Te Matau-a-Māui – Hawke’s Bay

The forecast $606 million investment in the Hawke’s Bay land transport system during the 2021–24 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) period is targeted at improving safety and resilience while supporting the region’s economy and forecast growth. 

Te Matau-a-Māui – Hawke’s Bay NLTP 2023 update

Our projects

A car driving down a road with cones in the middle.

Safety improvement works to begin on SH5 Napier-Taupō Road

Work started in January 2024 on a range of safety improvements on State Highway 5 Napier to Taupō between Eskdale and Waipunga. Crews are widening the road shoulder and centreline, installing new roadside safety barriers and rumble strips (audio tactile profile) and painting new, longer lasting lines at several sites. Visit the project page for more information.

Safety improvement works on SH5 Napier-Taupō Road

 

A destroyed bridge due to a landslide, with debris scattered around the area. Next to the destroyed bridge is a newly built bailey bridge with construction crew and people inspecting it.

Waikare Gorge Bridge demolition 

We have finished demolishing the old Waikare Gorge bridge on State Highway 2 and clearing all the surrounding debris. Work was paused during wet weather and high river levels at the end of 2023, but we have been back on site in 2024 to complete the job. A big thanks to  the roadworkers putting in the hard mahi so far.

Waikare Gorge safety realignment

Removing the old SH2 Waikare Gorge bridge (video)(external link)

 

An aerial view of a factory and train tracks, showcasing industrial infrastructure and transportation.

SH51 Napier to Hastings safety improvements

We are improving safety on 5km of State Highway 51 between Napier and Hastings. Safety treatments include a new roundabout, flexible median barrier, side barrier and wider centrelines.

SH51 Napier to Hastings safety improvements

Watch a fly-over video of the roundabout construction (video)(external link)

 

A man in an orange shirt and safety vest sweeping the road to maintain cleanliness and ensure safety.

Focus on rural state highways

Making SH2 between Wairoa and Bay View safer is a priority. We are making steady progress on the $32.5m SH2/SH35 passing opportunities project. Four slow vehicle bays have been constructed at Matahorua, Kotemaori, Wharerata and at Waikoau Hill, with another two currently in construction at Mohaka and Kakariki (near Kotemaori). These are in addition to a number of existing slow vehicle bays already on SH2. Unfortunately, a number of sections of SH2 have been significantly damaged by the cyclone and are needing repair.

SH2/SH35 passing opportunities

Cyclone recovery updates

The Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) alliance has been set up to plan, organise and deliver much of the recovery and rebuild work needed on the highway and rail networks in Te Tairāwhiti (Gisborne) and Te Matau a Māui (Hawke's Bay), in conjunction with local businesses and contractors.

Find out more and subscribe to the TREC newsletter at the TREC page on our website:

The Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) Alliance

Read our newsletter

Stay up to date with the latest updates about our work across our region’s state highway network via the Connecting Hawke’s Bay newsletter.

View past issues of the newsletter

Subscribe to the newsletter(external link)

Major work underway

View larger map [PDF, 748 KB]

Maintenance update

Maintenance activity undertaken during 2022/23

  • Rehabilitation (completely rebuilding the road) – 5.2 lane kms
  • Resurfacing (replacing asphalt) – 1.3 lane kms
  • Resealing (adding new layer of chipseal) – 109.5 lane kms
  • SCRIM resealing (improving skid resistance) – 3.7 lane kms
  • Network renewed – 11.3%
  • Total state highway maintenance spend – $19,629,330

Maintenance summary infographic for Hawke's Bay 2022/23 [PDF, 785 KB]

Planned maintenance for 2023/24

  • Rehabilitations – 9.3km
  • Resurfacing – 2.1km
  • Resealing – 124.8km
  • Percentage of network to be renewed – 12.9%
  • Total state highway spend – $16.1m

Planned maintenance infographic for Hawke's Bay 2023/24 [PDF, 1.1 MB]

Consultations

We’re committed to a collaborative approach to transport planning, funding and development. It’s an approach that delivers integrated transport solutions that best meet the needs of New Zealanders. To achieve these results, we seek open and honest consultation across a range of activities with all our stakeholders, including road users, business, local government, communities and iwi.

Current consultations

Past consultations

Plan your journey

Find travel times, incident and roadworks information, and regional traffic updates on the Journey Planner.

Journey Planner(external link)