Northland state highway maintenance programme

Saturday 13 December to Friday 19 December

12 December 2025

State Highway 1 (SH1) Towai – completed road rebuild.

Kia ora and welcome

Welcome to the final Northland state highway roadworks update for 2025.

As we wrap up another busy year across the region, our teams are preparing for the annual Christmas/New Year shutdown.

Our contractors will start to get off the state highway network and pause works from midday Friday 19 December 2025, with normal works resuming from Monday 5 January 2026 to help keep traffic flowing over the holiday period.

This e-newsletter will be back from Friday 16 January 2026.

Further below is a quick overview of key sites heading into the shutdown,  the completion of the SH1 Loop Road Safety Improvements project and some summer travel reminders.

Further below, you’ll find a quick overview of key sites ahead of the holiday shutdown, an update on the completion of the SH1 Loop Road Safety Improvements project, and some summer travel reminders.

Stay updated on road conditions before you travel at:  https://journeys.nzta.govt.nz/.

Meri Kirihimete and safe holiday journeys from us all.

Ngā mihi nui,
The NZTA Northland/North Auckland team

Upcoming roadworks

State highways with scheduled works this week:

• SH1 – Mangamuka Gorge, Rangiahua, Waiomio, Akerama, Whangārei Central, Waipu
• SH12 – Kaikohe to Opononi
• SH14 – Opotia Hill

Note: Roadworks may be postponed due to rain or other factors that disrupt the weekly schedule.

Check the NZTA Journey Planner for the latest travel information and journey times before starting your journey: https://journeys.nzta.govt.nz/​.

Information current as at 11:08am on 12.12.2025.

State Highway 1 - Kawakawa to Cape Reinga

State Highway 1 – Southern side of Mangamuka Gorge

• Retaining wall construction has paused for the Christmas/New Years holiday period and the road is scheduled to reopen to two lanes by the end of today (Friday 12 December).
• Work will resume in early January 2026, at which point this section will return to a 24/7 one-lane closure with stop/go traffic management/temporary traffic lights and speed restrictions.
• Completion is expected by late May 2026.

State Highway 1 – Rangiahua

• Monday 15 December to Friday 19 December, during the day, 7am – 6pm.
• Due to chip sealing works, one lane closure with stop/go traffic management and speed restrictions will be in place.

State Highway 1 – Whangārei to Kawakawa

State Highway 1 – Long Hill, Waiomio

• Monday 6 October to Thursday 18 December, during the day, 7am – 5pm.
• Work resumes on Monday 5 January 2026, with completion expected by early March 2026.
• Due to slip repairs, a southbound crawler lane (left lane) closure in the passing area and speed restrictions are in place. Both northbound and southbound lanes remain open.

State Highway 1 – Akerama

• Monday 20 October to Friday 19 December.
• Work hours: 7am – 6pm.
• Due to road rebuilding in this area, 24/7 lane shifts and speed restrictions are in place.

State Highway 1 – Western Hills Drive near Kensington Sports Park, Whangārei

• Sunday 7 December to Monday 15 December during the night, 8pm – 5am.
• Due road resurfacing works, one lane closure with stop/go traffic management/temporary traffic lights and speed restrictions will be in place. 

State Highway 1 – Topuni to Whangārei

State Highway 1 – From The Braigh to Nova Scotia Drive, Waipu

• Sunday 14 December to Thursday 18 December, during the night, 7pm – 4am.
• Due to survey and line marking works, one lane closure with stop/go traffic management and speed restrictions will be in place.

State Highway 10

No significant works scheduled for this week. 

State Highway 11

No significant works scheduled for this week.

State Highway 12

State Highway 12 – Between Kaikohe and Opononi

• Monday 15 December to Friday 19 December, during the day, 7am – 6pm.
• Due to chip sealing works along six sections of the road, one lane closure with stop/go traffic management and speed restrictions will be in place.  

State Highway 14

State Highway 14 – Opotia Hill

• Monday 15 December to Friday 19 December, day and night.
• Due to subsidence work, one lane closure with stop/go traffic management and speed restrictions will be in place.

State Highway 15

No significant works scheduled for this week.

Progress on key worksites pausing over the break

SH1 Mangamuka Gorge (Slip A43): Work is underway to install a new 48-metre retaining wall, following an underslip on the southern side of the gorge in September.  Enabling work is complete, and the permanent piles will be installed in the new year. The road is scheduled to reopen to two lanes by the end of today (Friday 12 December) for over the holiday period. Stop/go returns in early January when construction on the permanent retaining wall resumes, with completion expected by late May 2026. 

SH1 Long Hill, Waiomio: Excavation for slip repairs is progressing well, and the site will be secure for the holidays. A safety barrier will remain in place over the period, which means the south bound crawler (left-hand) lane in the passing area will stay closed. Works pause on 18 December and resume 5 January, with project completion expected by early March 2026. 

SH10 Oromāhoe: Enabling drainage works in preparation for a road rebuild continues until 12 December. All temporary traffic management will be removed over the break and reinstated in early January, with the full road rebuild scheduled through to 5 February 2026.

SH1 Long Hill, Waiomio – excavation underway for slip repair.

Looking forward to the new year

Persistent wet weather in spring and early summer has had an impact on road sealing days, and in some areas, sealing will need to now take place in early 2026. Dry conditions are essential for sealing to ensure proper adhesion and long-lasting results. Sites along SH1 will be a focus early next year as crews work to complete delayed renewals. These locations include SH1 Ruakākā and SH1 Brynderwyns – Kaiwaka – Topuni.

Additional renewal sites, including SH1 Whangārei central and south, SH16 near Inland Road, SH10 Mangōnui, SH12 Ruawai, SH14 Tangowahine, and SH1 Kaiwaka and south of Wellsford, are expected to begin across Northland/North Auckland in January as the summer programme ramps up. There will be more information in the new year. 

SH1 Loop Road Safety Improvements completed

The SH1 Loop Road Safety Improvements project on SH1 South of Whangārei is now completed.

Road users are advised to take extra care due to layout changes and the removal of the temporary speed limit around the site.

There may be some minor works or adjustments taking place over the next few weeks that require the temporary use of cones or signage.

The completed improvements include:

• Installation of a roundabout at the intersection of SH1 and SH15, including dual lanes on the southbound side.
• Improving the safety of the Portland Road intersection with greater visibility and separation from SH1 traffic when turning.
• A new bridge with a higher elevation to accommodate future flood levels.
• A shared path for cyclists and pedestrians.

Getting there safely – top tips for safe holiday driving

With more people on the roads, please plan ahead and take care:

• Check the NZTA Journey Planner before leaving
• Allow plenty of time and be prepared for delays at peak travel periods
• Take regular breaks and watch for signs of fatigue
• Drive to the conditions – whether it’s the weather, road, traffic or time of day
• Avoid distractions and keep phones out of sight
• Ensure everyone is wearing a seatbelt – every trip, every seat
• Check your vehicle is safe to drive before travelling – tyres, brakes, wipers, lights, indicators, cooling system and WOF. A quick check can keep you and your whānau safe and also save you money with better fuel efficiency.

For more information, check out our helpful holiday driving tips: Driving in the holidays.

Thank you for your patience and support throughout another busy year of essential maintenance, improvements and recovery work across the Northland/North Auckland state highway network.

We wish you a safe and relaxing summer break.

More information

Please be aware that there may be other less disruptive state highway works not listed in this newsletter.

For more information on the Northland/North Auckland state highway maintenance programme, contact us at info@nzta.govt.nz or 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 444 449)

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/sh-maintenance-programme/northland-state-highway-maintenance-programme