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Tairāwhiti/Gisborne & Eastern Bay of Plenty combined state highway update

Weather event response

17 February 2026

Community update 16

Kia 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:

State Highway 2 (SH2) Waioweka Gorge
State Highway 35 (SH35) Pōtaka to Te Araroa

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 3.30pm Tuesday 17 February

Current situation

SH2 Waioweka Gorge remains closed; before 11am due to a new slip, all convoys were cancelled up to and including the 1pm Ōpōtiki-bound convoy tomorrow.
SH35 Pōtaka to Te Araroa remains closed.
SH35 Te Araroa to Gisborne is open.

The only detour route available is SH2 Gisborne to Napier/SH5 Napier to Taupō.


	SH2 Waioweka Gorge This morning's 7am Gisborne-bound convoy successfully navigated the gorge before the 9am Ōpōtiki-bound convoy was blocked due to a new slip near the Waioweka monument. Crews were able to clear a lane and carefully escort the trapped convoy through. Due to the risk of ongoing slips, the decision was made to cancel all convoys for the rest of today up to and including the 1pm Ōpōtiki-bound convoy tomorrow (Wednesday 18 February). A safety inspection will take place tomorrow to assess the condition of the road before any further convoys take place. Please continue to check the NZTA Waikato and Bay of Plenty Facebook page for latest updates on the convoys. An update will be communicated there in the morning whether tomorrow afternoon's 5pm and 7pm convoys will go ahead. Decisions to cancel planned convoys are not taken lightly, as we know how critical this route is. However, the safety of our crews and everyone using these roads is paramount.

Tairāwhiti update

Our crews are back into working across the network to get SH35 connected as soon as possible


	Te Araroa to Wharekahika/Hicks Bay Remains closed We’ve been working hard to get the road open at the Punaruku slip site. Several drone surveys and walkovers have not identified any major issues or movement of the bottom of the slip so far. We cannot open the road until the team is confident that the risk to the road and our communities are well managed. Geotechnical specialists are on site actively assessing the stability of the slip and the surrounding ground. As well as the physical works, we are working on traffic management planning and preparation so access can be restored promptly once the site is confirmed safe for daytime use. Here is a dash cam video showing the site and how that section is looking.


	Wharekahika/Hicks Bay to Pōtaka This section of SH35 is closed. However, Pōtaka to Hicks Bay piloted convoys for lifeline services, emergency services and residents only restarted Monday afternoon from 4.30pm. Convoys will continue at the times below. Convoys are intended to provide access for residents, lifelines and other essential services only, until further notice. Piloted convoy times 7:00am Wharekahika/Hicks Bay (meet at Hoia) to Pōtaka 4:30pm Wharekahika/Hicks Bay (meet at Hoia) to Pōtaka 7:30am Pōtaka to Wharekahika/Hicks Bay 5:00pm Pōtaka to Wharekahika/Hicks Bay Small slips at Hicks Bay Hill

Community travel information

We 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)

Ngā mihi nui

Thank 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.