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Tairāwhiti/Gisborne & Eastern Bay of Plenty combined state highway updateWeather event response |
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20 February 2026 |
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Community update 19Kia ora koutou, Today’s community update covers the latest on the state highway network in Tairāwhiti and Eastern Bay of Plenty. Our updates focus specifically on the latest emergency response information for State Highway 2 (SH2) Waioweka Gorge and State Highway 35 (SH35) between Pōtaka and Tikitiki. Today’s update covers what you can expect for road access this weekend, 21 and 22 February 2026. We don’t anticipate any significant changes in road status this weekend and encourage you to stay up to date via Journey Planner and our official Facebook pages. Our next combined stakeholder update about our ongoing recovery work is planned for Monday, 23 February. The roads are still in a fragile state and conditions can change quickly. We’re doing everything we can to minimise disruption to you and will inform you as soon as we can if there are any short notice changes that impact state highway access. Thank you for your patience during this disruption, we know it hasn’t been easy, and your understanding has helped keep everyone safe. Information is current as at 4PM Friday 20 February |
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Current situation
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SH2 Waioweka GorgeAt the Goldsmith slip, specialist crews have been installing anchors this week for the specialist spider excavator to commence work next week. The excavator will remove loose material from the upper slope to help reduce the risk of further rockfall. Crews are also carrying out drainage improvements, culvert checks and debris clearance to stabilise the site. Approximately 33,000m³ of material has been removed from the whole gorge so far. Next week, crews will install a new culvert at the deep blockage site, continue stabilising other slip sites including the Sandy’s underslip, and clean up stockpiled debris in preparation for upcoming works. Convoys continue 7 days a week and are likely to remain in place for at least another 2 weeks while work progresses:
Gisborne bound:
Ōpōtiki bound: Single-lane areas remain, including the narrowest point at Goldsmiths (4.5m). To date, convoys have safely escorted over 2,000 vehicles. SH2 through the Gorge remains a fragile worksite. Convoys are for essential travel and will proceed only when it is safe to do so. Follow the direction of crews on the ground at all times. Each convoy requires work to pause so crews and road users remain safe. Longer convoys give us less time to work, which slows down progress at the slip site. While geotechnical assessments have confirmed the road is safe under controlled access, we encourage people to carefully consider whether their travel is essential and to plan ahead. Drivers should be prepared for the road to close at short notice if weather conditions or risk assessments change. It is still a worksite and vulnerable – and drivers should not expect normal road conditions. Please continue to check the NZTA Waikato and Bay of Plenty Facebook page for latest updates on the convoys. |
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SH35 Tairāwhiti updateAll sections of SH35 are now open. There are some vehicle and time restrictions between Pōtaka and Te Araroa. Pōtaka and Te Araroa is open between 7am and 7pm. Expect 45-minute delays on top of your normal travel times. There are reduced temporary speed limits along with other traffic management – temporary traffic lights at 5 single lane sections of the road, as well as stop/go where are roadworkers are onsite and working. Potaka to Hicks Bay Truck and trailer units and vehicles weighing more than 18-tonnes can’t travel from Pōtaka to Hicks Bay. While SH35 is an approved HPMV route it is not suitable for truck and trailer units on this section at this point. You will not get through simply due to the current road condition. Hicks Bay to Te Araroa There are no weight or length restriction needed for this stretch of road but, there are single-lane areas and the narrowest section is 3-metres wide and on a tight corner so please take extreme care. |
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Community travel informationWe encourage you to plan ahead, or delay your journey, if possible. If you do need to travel on the roads, please drive with extra care and make sure to check Journey Planner or Facebook before you go for the latest state highway conditions. If you see any issues on the state highways, report them to 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49) |
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Ngā mihi nuiThank you for your patience while we work to restore access. Thank you for supporting the teams working hard to reconnect Tairāwhiti and the Eastern Bay of Plenty. |
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