UPDATE: The state highways connecting Napier, Wairoa and Gisborne remain open today, despite more rain overnight. State Highway 38 from Frasertown to Lake Waikaremoana remains closed.
That’s the message from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi as the heavy rainfall and strong winds continue in both regions, causing slips, flooding and trees to fall.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is reminding drivers in Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti to continue to expect the possibility of slips and debris on roads.
As at 11.45am
SH2 north of Gisborne is OPEN
SH35 is OPEN
SH2 between Gisborne and Napier is OPEN
SH38 between Frasertown and Lake Waikaremoana remains CLOSED
SH5 Napier – Taupō is OPEN
SH51 is OPEN
SH50 is OPEN
Crews are continuing to temporarily repair potholes, which have developed as a result of the heavy rainfall on the network, as quickly as possible.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi advises all road users on the state highway network today to continue to take care – the rain has eased in parts of both regions, however the ground and the roads are still sodden.
As at 5.45am
SH2 north of Gisborne is OPEN
SH35 is OPEN
SH2 between Gisborne and Napier is OPEN
SH38 between Frasertown and Lake Waikaremoana remains CLOSED, due to active slip
SH5 Napier – Taupō is OPEN
SH51 is OPEN
SH50 is OPEN
Following more rain overnight, temporary traffic management remains in place at a number of sites, including Devil’s Elbow on SH2.
Crews will also be out on the network from first light, temporarily repairing potholes on the network as quickly as possible.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi advises all road users on the state highway network today to continue to take care, drive to the conditions and be alert to possible slips and debris.
While the rain may have eased in some places, the road and ground remains very wet.
Please keep up to date overnight with NZTA’s Journey Planner.
As at 9pm
State Highway 38 from Frasertown to Lake Waikaremoana remains closed this evening.
Heavy rainfall and strong winds have battered both Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay during the day, causing road closures, slips, trees to fall and surface flooding.
SH35 between Gisborne and Tolaga Bay is OPEN. Please note, crews will be leaving flooding warning signs in place as a precaution, in the highest risk areas.
SH35 Awapuni Road, Gisborne, between the intersections of Lytton Road and Banks Street, is OPEN.
SH2 between Putorino and Wairoa is now OPEN, under convoy for all road users. Crews onsite will be piloting traffic from Mitchell Road to Kiwi Valley Road, due to surface flooding.
This may mean there’s a delay for road users, while they wait for the pilot vehicles to begin the convoys. Please be patient while waiting.
Crews will continue to reassess the convoys overnight.
SH38 between Frasertown and Lake Waikaremoana is CLOSED.
Even though many of the highways are currently open, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is strongly advising road users to avoid overnight travel if possible.
It’s important people driving on the roads are alert to the possibility of surface flooding, slips and debris, and travelling at night has the potential to make those risks harder to see.
Crews are monitoring the network; please also expect the possibility of short-notice closures, and keep up to date overnight with NZTA’s Journey Planner.
As at 5pm
SH35 between Gisborne and Tolaga Bay is OPEN. Please note, crews will be leaving flooding warning signs in place as a precaution, in the highest risk areas.
SH35 Awapuni Road, Gisborne, between the intersections of Lytton Road and Banks Street is currently CLOSED. It is expected to be OPEN at 5.30.
SH2 between Putorino and Wairoa is now OPEN, under convoy for all road users. Crews onsite will be piloting traffic from Mitchell Road to Kiwi Valley Road, due to surface flooding.
This may mean there’s a delay for road users, while they wait for the pilot vehicles to begin the convoys. Please be patient while waiting.
Crews will continue to reassess the convoys overnight.
SH38 between Frasertown and Lake Waikaremoana is CLOSED.
Please avoid all unnecessary travel and be alert to the possibility of surface flooding, slips and debris wherever you travel on the state highway network.
As at 3.45pm
SH35 between Gisborne and Tolaga Bay is now OPEN. Please note, crews will be leaving flooding warning signs in place as a precaution, in the highest risk areas.
SH35 at Gladstone Road bridge, Gisborne, will OPEN at 4pm, following debris clearing.
SH35 Awapuni Road, Gisborne, between the intersections of Lytton Road and Banks Street is CLOSED due to fallen trees.
SH2 between Putorino and Wairoa is CLOSED.
SH38 between Frasertown and Lake Waikaremoana is CLOSED.
As at 2.45pm
SH35 between Gisborne and Tolaga Bay is now OPEN. Please note, crews will be leaving flooding warning signs in place as a precaution, in the highest risk areas
SH35 at Gladstone Road bridge, Gisborne, remains CLOSED for debris clearing. Likely to reopen at 4pm. An update closer to the time will confirm this
SH2 between Matawai and Ormond is now OPEN
SH35 Awapuni Road between the intersections of Lytton Road and Banks Street is CLOSED due to fallen trees
SH2 Morere is now OPEN
SH2 between Putorino and Wairoa is CLOSED
SH51 between Waitangi Bridge and Marine Parade, Napier, is now OPEN in both directions.
