Brynderwyn Hills recovery and enabling works

8 April 2024

Traffic on the hill in the early hours of 28 March

We hope you had a relaxing Easter break. During the reopening almost 80,000 vehicles travelled smoothly over the Brynderwyn Hills and got to see the scale of the hard work the team has put in during the closure so far.

Thanks to everyone who has provided feedback on the work to date, it is great to see the interactions with our posts on our Northland Facebook page.  We share your lovely comments with the crew on site and they enjoy hearing how much you appreciate the hard work they have put in over the couple of months.

We’ve also heard from many Northland businesses how busy it was over Easter, with some saying it was the busiest Easter since 2019. Northland Inc’s ‘It’s Northland Time’ campaign is proving to be a real success and we encourage people to visit the beautiful North while the critical recovery works continue.

A reminder the road is now closed again and will reopen Monday 13 May 2024 (12.01am). When driving one of the 3 scenic detour routes we ask all road users to plan their journey and allow extra time to reach their destination.

What's going to happen for the rest of the closure

Over the coming weeks there is still lots of work required before we reopen the road. Check out the work zone map above to see the fill sites where the excavated dirt will be moved to. You can also see where we are building retaining walls to stabilise the downslopes. Other recovery works to be completed include finishing the drainage system to control water runoff, new kerbing and pavement and road resurfacing of the new shoulders.

Specialist equipment profile

Our drone footage and photos have given people a different perspective of the work, providing a bird's-eye view of our progress. Drones have become an essential tool for surveying work zones, monitoring progress and giving us a view we can’t get from the ground.

On the project we use different types of drones to effectively capture the recovery work, the DJI Mavic 3 and DJI Phantom 4 RTK.

DJI Mavic 3: This drone is perfect for our fortnightly "waypoint" flights. Waypoints allow pre-programmed flights so we can use the same path each flyover, making progress assessment a breeze. Additionally, its impressive 40-minute hover time and 30km maximum flight distance ensure comprehensive coverage.

DJI Phantom 4 RTK:  This drone excels at surveying and capturing high-resolution general footage thanks to its top height of 100m.

Drone photo of sites D and E as the road is cleared, ready for the Easter reopening.

Drone photo of fill site A before Easter.

Detour routes during the closure

Along with the Northland Transportation Alliance we urge road users to use official routes rather than alternative local roads, as they have been identified as the most suitable roads to handle the increased volumes and have signage and wayfinding.

Narrow, windy, gravel roads are not suitable for general traffic. Unfamiliar drivers and large vehicles pose a very real safety concern to residents and locals who need to use these roads.

Multiple local roads have restrictions for trucks with trailers and temporary speed limits imposed to protect residents. Others are down to a single lane because of damage suffered through last year’s storm events, meaning they are not necessarily going to be the quicker option. 

We encourage all road users to plan their journey before they leave to make sure they are on the right route for their vehicle.

Team member profile

Meet Pairama Haki Toka

What is your role? I am tasked with moving multiple team members between sites within the closure.  I ensure people are safely transported around heavy machinery and earth moving equipment associated with work on the hill. To do this, we are in constant communication with our operators to ensure safe passage of people between all sites.

What is your connection to the area?  I whakapapa to Te Uri o Hau and Te Rarawa in the Far North. The connection between my genealogy and the whenua plays a big part in the work I do. It is expressed through kaitiakitanga and is based on a relationship with the environment, traditional knowledge and experience, and caring for nature. 

Why is this project special? The Brynderwyn ranges are a gateway to Northland descending the steep, winding highway between Te Uri o Hau (the region and Auckland). The roading project provides significant safety improvements for all road users to and from Northland.  The workplace promotes the ethic of whanaungatanga and I am proud to be involved with a significant restoration project alongside the various contracting companies.

Where is your favourite place in Northland? The whole region is special! The geneology of Kaipara is very significant to me.

Haumoewaarangi te tūpuna kei runga (the ancestor, who began) 

Nāna ka puta Hakiputatomuri (his son)

Nāna i tapa ana uri whakaheke (from him, come many)

Ko ngā Uri o Hau I Kaipara (the many tribes) 

Ko Otamatea te Marae I Kaipara (Otamatea, is my ancestral marae) 

Ko au te whenua, te whenua ko au (I am the land, and the land is me, my relationship to my ancestors, the land, and the sea)

The Kaipara is our food basket.

Tell us something about yourself  I’ve grown up as a hunter and fisherman. I actively contribute and provide kai to sustain whanau at local marae events.

Key information at a glance

SH1 Brynderwyn Hills closed: 3 April (12:01 am) - 12 May (11:59 pm)

Three scenic detour routes

• Cove Road route: Turn off at Kaiwaka, use Kaiwaka Mangawhai Road, Garbolino Road, Tara Road, Cove Road, Nova Scotia Drive and connect back to State Highway 1. (Restrictions are in place for trucks with trailers on Cove Road between Mangawhai Heads Road and McLean Road).
• Paparoa Oakleigh Road route:Trucks and trucks with trailers up to 50 tonnes can use this route.
• SH12/SH14 route: HPMV (high productivity motor vehicles) must use this route.

Local routes contact: 

Whangarei District Council 0800 932 463

Kaipara District Council 0800 727 059

State Highway route contact:

NZTA 0800 444 449

More information

For more information on the SH1 Brynderwyn Hills project, contact us at northlandproject@nzta.govt.nz

Visit the project website www.nzta.govt.nz/brynderwyn-hills