Connecting Hawke's Bay

1 July 2024

Tēnā koe,

Welcome back to Connecting Hawke’s Bay, our e-newsletter that provides updates about our work across our region’s state highway network.

Take care when driving following last week’s heavy rain and wind

Our thoughts are with those affected by the weather events last week. We are working hard to repair damage caused by the heavy rain and wind as quickly as possible but please take extra care while out on the roads.

Since Thursday, we have received  numerous reports of new potholes forming on Hawke’s Bay’s state highways – including on SH5 Napier-Taupō Road and on SH2 south of Hastings, towards Central Hawke’s Bay. While hotter, drier weather is needed for permanent solutions such as resealing, crews are out and about around the region temporarily repairing these potholes this week.

State Highway 38 between Frasertown and Lake Waikaremoana remains closed to general traffic, with one lane access for emergency services and residents. Traffic management crews are at the closure points.

It’s important to remember that  weather events can have an emotional impact, particularly given the extreme weather our region has been through, so please take your time on the roads and drive to the conditions so you, your whānau and others get to where you’re going safely. If you see a pothole, slow down and when it’s safe to do so, report it to 0800 4 HIGHWAYS.

For the latest state highway information, please check our Facebook page and Journey Planner, which will be updated with all major developments as we receive them.

For the status of local road conditions please follow Hastings District Council, Napier City Council, Gisborne District Council, Wairoa District Council and Tairāwhiti Civil Defence on Facebook.

If you need flood related support or information, including welfare support, please visit the Hawke's Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management website and Facebook page. 

For more info on the weather event please visit www.metservice.com/warnings

That’s a wrap – SH51 safety improvements are complete

Work to make State Highway 51 (SH51) from Napier to Hastings safer is now complete.

Check out the timelapse video

You can see the work progress between December 2023 and May this year on the YouTube timelapse video. 

Work completed includes:

• A new roundabout to improve safety at the intersection of SH51 and Awatoto Road and reduce delays for people travelling from Awatoto.
• 4.8km of flexible median and side barrier to help prevent head-on and run-off road crashes by stopping vehicles before they hit something harder, like a tree, power pole or oncoming vehicle.
• 2.4km of road and centreline widening to give more space between vehicles. It’s a simple and effective way to steer drivers away from each other giving more time to react and helping prevent crashes if someone makes a mistake.
• Intersection improvements by positioning the SH51/Awatoto roundabout and realigning the road away from the rail level crossing to provide more space for queuing. This helps prevent the risk of vehicles being stopped over the train tracks and improves safety.
• Wider crossing suitable for prams, wheelchair users, cyclists and pedestrians to improve connectivity between Awatoto Road and the beach domain.

In the coming weeks, we’ll start to clear the area of any major construction equipment, traffic cones and temporary signage. You may still see a few crew members around as they complete the finishing touches: landscaping and the last section of the shared-user crossing (over the rail tracks). 

We will then be back to site in approximately 12 months to add the second coat of seal. All renewals receive a ‘second-coat’ seal the year after they are re-built as the initial seal has to settle over time and with traffic going over it. The second coat further strengthens the road over the long-term. (Find out more about this on our website.)

For more information about the project please visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/sh51-napier

Hastings artist Tāmanuhiri Russell

Sculpture to be unveiled near SH51 roundabout soon

A locally created sculpture soon to stand next to the new SH51 roundabout will represent half a millenia since mana whenua first settled there.

Hastings artist Tāmanuhiri Russell, who designed the sculpture, which will be installed later this year, says it aims to acknowledge history and celebrate unity.

“The leadership of Ngāti Pārau were clear that they want to celebrate everyone’s history rather than just Ngāti Pārau,” says the Māori art studio Awa Creative (formerly Awa Ink) co-founder.

Ngāti Pārau are one of seven mana whenua hapū of the Ahuriri/Napier area.

Part of the SH51 safety improvements project, the roundabout’s location is recognised as a culturally significant site.

“Although I am a whāngai mokopuna (adopted grandchild) of this tribe, I was given the opportunity to tell the historical stories of Ngāti Pārau through this sculpture,” Tāmanuhiri says. He studied at both Māori art school Toimairangi in 2011 and Eastern Insititute of Technology in 2016.