SH38 between Frasertown and Lake Waikaremoana is CLOSED
As at 1.45pm
SH35 between Gisborne and Tolaga Bay is now OPEN. Please note, crews will be leaving flooding warning signs in place as a precaution, in the highest risk areas
SH35 at Gladstone Road bridge, Gisborne, is CLOSED for debris clearing
SH2 between Matawai and Ormond is now OPEN
SH35 Awapuni Road between the intersections of Lytton Road and Banks Street is CLOSED due to fallen trees
SH2 Morere is CLOSED due to a slip
SH2 between Putorino and Wairoa is CLOSED
SH51 between Waitangi Bridge and Marine Parade, Napier, OPEN for northbound traffic. Southbound lane remains CLOSED
SH38 between Frasertown and Lake Waikaremoana is CLOSED
The heavy rainfall has also caused slips on SH2 between Napier and Putorino and on SH5 Napier-Taupō Road. Please drive to the conditions on these roads, and be alert to all the hazards.
Crews are routinely monitoring the network, assessing damages and the safety of all state highways in the regions.
As at 12.45pm
SH35 between Gisborne and Tolaga Bay is now OPEN. Please note, crews will be leaving flooding warning signs in place as a precaution, in the highest risk areas
SH35 at Gladstone Road bridge, Gisborne, is CLOSED for debris clearing
SH2 between Matawai and Ormond is CLOSED due to flooding
SH2 Morere is CLOSED due to a slip
SH2 between Putorino and Wairoa is CLOSED
SH51 between Waitangi Bridge and Marine Parade, Napier, is CLOSED due to flooding
SH38 between Frasertown and Lake Waikaremoana is CLOSED
The heavy rainfall has also caused slips on SH2 between Napier and Putorino and on SH5 Napier-Taupō Road. Please drive to the conditions on these roads, and be alert to all the hazards.
Crews are routinely monitoring the network, assessing damages and the safety of all state highways in the regions.
As at 11am
SH35 between Gisborne and Tolaga Bay is CLOSED due to surface flooding and a number of fallen trees.
SH35 at Gladstone Road bridge, Gisborne, will be closing at 11.30 until further notice
SH2 between Matawai and Ormond is CLOSED due to flooding
SH2 Morere is CLOSED due to a slip
SH2 between Putorino and Wairoa is CLOSED
SH51 between Waitangi Bridge and Marine Parade, Napier, is CLOSED due to flooding
SH38 Wairoa to Lake Waikaremoana is now OPEN to one lane
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is strongly urging all road users to avoid any unnecessary travel if possible and take extreme care if driving on Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti state highways.
As at 10am
SH35 between between Gisborne and Tolaga Bay is CLOSED due to surface flooding and a number of fallen trees.
SH2 at Turiroa is CLOSED due to flooding
SH2 between Matawai and Gisborne is CLOSED due to flooding
SH2 at Mohaka is CLOSED due to a slip
SH2 at Morere is CLOSED due to a slip
SH51 between Waitangi Bridge and Marine Parade, Napier, is CLOSED due to flooding
SH38 Wairoa to Lake Waikaremoana is now OPEN to one lane
In addition, there have been numerous reports of fallen trees, slips and surface flooding around other parts of the network.
Please be on the look out for any surface flooding, debris from trees or slips. Please drive to the conditions, take extreme care and avoid all unnecessary travel.
Keep up to date with NZTA’s Journey Planner.
8am update
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is reiterating its message to road users to avoid all unnecessary travel on Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti state highways.
Metservice warnings for both Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay remain in place for much of today.
As at 8am
SH35 between between Gisborne and Tolaga Bay is CLOSED due to surface flooding and a number of fallen trees.
SH2 at Turiroa is CLOSED due to flooding
SH38 Wairoa to Lake Waikaremoana is CLOSED due to flooding
Please avoid unnecessary travel and take extreme caution if driving around the regions.
Please be on the look out for any surface flooding, debris from trees or slips. Please drive to the conditions.
5.30am update
State Highway 35 between Gisborne and Tolaga Bay remains closed at least until first light when crews can assess the damage from the heavy rain and strong winds.
Metservice warnings for both Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay remain in place for much of today.
As at 5.30am
SH35 between between Gisborne and Tolaga Bay is CLOSED due to surface flooding and a number of fallen trees.
A stretch of State Highway 51, between Awatoto Road and Clive, was closed for a few hours overnight due to surface flooding – the road reopened around 4am.
However extreme caution is still advised while driving on all parts of the state highway network.
Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations Rua Pani is advising road users to avoid all unnecessary travel on state highways, where the rainfall is heaviest.
