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TREC Hawke's Bay recovery update

Issue 26

7 November 2025

Tēnā koe,

In this edition we share the next phase of repairs starting on State Highway 38 (SH38) and take a deep dive into Lake Tūtira underslip repairs on State Highway 2 (SH2). We also take a look at our other recovery sites on SH2 that are part of our final push to complete work along that highway.

Thanks for your ongoing patience and support as we’re heading for the home straight with much of our Hawke’s Bay programme expected to be completed by the end of the year. In January 2026, we will be laying 4.5km of asphalt along SH2 Devil’s Elbow, to complete our works along this stretch.


	SH38 underslip repairs – overnight road closures We’re making steady progress repairing underslips on SH38 which is typical of the kind of damage left behind by Cyclone Gabrielle. We’ve completed 7 sites to date on this stretch of road. Underslips happen on the downhill side of the road and pose a risk to the road above if they aren’t addressed. Because most of the work is out of sight below the road, it can be difficult to see what’s happening when you're travelling by. Our 3 upcoming underslip repairs will restore the road to its original width, improve long-term resilience, and keep communities connected. TREC is carrying out the work with local contractors and in partnership with Ngāi Tūhoe. South of Kaitawa underslips - starting in December 2025 Rosie Bay underslip - starting in December 2025 Whatapo Bay underslip #2 – starting in March 2026 The designs have been developed in partnership with Ngāi Tūhoe. They will use materials to minimise the environmental impact including stainless steel, and biodegradable coconut matting for erosion control. Recovery work to address damage at 2 further sites at Whatapo Bay (underslips #1 and #3) will be delivered in 2026 by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) with timings to be confirmed. SH38 overnight road closures – plan ahead Full closures are required for these underslip repairs because the road is not wide enough to safely work alongside traffic. SH38 between Lake Waikaremoana Holiday Park and Tuai will be closed at night (see map below) over the following dates: Overnight closures: Monday 1 December to Wednesday 17 December 2025 Fully open: over the busy Christmas holiday period (Thursday 18 December 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026) Overnight closures: Monday 5 January to Saturday 28 February 2026 Closure times are 8pm to 6am Sunday to Friday nights (6 nights each week). The road reopens at 6am each morning and will be open on Saturday nights. Day closures will also be required March to June 2026 to complete this work. Information will follow closer to the time with plenty of notice so you can plan ahead. More information.


	SH2 Lake Tūtira on home stretch Repairs are nearly complete at 2 Lake Tūtira underslips on this beautiful lakeside stretch. Lake Tūtira is one of TREC’s 5 active SH2 work sites between Sandy Creek and White Pine Bush. Road widening and temporary guardrails are helping to keep traffic flowing, crew safe, and have significantly reduced the duration of our work. Repairs will stabilise the slopes and strengthen the road above with upgraded drainage helping stormwater flow more easily away from the road. While only 50 metres apart, each underslip has its own repair method based on the damage it sustained: Southern underslip (pictured below) - a 30-metre geogrid-reinforced buttress (supporting structure) and retaining wall has been built. Next comes a new kerb and road shoulder with safety guardrail, and then the road surface will be reinstated. Northern underslip (further up the road, not pictured) - a 32-metre concrete ground beam is being installed. This will be followed by a new safety guardrail, and the road surface will be reinstated. Southern underslip repair work at Lake Tūtira, where a retaining wall is being constructed.


	The final push on SH2 in Hawke’s Bay The spring/summer construction season ramp-up means we have multiple active sites on SH2 between Sandy Creek and White Pine Bush. It’s part of our final push to complete our post Cyclone Gabrielle recovery works on this highway, including sections of new road surfaces for a smoother, safer drive. This final push means some travel disruptions over coming months while we complete this work as quickly as possible. We closely monitor traffic queues throughout to help keep people moving, while also keeping crew and road users safe. Current recovery work includes: Lake Tūtira (as above) – two underslip repairs with this section of road down to one lane. These repairs are on track to be completed by mid-November. White Pine Bush - underslip repairs with the road down to one lane - traffic lights during the day and 2 lanes at night. This is due to be completed by late November. Sandy Creek - a section of road is being rebuilt where we earlier completed underslip repairs. The existing road surface and underlying road structure (pavement) will be removed and replaced with new materials. Traffic lights during the day and at night. This work is expected to be completed by late November. Devil’s Corner (Devil’s Elbow) - the MSE (mechanically stabilised earth) retaining wall work is tracking well on this large complex site with work expected to be completed by Christmas. Devil’s Elbow – the crew is working 24/7 to repair and replace culverts (large pipes) for stormwater improvements to help better manage stormwater runoff. The Devil’s Elbow sites are under traffic lights but to reduce delays where we can, some sites may be joined together under a single stop/go. Tangoio Falls and Te Ngarue – resurfacing these sections of road will be completed during our night closures. Read more about this work and NZTA's summer maintenance programme in the area. The road at Sandy Creek which is getting a new smoother road surface.


