Little Tunnel in the Ōrongorongo Valley is a small but significant piece of infrastructure related to the water supply system for Wellington. Located within the rugged terrain of the Ōrongorongo Ranges, it forms part of the network that transports water from this catchment area to the city.
Little Tunnel was built in 1922 to enable the transport of water from the Ōrongorongo River catchment to the Wainuiomata Waterworks. Measuring 103 metres in length, this unlined tunnel primarily serves to convey water through a pipe. From its construction in 1922 until 2000, the tunnel featured a small railway track that was used for access. The tunnel is part of a system that channels water to the Wellington region. As the name suggests, it is smaller compared to the main Ōrongorongo Tunnel which connects the water supply in the Ōrongorongo to the Wainuiomata Treatment Plant.
