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Tairāwhiti/Gisborne & Eastern Bay of Plenty combined state highway updateWeather event response |
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18 February 2026 |
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Community update 17Kia ora koutou, Today’s community update covers the latest on the state highway network in Tairāwhiti and Eastern Bay of Plenty. Specifically, we’re sharing the latest updates on:
If you're travelling tonight and tomorrow, please drive with extra care and make sure to check Journey Planner or Facebook before you go for the most up-to-date state highway conditions. Please be aware that things can change quickly due to weather or other unexpected issues. Information is current as at 4.30pm Wednesday 18 February |
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Current situation
The only detour route available is SH2 Gisborne to Napier/SH5 Napier to Taupō.
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SH2 Waioweka GorgeOur crews worked hard yesterday afternoon to further clear the new slip site near the monument. This morning, rope access teams checked the slip slope while our traffic management crews put barriers in place to keep convoys safe from further rockfall. Geotech gave the all clear for the 1pm convoy to proceed once the concrete barriers had all been installed. The barriers will be positioned close to the centreline to create a 'catch zone' for any further debris. This will bring the site down to a single lane, but with convoys only operating in one direction at a time and other parts of the gorge already at one lane, this will not create any additional delay. Our Waikato-Bay of Plenty Facebook page was updated at 11am to give 2 hours' notice of the expected resumption of convoys at 1pm, and again at 12:30pm to confirm the barriers were all in place and the convoy could run. We are now back to normal convoy schedule through the gorge – with 5pm and 7pm convoys this afternoon and then resuming our full daily schedule tomorrow. The full daily convoy schedule will resume tomorrow on Thursday 19 February as follows:
Gisborne bound:
Ōpōtiki bound: Convoys are likely to continue for at least 2 more weeks whilst the spider undertakes excavation work at Goldsmith site. 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 updateOur crews have been making fantastic progress as we work to reconnect our communities along State Highway 35. Every day brings us a step closer, and we’re pleased with how the work is coming together. We’re confident that we’ll be able to reopen the state highway soon. When that time comes, even with restrictions in place, our local community will be the first to hear the news, followed closely by the wider travelling public. Thank you for your patience and ongoing support as we work to restore safe and reliable access for everyone. Expect an update tomorrow. In the meantime, here are some photos of our progress so far. |
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Hospital Hill |
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Waikura underslip |
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Puranuku slipIn case you missed this yesterday, here is a dash cam video showing the site and how that section is looking. |
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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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