	New larger culverts for Devil’s Elbow - overnight road closures reminder From Sunday 16 November to Friday 5 December full overnight road closures will be in place on SH2 between Waikoau Hill, south of Tūtira and Aropaoanui Road. These will be from 9pm to 5am, Sunday to Thursday (5 nights each week). During these closures we’re replacing around 8 culverts (large pipes) with larger ones and repairing others damaged in the cyclone. This will help better manage stormwater runoff, reducing the risk of flooding and erosion. Full road closures are needed as the culverts are under the road and we need to dig out the full road width to replace or repair them. We’re doing this work at night to minimise disruption. During these closures we’ll also complete road resurfacing at both Tangoio Falls and Te Ngarue. If you’re travelling between Napier and Wairoa, please allow enough time to make it to a closure point before 9pm. There is no detour. The night works are weather dependent. The contingency nights are Sunday 7 December to Thursday 11 December, 9pm to 5am each night.


	Asphalting Devil’s Elbow in 2026 - overnight full road closures From Sunday 18 to Friday 30 January 2026 we’ll complete the finishing touches at Devil’s Elbow on SH2 by asphalting a 4.5km stretch of the road. The existing road surface and underlying road structure (pavement) will be removed and replaced with fresh asphalt. This work is being done at night to minimise disruption, with crews and machinery working across both lanes of the road. This will provide a smoother drive over the numerous underslip repairs on this badly damaged section of SH2. We’ll provide reminders of this work in future updates. This work is weather dependent. A contingency week will be in early February if needed. At Devil's Elbow, the Devil’s Corner retaining wall work is tracking well with 22 of 24 layers (being built up from the bottom) complete.


	Keeping our TREC whānau safe We’re gearing up for the summer construction season with our wider TREC whānau, from crew members to local subcontractors. Health and safety sessions are rolling out across the rohe to make sure everyone heads home safe each day. These hands-on workshops are a chance to connect, reset, and get ready for the busy months ahead. Please help keep everyone safe by driving carefully through our worksites. Health and Safety summer safety session at the Kaiwaka Site Office on SH2.


	Site snapshot SH2 Hawke's Bay North (see above for all projects) Underway: Lake Tūtira - repairing 2 underslips. Work is expected to be completed by mid November. White Pine Bush - repairing an underslip and stormwater drainage. Work is expected to be completed by late November. Sandy Creek - road rebuild. Work is expected to be completed by late November. Devil’s Elbow (culverts and Devil’s Corner work) – work is expected to be complete before Christmas. Upcoming: Tangoio Falls road rebuild – planned to start end of November. Te Ngarue road rebuild – planned to start end of November. Devil’s Elbow 4.5km stretch of asphalt - mid January 2026 night closures. SH5 Napier to Taupō Underway (see more details in our spring/summer SH5 Recovery update): Tarawera – two culvert repairs – on track to finish in November. Second coat road seals are underway along this route (sites north of Eskdale and Dillons Hill are complete). SH51 Underway: Tutaekuri Bridge (Waitangi) - permanent repairs focused on 3 key areas: removing debris, concrete repairs to piles in the river, and replacing damaged bracing beams to restore the structural integrity of the bridge. SH38 Upcoming: Work planned for SH38 will require night closures (see above): Work at these sites will include: One MSE (mechanically stabilised earth) buttress at Whatapo Bay. Rosie Bay and South of Kaitawa will require 3 tied retaining walls up to 3.5m high – these require anchors and tie rods below the road to hold the wall top in position.


	Rail - nearly there! We’re in the final stretch of our rail recovery programme. The special on-track ‘ballast cleaner’ machine has been hard at work across our sites, cleaning and screening the track ballast (the stones) to ensure a stable foundation for the rail. This essential work is wrapping up in November, marking a major milestone in our Cyclone Gabrielle rail recovery work. It’s been a huge effort, and we’re almost at the finish line with only work on Rail Bridge 217 carrying on into 2026. Rail Bridge 217 Corrosion protection works by local contractor Napier Sandblasting have commenced. Berm works and span replacements are planned for the New Year.