{{short description|Mountain pass in New Zealand}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox mountain pass | name = Akatarawa Saddle | photo = Akatarawa Road - panoramio (1).jpg | photo_caption = Akatarawa Road in 2005 | elevation_m = 450 | elevation_ref = | traversed = Akatarawa Road | map = New Zealand | location = Wellington, North Island, New Zealand | range = Tararua Range | coordinates = {{Coord|40|56|54|S|175|6|30|E|display=inline,title}} | topo = }} '''Akatarawa Saddle''' is a 450&nbsp;m above sea level mountain pass in the Wellington Region on the North Island of New Zealand. It is traversed by the Akatarawa Road which passes the southern part of the Tararua Range from Upper Hutt southeast to Waikanae northwest. The Akatarawa River flows south into the Hutt River ending in the Cook Strait while waters north of the saddle lead to the Tasman Sea.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz43526/Akatarawa-Saddle/Wellington |title=Topographic map |publisher=NZTopoMap |access-date=11 April 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://gazetteer.linz.govt.nz/place/15242 |title=New Zealand Gazetteer |access-date=1 December 2022}}</ref>

About 1911 surveys were made in the hope of finding a railway route between Upper Hutt and Waikanae,<ref>{{Cite web|date=20 Oct 1911|title=M.P.s', Queries, HOROWHENUA CHRONICLE|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HC19111020.2.14|access-date=2021-04-16|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> but a lengthy tunnel would have been needed,<ref>{{Cite web|date=21 Jun 1916|title=WAIKANAE – AKATARAWA. EVENING POST|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19160621.2.117|access-date=2021-04-16|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> though the route was claimed to be about {{Convert|5|mi|abbr=on}} shorter than the North Island Main Trunk.<ref>{{Cite web|date=23 Sep 1911|title=RAILWAY SERVICES. HUTT VALLEY INDEPENDENT|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HVI19110923.2.5|access-date=2021-04-16|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> Shortages of concrete delayed completion of the road,<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 Jan 1921|title=Hutt-Waikanae Road. HOROWHENUA CHRONICLE|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HC19210128.2.28|access-date=2021-04-16|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> though it was drivable in 1922<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 Oct 1922|title=OUR NEW ROAD. EVENING POST|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19221028.2.120|access-date=2021-04-16|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> and bridges were completed in 1923.<ref>{{Cite web|date=7 Mar 1923|title=PROGRESS ON ROAD WORKS. EVENING POST|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19230307.2.103|access-date=2021-04-16|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref>

== See also == * Akatarawa Valley

== References == {{reflist}}

{{Kāpiti Coast District}}

Category:Mountain passes of New Zealand Category:Landforms of the Wellington Region Saddle Category:Kāpiti Coast District

{{Wellington-geo-stub}}