Iconic Whanganui National Park Landmark Acknowledged With 2025 Enduring Concrete Award

The Mangapurua Bridge – famously known as the Bridge to Nowhere – has been honoured with the 2025 Enduring Concrete Award at the Concrete Construction Awards, held at the Cordis Hotel in Auckland on Thursday 5 June.

The Mangapurua Bridge (Bridge to Nowhere) took home the 2025 Enduring Concrete Award at the Concrete Construction Awards.

Presented by Concrete NZ in partnership with New Zealand Independent Cement, the Enduring Concrete Award recognises legacy concrete structures over 40 years old that continue to serve the community, embodying durability, innovation, and architectural or cultural significance.

Completed in 1936, the Mangapurua Bridge sits deep within the Whanganui National Park and remains a striking testament to early concrete engineering. Spanning 40 metres above the Mangapurua Stream, the bridge replaced a decaying timber swing bridge that once served the isolated valley’s settlers.

Its robust design, advanced concrete formwork, and exceptional durability have stood the test of time for nearly nine decades - requiring only minor maintenance since its construction.

The judging panel noted the bridge’s historical and environmental significance, its enduring service, and the ingenuity of its original construction.

“Despite its remote location, the Bridge to Nowhere continues to captivate around 30,000 visitors each year, offering a powerful reminder of the resilience and permanence of concrete,” said panel chair Ralf Kessel, Head of Architecture at Concrete NZ.

The award celebrates more than structural longevity. “This category pays tribute to concrete’s role in shaping New Zealand’s built heritage. The Bridge to Nowhere is a remarkable example of enduring infrastructure - built with limited technology, yet still outperforming expectations nearly a century on,” said Ralf.

Ownership and stewardship of the bridge rests with the Department of Conservation, who were on hand to accept the award.

Jim Campbell and Josh Adam (Department of Conservation) accept the award from Anthony Jones (NZ Independent Cement).

The biennial Concrete Construction Awards celebrate excellence in concrete design, construction, innovation, rehabilitation and research across nine categories. More than 280 industry professionals attended this year’s event, including architects, engineers, designers, and developers from across Aotearoa.

Previous recipients of the Enduring Concrete Award include Wellington’s Beehive, the Grafton Bridge in Auckland, and the Hawera Water Tower in Taranaki.