New Zealand’s construction sector is increasingly being asked to deliver stronger, smarter and lower-carbon solutions. The SH26 Onetai Stream Bridge, north of Paeroa, is a practical example of what that shift can look like on the ground.

A finalist in the 2026 Timber Design Awards, the Onetai Bridge replacement was delivered as part of NZTA Waka Kotahi’s Engineered Timber Bridge Initiative. Rather than relying on a conventional steel or concrete superstructure, the project used engineered timber beams and a structural plywood deck to create a wider, safer two-lane bridge with a 100-year design life.

Important lesson

For builders, the important lesson is not only that timber can perform in demanding infrastructure environments. It is that engineered plywood, when properly specified, manufactured and installed, brings strength, dimensional stability and durability to projects where performance matters.

IBuilt was proud to supply the NiuDeck plywood decking system used on the Onetai Bridge. NiuDeck is manufactured by PNG Forest Products and is designed for heavy-duty bridge decking applications. On this project, the plywood deck formed part of a robust timber superstructure capable of carrying state highway traffic loads while supporting faster construction through off-site prefabrication.

Same manufacturing discipline

That same manufacturing discipline sits behind FloorPly14, the plywood flooring panel developed for residential construction. While FloorPly14 is designed for houses, not highways, it draws on the same core principles builders value every day: dependable structural performance, reliable sheet quality, and confidence under load.

For builders, flooring is one of those elements that must simply perform. It needs to stand up to the realities of site work, provide a stable platform for follow-on trades, and contribute to a finished floor system that feels solid for the homeowner. FloorPly14 has been engineered with those practical requirements in mind. It is New Zealand’s strongest pine plywood flooring.

The Onetai Bridge shows what can be achieved when timber products are selected for performance rather than tradition. For residential builders, FloorPly14 offers the same thinking in a familiar application: a strong, consistent plywood flooring solution backed by the experience of a supplier working across both infrastructure and construction markets.

Building Today Magazine - July 2026