“If you do need to travel, please take extreme care, be on the look out for any surface flooding, debris from trees or slips. Please drive to the conditions.”
Please also expect short-notice closures should conditions worsen and keep an eye on the NZTA Journey Planner for any changes.
7.30pm update
State Highway 35 between Gisborne and Tolaga Bay is currently closed due to surface flooding and a number of fallen trees.
Heavy rainfall and strong wind warnings are in place, and flooding has caused road closures on the state highway network during the afternoon and surface flooding in other parts of the network.
Please avoid all unnecessary travel.
Contractors will reassess the closed stretch of SH35 at first light, given the current high winds in the area.
As at 7.30pm
SH35 between between Gisborne and Tolaga Bay CLOSED due to surface flooding and a number of fallen trees.
Surface flooding has been reported around a number of other parts of the network including:
Extreme caution is advised in these areas.
Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations Rua Pani is advising road users to avoid all unnecessary travel on State Highways, where the rainfall is heaviest.
“If you do need to travel, please take extreme care, be on the look out for any surface flooding, debris from trees or slips. Please drive to the conditions.”
Keep up to date with NZTA’s Journey Planner.
6.10pm update
State Highway 35 at Hikuwai has now reopened.
Heavy rainfall and strong wind warnings remain in place across Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay and a number of areas have experienced surface flooding.
As at 6.15pm
SH35 between Tokomaru Bay and Tolaga Bay has REOPENED. Surface flooding has subsided.
Surface flooding has been reported around a number of other parts of the network including:
Crews have cut back a fallen tree this evening on SH35 just south of Tolaga Bay to clear the road.
Caution in these areas is advised.
Crews are continuing to closely monitor the state highways while the Metservice warnings are in place.
NZTA is advising all road users to take extreme care, especially high sided vehicles and motorcyclists in the wind and for those who come across any surface flooding.
It’s really important to drive to the conditions, adjust your speed and following distance when you need to and be alert for the possibility of surface flooding or debris on roads.
Please continue to expect short-notice closures should conditions worsen and keep an eye on the NZTA Journey Planner for any changes.
3.45pm update
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is urging drivers throughout Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay to take care on the roads this evening and into tonight.
Heavy rainfall and strong wind warnings are in place, and flooding has caused road closures on the state highway network and surface flooding in other parts of the network.
As at 3.45pm
SH35 from Anaura Road to Mata Road is CLOSED
SH35 between Tokomaru Bay and Tolaga Bay is CLOSED
NZTA is reminding drivers to be prepared for short-notice closures in other parts of both regions as the heavy rain continues to fall.
Please also be prepared for the possibility for surface flooding on other parts of the network. Currently our crews have had reports of surface flooding on SH5 in Eskdale, SH2 Tangoio to Tutira, SH51 at Awatoto and SH50 at Waiohiki.
Some areas may be down to one lane as a result or have temporary traffic management in place.
2.45pm update
A stretch of State Highway 35 from Anaura Road to Mata Road has been closed due to surface flooding.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is reiterating the message to drivers to be extremely cautious while on the roads today.
As heavy rainfall and strong wind warnings are in place for both regions, crews are out monitoring the state highway network.
Crews monitoring the network are also responding as quickly as possible to any reports of potholes forming as a result of the heavy rainfall. Crews are temporarily filling these potholes as best they can, given the wet weather conditions.
In addition to the closure of a stretch of SH35, surface flooding has been reported in a number of areas, including Waiohiki on State Highway 50, Eskdale on State Highway 5, and a slip on State Highway 35 at Tikitiki.
Those roads remain open but caution is advised. Please avoid travel if possible and drive to the conditions if on the state highway network.
Please also expect short-notice closures should conditions worsen and keep an eye on the NZTA Journey Planner for any changes.
12pm update
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is urging drivers travelling throughout Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti to be extra cautious over the coming days with heavy rain and wind warnings in place.
Metservice has issued a number of warnings for the regions:
Gisborne / Tairāwhiti, south of Ruatoria
Now until midday Wednesday – heavy rainfall warning
Gisborne / Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay from Wairoa north
2pm today until 6am Wednesday – strong wind warning
Hawke’s Bay, north of State Highway 5
Now until 9pm Wednesday – heavy rain warning
Hawke’s Bay, south of State Highway 5
Now until 3pm Wednesday – heavy rain warning
Crews will be closely monitoring the state highways while these warnings are in place.
Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations Rua Pani is advising all road users to take extreme care, especially high sided vehicles and motorcyclists in the wind and for those who come across any surface flooding.
“It’s really important to drive to the conditions, adjust your speed and following distance when you need to and be alert for the possibility of surface flooding or debris on roads.”
Please also expect short-notice closures should conditions worsen and keep an eye on the NZTA Journey Planner for any changes.