“I have taken inspiration of various patterns used by the iwi in the past and tried to bring new life to old patterns to help tell our stories of old, today.”

Some of those patterns are the kōwhaiwhai (a traditional painted pattern), and shapes representing the kāhu (harrier hawk).

“Depictions of manu (birds) flying together acknowledge the different tribes coming together, and that those tribes are still here on their traditional lands today, living in peace with people from different nationalities from around the world that have made a home here in Te Matau a Māui (Hawke’s Bay).”

Machine operator and labourer Arianna Pahuru from Tūpore Infrastructure

Roadworker profile: Arianna Pahuru

After working in hospitality all her life, last year Arianna Pahuru hung up her apron and made the move from Mangakino (north of Taupō) to Hawke’s Bay for a change of scenery – and career.

She has been working for Tūpore Infrastructure as part of the SH51 Napier to Hastings safety improvements team since the start of construction.

As a machine operator and labourer, Arianna is a Jill of all trades—driving rollers, health and safety representative, conducting site inductions, and assisting her team where needed.

Arianna says her workmates are the best part of her job. “Everyones gets stuck in, and are chill and supportive. I didn’t think it’d be like this - especially in a male-dominated industry.”

Currently juggling work with studies towards a Level 4 Civil Infrastructure accreditation at infrastructure training provider Connexus, Arianna credits her team, and in particular her supervisor, Derek Hazelwood, for their support. “My team help me with this by answering any questions I have, and giving me real life examples that would relate to my studies.”

Tūpore also gives her a paid hour a fortnight for her studies. “They help us as much as possible.”

She says the Tūpore team always keep their work and the safer outcomes real and front of mind.  “In our toolbox meetings, we always talk about road safety, and how we all want to go home at the end of the day and so do the public and that’s why we need to do our job properly.”

Arianna, who has whakapapa to Ngāti Porou, appreciates the team’s focus on protecting the trees and land. “We were taught about the trees, and one of my supervisors would do a karakia at the start of mahi to acknowledge our work, and the history of the people and land.”

Arianna says the end result of her work is always rewarding. "The streets are cleaner, and you feel good about what you’ve done and how its contributed to the community."

Arianna's road safety tip: Slow down and be patient, especially around active worksites.

When you see roadworkers out on the road, travel safely through their worksites, follow signage and any instructions you receive, and give them a wave to say thanks for their awesome mahi.

Recovery work continues for our TREC team

Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC), alongside local contractors, continues to undertake recovery work across the Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti state highway network, as well as managing day to day maintenance and operations requirements.

Budget 2024 confirmed approximately $250 million to complete the recovery works.

To date, locally owned and operated companies have completed over 80% of recovery work, and TREC has confirmed this local focus will continue. 

With additional recovery funding confirmed, TREC can now plan ahead to ensure this work is delivered efficiently and effectively. TREC will continue to undertake recovery work alongside local contractors and you'll continue to see a significant number of worksites across the region. 

To keep up with the latest TREC works, subscribe to the e-newsletter. 

Rebuild funding (which looks at delivering improved resilience) will be subject to future funding considerations. Potential rebuild projects will need to seek funding approval from NZTA through the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF).

More information about the Budget 2024 announcement can be found on our website.

Crews have installed roadside safety barrier on SH50 near Ashley Clinton

Safety improvements update: Napier to Taupō and Ongaonga to Takapau

Safety improvements on State Highway 5 (SH5) Napier to Taupō continue, while those from Ongaonga to Takapau are now complete.

There are seven active worksites on SH5 between Eskdale and Waipunga as part of the $13 million safety improvements project.

Crews are installing roadside safety barriers and rumble strips, widening the road, and painting new lines and a wider centreline.

Most of these sites are due to be complete by August 2024, with the exception of the site south of Dillon’s hill (between Eskdale and Glengarry), which is due to be completed later in the year.

Also on SH5, recovery and maintenance work done by TREC will continue throughout winter. You can find out more about the SH5 safety improvements project on our website: www.nzta.govt.nz/sh5-safety.

Meanwhile, further south on State Highway 50 (SH50) and 2 (SH2) crews have completed minor safety improvements including:

• Sealing work and the installation of roadside safety barriers on SH50 near Ashley Clinton
• Installation of rumble strips from SH50 Ongaonga (at Bridge St) to SH2 Takapau.