Tairāwhiti/Gisborne state highway update

Weather event response

19 February 2026

Kia ora koutou,

We’d like to advise you that State Highway 35 between Pōtaka and Te Araroa is reopening to road users this morning.

From 7am Thursday 19 February, all sections of SH35 are open, with some restrictions and during specific daylight hours.

The road between Pōtaka and Te Araroa will now be open from 7am to 7pm each day.

The road will be open both ways during this time, you can enter the controlled section during this time only. Expect 45 minute delays on top of normal travel times. There are a lot of active work sites on this 23km section of the road. Outside of these hours, the road will be closed for the safety of road users and crews.

There are restrictions on the types of vehicles that will be able to use the Pōtaka to Hicks Bay section to due to available widths and its current state. Restrictions include:

• No truck and trailer units
• 18T weight limit

There are no restrictions on weight or length on the Hicks Bay to Te Araroa section. Towing vehicles such domestic trailers and horse floats are allowed. There are single-lane areas through this section the narrowest section is 3-metres wide only and on a tight corner.

While SH35 is an approved HPMV route it is not suitable for truck and trailer units on the Pōtaka to Hicks Bay section at this point. You will not get through simply due to the current road condition.

Travellers will encounter stop/go traffic lights at 5 single-lane sections of the road, as well as controlled stop/go where our crews are working and reduced speed limits.

Please travel carefully. While the road is back open, it remains in a fragile state. Just like what we’ve seen at SH2 Waioweka Gorge, conditions can change quickly, meaning the road may need to close again at short notice to keep everyone safe. We’re working hard to minimise disruptions.

Crews will be working on the side of the road on SH35 clearing the debris, improving drainage and opening culverts to reduce the risk of further issues. People should travel with extreme care, follow all instructions and be mindful of workers on the road.

We’d like to thank our crews who have worked tirelessly to get the road open and reconnect our communities along SH35. We’d also like to thank the local community 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 7am Thursday 19 February.

This morning’s update is an additional update to our usual combined Tairāwhiti/Gisborne and Bay of Plenty update. Our next combined update is expected later this afternoon. For SH2 Waioweka Gorge, please continue to check the NZTA Waikato and Bay of Plenty Facebook page for latest updates on the convoys.

Please see some images below showing crews readying SH35 on Wednesday for traffic. And in case you missed it in Tuesday’s update, here is dash cam video of Punaruku Slip.

Crews working on the Punaruku slip site on Wednesday.

The Waikura underslip on SH35.

Community travel information

We encourage you to plan ahead. While SH35 is now open, please drive with extreme care and expect to see our crews still out on the network working.

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)

Ngā mihi nui

Thank you for supporting the teams working hard to reconnect Tairāwhiti and the Eastern Bay of Plenty.