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

January weather event response

1 February 2026

Community update 3

Kia ora koutou,

This is an update on the state highway network in Tairāwhiti and the Eastern Bay of Plenty following the recent weather event.

This update focuses specifically on the latest emergency response information for State Highway 2 (SH2) Waioweka Gorge and State Highway 35 (SH35) between Pōtaka and Tikitiki.

If you're travelling on the state highways this week, please drive with extreme caution and check Journey Planner or Facebook before you go.

Please note that information in this update may shift at short notice due to weather or other unexpected factors. Information current as at 11am Sunday 1 February 2026.

Current situation

SH2 Waioweka Gorge on State Highway 2 between Ōpōtiki (Eastern Bay of Plenty) and Matawai (Tairāwhiti) remains closed. Preparing for single lane opening and assisted convoys, within coming days.
SH35 Pōtaka to Te Araroa remains closed.
SH35 Ōpōtiki to Pōtaka reopened Friday 30 January.
SH35 Te Araroa to Tikitiki reopened Friday 30 January.
The only detour route open is SH2 Gisborne to Napier/SH5 Napier to Taupō.



	Crews cleared the Goldsmith slip to road level last night (Saturday 31 January) State Highway 2 Waioweka Gorge update Several crews have been focused on clearing 40 slips through the Waioweka Gorge on State Highway 2 between Ōpōtiki (Eastern Bay of Plenty) and Matawai (Tairāwhiti), including 4 - 8 major slip sites. Ōpōtiki side: Significant progress was made on Saturday 31 January with the Goldsmith slip cleared to road level last night. An estimated total of 20,000m3 material moved from this one slip. A blocked culvert near Goldsmith continues to be a major focus and the installation of a new culvert now progressing. Gisborne side: Yesterday the focus was on clearing overslip material, isolating an unstable underslip, drainage clearing and fixing potholes. The road will re-open once it has been made safe and vehicles will initially be under convoy stop/go control. Our team is working through final planning for convoys, and crews are installing barriers and flexi posts to to protect crews and road users, we expect to open one lane within the coming days. Once access is restored, there will be months of recovery work to follow on this stretch of SH2 and it will remain an active worksite. This section of SH2 will remain vulnerable, and when we re-open, we ask people travelling this route to do so with caution, to follow the advice of traffic management crews, be patient and mindful that we may need to close the road at short notice.


	State Highway 35 Pōtaka to Tikitiki update SH35 remains closed between Pōtaka and Te Araroa. Access has been restored between Te Araroa and Tikitiki. Pōtaka to Te Araroa The road is closed. There is still significant damage on this route, with access restricted. Pōtaka to Hicks Bay The road is closed. Crews continued work on a major underslip that needs a retreat (realignment) into the hillside to enable access to be restored. The map below highlights the key damage sites and current road closure status. The map will be updated as assessments continue.



	Photo: This shows the major underslip area


	Hicks Bay to Te Araroa The road is closed. Extensive damage remains, including at the major Punaruku overslip (labelled ‘major overslip’ on above map). Work continues at the slip site. There is still a considerable amount of work to be undertaken, this will be carried out cautiously to manage geotechnical risk to safety of our people and equipment on site. There is also a significant underslip south of Hicks Bay with extensive work required. It is too early to confirm when we will be able to share a reopening timeline. Photo: The Punaruku slip

Tikitiki to Te Araroa

The road is now open between Tikitiki and Te Araroa on SH35.

While this section has reopened, you can expect multiple sites with stop/go temporary traffic lights and reduced speed limits. It's important you follow the traffic management and take extreme care to ensure everyone's safety. The route isn't suitable for sightseeing.

Community travel information

Community travel information
We encourage you to delay travel where possible or allow plenty of extra time if you are taking the long detour via SH2/SH5 via Hawke’s Bay. There is no detour via SH35.

If you have to travel, please do so with extreme caution and be alert for hazards including flooding, debris, newly formed potholes and fallen vegetation on the road.

Report issues on the state highways to 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)

Stay up to date on state highway conditions at NZTA’s Journey Planner.

SH2 Waioweka Gorge road closure information – no change

Ōpōtiki side

Soft closure starts at Warrington Road - 6km south of Opotiki (SH2/35). Resident access only.
Hard closure and no access from Waioeka Pa Road (Opeke Marae access), 2km south of Warrington Road.

Gisborne side

Soft closure starts at Kerei Street, Matawai, 65km in from Makaraka. Resident access only.
Hard closure and no access from Te Wera Road, 7km east of Kerei Street.

Detour status
SH2 Gisborne and Napier and SH5 Napier to Taupō is open. There are some stop/go traffic management sites along the journey – please follow all signage instructions and be patient.

SH35 closure from Pōtaka to Te Araroa remains in place.

Ngā mihi nui

Thank you for your patience while we work to restore access.

Kia kaha, stay safe and thank you for supporting the teams working hard to reconnect Tairāwhiti and the Eastern Bay of Plenty.