Waikato state highway maintenance programme

Saturday 24 January to Friday 30 January 2026

23 January 2026

State highway maintenance and renewals update

State highways with scheduled works starting next week:

• SH3 Ōhaupō
• SH31 Kāwhia Road
• SH1 Putāruru to Tokoroa
• SH1 Tokoroa township
• SH1 Motuoapa
• SH32 Whakamaru Road

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

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

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

Disruption continues over the long weekend

This information is correct as of 2pm Friday 23 January.

Storm damage across the Coromandel Peninsula means road closures and restrictions will remain in parts of the State Highway 25 (SH25) network with some sections expected to take up to 5 days to clear.

Heavy rainfall has triggered multiple slips, debris flows and pavement damage across the network, blocking sections of road and overwhelming drainage systems.
Crews have been working across the peninsula to clear slips, remove fallen trees and assess damage, with teams operating wherever it is safe to do so.

The following sections of state highway are still CLOSED: 
SH25 Coromandel Town to Whitianga
SH25 Whitianga to Tairua
SH25 Whangamatā to Whiritoa 
 
Scheduled to OPEN by 7pm tonight: 
SH2 Paeroa to Waihī
SH25 Hikuai to Whangamatā

Keep up to date on State highways: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
For local roads and services see Thames-Coromandel District Council weather updates page

SH25 Kūaotunu

West Waikato

Work starting next week

SH31 Kāwhia Road: Near Te Rauamoa Road, shoulder and drainage work will start on Tuesday 27 January, this is expected to take 2 weeks. After this is complete the road rebuild will start and is expected to take 6 weeks to complete. Stop/go traffic management will be in place 24/7 with a temporary speed limit while the work is underway.

SH3 Ōhaupō to Te Awamutu: Chipsealing between Ōhaupō and Te Awamutu started on Sunday 18 January and will continue until Friday 6 February. Crews will then return on Sunday 8 February to complete the remaining 4 sections. Work will take place Sunday to Thursday, both during the day and at night. Stop/go traffic management will be in place during the work is ongoing, followed by aftercare on the worksite which will include rolling, sweeping and line marking. More information

Work starting soon

SH23 Massey Street, Hamilton: Resurfacing work will start on Massey Street on Sunday 8 February for 2 nights between 8pm and 5am each night. SH23 between SH1C Greenwood Street and Rifle Range Road will be closed to all through traffic while the work is taking place, a detour will be available via Killarney Road.

SH31 Kāwhia Road: Maintenance will soon begin on a retaining wall on SH31 Kāwhia Road, the work will take around 30 days to complete, more information will be available soon.

SH3 Te Mapara: Work is due to start on SH3 on Monday 9 February and expected to take 6 weeks to complete, drainage work will commence first followed by a road rebuild. There will be stop/go traffic management in place along with speed restrictions from 7am to 7pm each day. The traffic management will remain in place overnight while the road rebuild is ongoing.

Work underway

SH31 Kāwhia Road: Traffic management will continue at various slip sites until repairs are completed, which is currently expected by mid-2026. During this time, motorists may encounter stop/go operations, temporary speed limits, and short delays. Motorists should allow extra time for journeys, follow all temporary traffic management and posted speed limits, and take care through work areas. 

SH1/SH29 Piarere intersection: Work to install streetlight ducting is ongoing with shoulder closures and a reduced speed limit of 60km/h in place on all approaches to the Piarere roundabout. More information

SH3/30 Te Kūiti: Overnight road resurfacing on SH3 between Duke Street and Seddon Street started Sunday 18 January. This work will continue done Sunday to Thursday nights between 8pm and 6am, and is expected to take 3 weeks to complete. There will be stop/go traffic management in place 24/7.

East Waikato

SH29 Hamilton to Tauranga: Due to the number of worksites on SH29 between lower Kaimai Range and Tauriko, please allow up to 20 minutes extra time for travel. Check the NZTA Journey Planner for the latest travel information and journey times before starting your journey: journeys.nzta.govt.nz

Work coming up

SH29 Kaimai Range closures: SH29 Kaimai Range will close for 5 nights, from Sunday 22 February to Thursday 26 February, between 8pm and 3.30am each night (reopening early Friday morning).

These closures are necessary to complete the next phase of stabilisation works on the Ruahihi Bluffs, along with routine maintenance, road marking and surfacing.

The details of the closure are still being worked through, with more information on access and detours to be provided to residents and road users in the coming weeks.

Work on Sunday 22 February will proceed regardless of weather, however the remaining nights are weather dependent with Sunday 1 March to Thursday 5 March the postponement dates.

South Waikato

SH1 Tīrau to Waiouru: As season 2 of the Tīrau to Waiouru Accelerated Maintenance project (T2W) successfully trucks along, with mere months to go till completion, please note that there will be delays on SH1 that will vary according to the work being carried out. You’ll need to allow extra time to complete your journey. Below is a snapshot of the work that’s underway on T2W now.

Work starting next week

SH1 Putāruru to Tokoroa: T2W and additional work will begin on Tuesday 27 January at both ends of SH28 Whites Road and is scheduled to continue until mid-March. The road rehabilitation programme includes the SH1/SH28 intersection, the northern end of Whites Road and the SH5/SH28 intersection. Initial work will take place during the day and will include contraflow and stop/go traffic management. Night works at SH1/28 and SH5/28 intersections will follow once the daytime works are completed. Please expect delays and allow extra travel time during this period. 

