechnical, environmental and coastal engineering services, along with mechanical support and project delivery advice. Much of our work is tied to the region’s core strengths – transport links, flood protection, housing, and the processing and movement of food and other products – so we shape our solutions around what those sectors need from their assets and systems.
Whether your project is in Hastings, Napier or elsewhere in the region, we can help with early design services, detailed engineering, and support through construction and maintenance so designs on paper translate into safe, durable builds on the ground.
Road Engineering
Our road engineering work in Hawke’s Bay ranges from local safety improvements and intersection upgrades through to work on key regional routes such as the Hawke’s Bay Expressway and connections that support cyclone recovery. We focus on designs that improve transport reliability and performance while fitting local conditions, traffic patterns and council requirements, whether the job involves new layouts, pavement renewals or realignments to make roads safer and more resilient.
Bridge Engineering
Bridges and culverts are critical to keeping Hawke’s Bay connected, especially where rivers and flood-prone areas sit between communities and key services. We provide structural and civil design for new bridges, strengthening and repair schemes for existing structures, and replacement designs for damaged assets. For each site we look at loads, hydraulics, foundations and constructability so the finished structure can be built, inspected and maintained in a way that supports long-term reliability of the transport network.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering services in Hawke’s Bay often centre on the region’s primary industries and manufacturing base. We work with clients on production lines, food processing machinery and bulk handling systems, from steel and plastics fabrication items through to full systems that integrate conveying, pumping and packaging equipment. Our services cover design, product development input, installation support, maintenance planning and breakdown response, helping plants in sectors like agriculture, horticulture, quarrying, fertiliser and cement keep running safely and efficiently.
Structural Engineering
Our structural engineering solutions support building and infrastructure projects across Hastings, Napier and the wider region, from industrial sheds and processing facilities to commercial buildings and public assets. Designs are developed to suit local ground conditions, seismic demands and environmental exposure, and we are often involved in assessing and strengthening existing structures as well as designing new builds. For industrial clients that can include checking and upgrading frames, platforms, supports and steelwork associated with process equipment to account for safety, performance and any future expansion needs.
Fire Engineering
Fire engineering and fire safety advice helps clients meet life safety objectives and regulatory requirements without compromising how buildings and industrial facilities need to operate. We develop fire safety strategies for new and existing buildings in Hawke’s Bay, including factories, warehouses, public buildings and processing plants, combining prescriptive code pathways with performance-based solutions where standard approaches don’t quite fit. Our work covers things like fire separations, egress, detection and suppression systems and how these interact with the building’s structure and services.
Building Engineering and Consulting
Our building engineering and consulting services bring together structural, services and performance-focused advice for new builds, refurbishments and extensions. We support architects, developers and owners with engineering designs for building fabric and systems, checks on how proposals will perform for occupants and operations, and guidance on aligning with local council requirements. Buildings must work well for the clients and communities they serve, which often requires balancing things like energy use and climate resilience with the realities of construction sequencing, access for maintenance and long-term operating costs.
Our Work in Hawke's Bay
Our Hawke’s Bay team works across the region on projects that keep people, goods and services moving – from roads, bridges and flood protection through to ports, processing plants and coastal resilience. That includes day-to-day engineering solutions for local clients as well as larger programmes that support recovery, protect communities and help primary industries and manufacturers keep operating.
Rebuilding Hawke's Bay After Cyclone Gabrielle
Cyclone Gabrielle left parts of Hawke’s Bay with damaged roads, bridges, stopbanks and coastal margins, and a long list of repairs and rebuilds. Our Hastings-based team has been closely involved in the response and recovery, working alongside councils, Waka Kotahi and other partners on emergency works, temporary connections and more permanent solutions to restore key transport links and protect communities from future floods. That has ranged from assessing damaged structures and infrastructure, through to supporting new and upgraded flood protection, road safety improvements and other works that build long-term resilience for people, farms and businesses across the region.
