SH2 Wainui Road to Ōpōtiki

Project update

9 September 2025

The new roundabout at Matekerepu takes shape

Matekerepu Update

Welcome to our September newsletter where you’ll find the latest information about work happening on State Highway 2 (SH2) as part of the safety improvement project between Wainui Road and Ōpōtiki.

Traffic drives past newly poured kerbs at Matekerepu roundabout

What’s been happening at Matekerepu

The site of the Matekerepu roundabout at the intersection of SH2 and Wainui Road has been buzzing with activity over the past month. Much of the recent work has been focused on building the new road, including pouring the first kerbs to form the edges of the roundabout. Kerbs are an important piece of the roundabout and the roads around it. They are poured by placing fresh concrete onto the prepared ground and shaping it, either by hand or with a special machine to create strong, durable edges that help to guide traffic and manage stormwater.

Over the next week, the team will begin stabilising the road, a key step that makes the surface longer lasting, more resilient and safer for all road users. The crew is also planning to pour more kerbs across the site in the coming weeks which will gradually give the roundabout its full shape and structure.

Two lanes of traffic is still being managed through the site, with some being directed to use the widened shoulder. Some stop/go traffic management can be expected throughout the month. Look out for the friendly traffic controllers around the site and always follow their directions.

Fresh seal being laid near Appleton Road on a previous section of the SH2 Wainui Road to Ōpōtiki Safety Improvements Project

The SH2 Wainui Road to Ōpōtiki Safety Improvements Project so far

We’ve made several improvements to keep road users safe between the intersection of Wainui Road and Ōpōtiki on SH2 over the past 4 years. The roundabout being built at the intersection of Wainui Road and SH2 is the latest section and the biggest improvement along the corridor so far.

Beginning at Section 1A in 2021…
We completed road widening and installed roadside barriers between SH2/Wainui Road intersection and SH2/Ōhiwa Beach Road intersection.

A section of W-section barriers or guardrails on Section 1C

Continuing at Section 1 in 2022…
We completed safety improvements at the SH2/Rankin Road intersection. This work included shoulder widening, installing road side safety barriers, and improving the curve in the road to make it easier and safer to navigate. The site (Section 1A) between the SH2 and Wainui Road intersection, Matekerepu and Ōhiwa Beach Road, at Lysaghts Bridge, was also completed.

Busy work at Section 1C in 2023…
Line markings and signage were completed in December 2023 from Waiōtahe Valley Back Road to Woodlands Road (1C). Works were similar to those in Section 1A, with shoulder widening and roadside barriers installed at high-risk locations. This included new roadside barriers through the Pōhutukawa tunnels. We installed more than 4.1km of side barriers consisting of 1.4km of flexible safety barriers and 2.7km of W-section barriers or guardrails. We worked with the local maintenance team to get a fresh layer of chipseal on the road at the same time the barriers were installed. We were also able to extend the side barriers on the section from Kukumoa Cutting to Bairds Road.

2024 sees the beginning of Section 3…
We began construction of a roundabout at the intersection of SH2 and Wainui Road to improve safety and efficiency for all road users. Construction started in April 2025 and is expected to take up to 12 months to complete.

What tool or machine is your favourite, and why?
This one would have to be an excavator due to their ability on tackling a wide variety of tasks.

What’s your favourite thing to do outside of work?
Hobbies are hunting and fishing while exploring NZ with my mates. My current interest now is working through a Private Pilots Licence (PPL) in fixed wing aircraft.

A big thank you to Paul for letting us get to know him a little better, it’s great to meet the people working on site and helping to make the SH2/Wainui Road intersection safer!

Traffic management at Matekerepu roundabout

Thank you

We do our best to minimise impacts to people as they drive through our work site and want to thank the local community for their patience. We’re pleased to be delivering important safety improvements at the SH2 and Wainui Road intersection and looking forward to starting work on the final section in 2026.

More information

For more information on the SH2 Wainui Road to Ōpōtiki project, visit our website nzta.govt.nz/sh2-wainui-road-to-opotiki

If you have any questions, please contact us at bopprojects@nzta.govt.nz