SH1 Tokoroa township: Pre-work is underway along SH1/Mossop Road to prepare for rebuilding the road surface. We have 2 sites to complete in Tokoroa township and will begin with rebuilding SH1/Chambers Street, followed by SH1/Mossop Road. Night work is scheduled to begin next week (weather dependent) on SH1/Chambers Street for 3 nights, then move onto SH1/Mossop Road for 11 nights. Work will take place on Sunday to Thursday nights between 7pm and 6am, under stop/go traffic management. While night work is underway, SH1 will remain open under stop/go, entry to and exit from Chambers Street via SH1 will be closed and a local detour available, and Mossop Road will remain open under stop/go when work is underway. Outside of these hours, the road will remain open, with temporary speed restrictions in place through the work zone.

SH1 Motuoapa: A road rebuild will take place on a 650m section of SH1 through Motuoapa from Tuesday 27 January to Thursday 5 March. Crews will remove the existing pavement, replace base layers and lay new asphalt to improve the long‑term condition of the road. Works will occur during the day only, from 6am to 7pm. One lane will be open at all times, with stop/go traffic management in place. A reduced speed environment, pedestrian restrictions and limited parking will apply within the active work area. Access for affected residents and businesses will be managed directly with property owners.

SH32 Whakamaru Road: Day works start Wednesday 28 January and will be ongoing for 5 weeks. The work will take place between 6.30am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday. There will be 2-way stop/go traffic management in place.

SH1 Tūrangi: Repair work to kerb and channel north of Tūrangi by Gosling Grove will start on Tuesday 27 January and continue until Thursday 5 February between 7am and 7pm Monday to Friday.

Work starting soon

SH1 Desert Road: At the beginning of 2025, we rebuilt 5 sites between Tūrangi and Waiouru: Poutu, Puketarata Hill, Mangamate, Oturere and Mangatoetoe-nui. After stabilising the road at these sites, we put down a chipseal surface to protect the layers underneath until the road was ready for the final asphalt layer. Now, the road is ready and the 2 northern sites near Rangipō are being completed at night under stop/go traffic management.
Due to the narrow road width of the 3 remaining sites between SH1 Rangipō Junction and SH1 Waiouru on the Desert Road, they will be completed under overnight road closures from Sunday 15 February to Monday 9 March (weather dependent). Work will take place Sunday to Thursday nights, between 7pm and 6am. All north- and south-bound SH1 vehicles will be detoured via SH41 Tūrangi, SH47, SH4, SH49 to Waiouru and vice versa.
In the event of weather delays, shifts will be rescheduled to the next suitable fine evening. In some cases, work may also be undertaken on a Friday night to make up for the lost shift.

Work underway

SH32 Tihoi area: From Tuesday 20 January for 3 months, Ventia will be doing maintenance on overhead powerlines, between Tihoi Mill Road and Whakamaru Road. There may be short periods of road closures to allow for cables to be hauled across the road.

SH5/SH28 Harwoods Road: There is 24/7 stop/go in place as roundabout construction continues at this intersection east of Tīrau. Traffic is being managed around a temporary roundabout, along with speed restrictions. The roundabout will be completed in March. More information

SH1 Ātiamuri to Wairakei: Overnight stop/go began on Sunday 11 January and is scheduled to continue until late January. We’ll be working on the road on Sunday to Thursday nights from 7pm and 6am, under stop/go traffic management. Outside of these working hours, the road will be open, with temporary speed restrictions throughout the work zone. Please note that additional road work will also be ongoing in this area.

SH1 Tīrau to Putāruru: There will be overnight stop/go from early January to early February to undertake a road rehabilitation at the intersection of SH1/Whites Road.

SH1 Raketapauma (Waiouru South): Road rebuilding started Monday 5 January and continues until the end of January. Stop/go traffic management and a reduced speed limit in place during the day. Some stop/go may be required overnight.

SH49 Volcanic Loop Highway: Day works have restarted between 6.30am and 6.30pm each day near Tangiwai. There is 2-way stop/go in place with a temporary reduced speed limit. The work will be ongoing for 4 weeks.

North Waikato

Work starting next week

SH1 Nikau Road: There will be overnight full southbound closures between Nikau Road southbound off-ramp and southbound on-ramp on Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 January between 9pm and 5am. Please follow the signposted detour to exit via the southbound off‑ramp and re‑enter the motorway using southbound on‑ramp.

SH1 Hampton Downs to Rangiriri: There will be overnight full southbound closures from Monday 26 to Thursday 29 January between 9pm and 5am. The detour available is via Whangamarino Road. 

SH2 between Avon Road and McPherson Road: Stop/go traffic management will be in place on Thursday 29 January between 9pm and 5am for maintenance. Please follow traffic management directions and stop when asked.

Waikato summer renewals map

The map below indicates worksites which may inpact your journeys this summer maintenance season.

More information

For more information on the Waikato state highway maintenance programme, contact us at waikatomaintenance@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/waikato-maintenance

View our state highway maintenance frequently asked questions.

For information about what’s happening with other infrastructure projects across the region please visit Waikato projects website