Te Whiti – Napier Port’s 6 Wharf
Te Whiti – Napier Port’s 6 Wharf is a major piece of infrastructure that future-proofs the region’s main export gateway, and Beca was part of the multidisciplinary team behind its design. The new 350-metre wharf has been built to accommodate larger container, bulk cargo and cruise ships, increasing capacity and improving operational flexibility across the port so Hawke’s Bay producers can move more product reliably to global markets. Our work contributed to a design that balanced structural performance, marine conditions and construction practicality, supporting a project that was delivered ahead of schedule and within its forecast budget.
Ohiti Consequential Flood Assessment
The Ohiti Consequential Flood Assessment is part of Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s programme to improve flood protection after Cyclone Gabrielle, focusing on proposed stopbanks along Okāwa Stream near Omāhu and Ohiti, northwest of Hastings. Beca was engaged to review the flood modelling for new Ohiti Road and Taihape Road stopbanks and to assess how these works would change flood risk for surrounding properties, roads and lifeline infrastructure. Our report weighed up the benefits of reducing flooding on high-risk Category 2C land against any increased depths or hazards elsewhere, providing clear, evidence-based advice to inform consent decisions, future investment and how best to protect communities from severe flooding in a changing climate.
Awards
2023 Civil Contractors New Zealand Hirepool Construction Excellence Awards
Winner – Category 5: Projects over $100M (Napier Port Te Whiti Wharf 6), recognising the construction-led team for delivering one of New Zealand’s largest new wharves ahead of schedule and under budget, with Beca as design partner for the structural, marine and geotechnical works that underpin the facility’s performance.
2022 NZ Spatial Excellence Awards – Hydrographic Excellence Award
Winner – Next Generation Charting for Napier Port, acknowledging the work by Napier Port and Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand to create New Zealand’s first high density electronic navigation chart supporting safe operations around Te Whiti 6 Wharf – part of the wider port development that Beca helped design.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do your services address erosion, flooding and climate change in Hawke’s Bay?
Yes. Hawke's Bay faces ongoing erosion and climate change challenges which require innovative coastal engineering solutions, and our team provides coastal, civil and environmental engineering services that directly address these concerns. Our capabilities include flood modelling and risk assessments, stopbank and bridge design, stormwater and drainage solutions, and coastal protection works that respond to ongoing shoreline change.
Can you help with installation, maintenance and breakdowns?
Yes. Alongside design services, we offer installation support, routine plant and equipment maintenance, and breakdown response to keep your equipment and systems working reliably. In practice that means helping commission new machinery, planning servicing around production windows, and troubleshooting issues on existing plant so performance is restored without delays or safety risk.
Can you help us meet council requirements and safety standards on infrastructure projects?
Yes. We’re familiar with local council requirements, design standards and civil safety processes, and bring these into our designs from the outset. For road and bridge jobs we also carry out safety audits, geometric and structural checks, temporary traffic management input and prepare documentation to support consents and approvals, so your project meets the required standards and can be built and operated safely.
How do you support agriculture, horticulture and food businesses in Hawke’s Bay?
We provide engineering services that help primary producers and processors keep their plants and equipment running safely and reliably, from custom steel and plastics fabrications through to upgrades on conveyors, pumps and other specialist machinery. Our work ranges from one-off repairs and certified design for specific items to broader systems improvements that lift performance, reduce downtime and support compliance with council and industry requirements.
What’s driving demand for engineering services in Hawke’s Bay?
Across Hawke’s Bay, demand for engineering is largely driven by ongoing infrastructure development, the strength of primary industries and a solid manufacturing base. The continued need for new housing, upgrades to public utilities and improvements to transport and flood protection networks means there’s a steady stream of work where engineers can help keep communities, farms and businesses moving. If you’re considering the next step in your engineering career, it’s worth keeping an eye on Beca’s Careers page for roles connected to this ongoing work in the region.