Tairāwhiti – Gisborne 2023 update

Investment in the Tairāwhiti land transport system through the 2021-24 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) is focused on supporting improved access to essential services and increasing resilience of the road network to get goods to market.

The topography of Gisborne — a hilly, mountainous interior, low-lying river plains and coastal flats — makes the region prone to erosion and slips. It is also vulnerable to the impact of climate change and extreme weather. The region’s relative isolation means businesses and communities rely on having access to safe, reliable transport to get their goods to domestic and international markets and to access essential services.

Keeping the land transport system maintained is a large part of the NLTP investment in Tairāwhiti. During the 2021-24 NLTP period, $326 million is forecast for maintenance and operations work across the region. Good progress on road renewal work was made during the 2022/23 summer maintenance season before Cyclone Gabrielle.  Any works that were not able to be completed will be added to the 2023/24 programme.

Tairāwhiti has been hit by a series of significant weather events in the past few years, leaving extensive damage across the region. The scale of damage following Cyclone Gabrielle is significant, and it will take time to repair and rebuild.

Reliable and resilient access

Following Cyclone Gabrielle, the key links into and around Tairāwhiti have been reopened, and we’re using short-term measures to keep the region moving. Recovery works are ongoing.

We’re also working on a Tairāwhiti Wairoa Resilience Strategic Response which identifies a recommended broad rebuild work programme for the region. SH2 (Ōpōtiki to SH2/SH5 intersection), SH35 and SH38 are included in the programme. This work builds on existing strategic work already done in the region, including the Tairāwhiti Roading Package, applying a stronger focus on resilience. All future works are subject to funding.

Through the Tairāwhiti Roading Package (TRP), $13.5 million is being spent improving the reliability and resilience of SH35. This work is ongoing and includes native revegetation, retaining structures, retreats, and coastal erosion protection at 10 sites. Six sites have been completed with the remaining four to be complete by mid-2024.

We’re also investing in improvements through SH2 Waioeka Gorge, a key freight route for Gisborne. A detailed business case for this project was completed before the early 2023 cyclones hit the region. It is now being updated to align with the Tairāwhiti Wairoa Resilience Strategic Response and, subject to funding, could form the initial piece of work to improve the resilience and safety of this key route.

Public transport

In this NLTP, we’re investing $3.6 million to maintain and develop Gisborne city’s public transport services. Funding for an improved ticketing system will see Gisborne’s public transport included in the National Ticketing Solution programme from mid to late 2026.

A strategic review of the city’s public transport system is also underway. The Regional Transport Committee will soon receive changes suggested by the review, aiming to approve recommendations by November 2023.

Road safety

We’re on track to deliver 20 additional passing opportunities along SH2 and SH35, to reduce driver frustration and make overtaking safer. There will be a mix of new slow vehicle bays, extensions to existing slow vehicle bays, widened shoulders and mobile phone laybys. Eight sites are complete and the remaining 12 sites will be completed in the 2023/2024 financial year. This work is part of the Tairāwhiti Roading Package (TRP), at a cost of $33 million. The funding is allocated from Kānoa - Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit and the National Land Transport Fund.

Kānoa - Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit(external link)

Following the implementation of new safer speeds on SH35 in recent years, the way we manage speeds has recently changed. We now need to develop speed management plans with a whole-of-network approach every three years, aligning with the NLTP cycle. As this legislation has come into effect during the current 2021-24 NLTP period, Waka Kotahi has developed an Interim State Highway Speed Management Plan (ISMP) which includes remaining speed-related activities within the current NLTP.

The ISMP’s proposed changes for Gisborne aim to benefit children and their caregivers so they can feel safer walking or biking to kura, and tourists so they can confidently travel through our region to explore its beaches and rural beauty.  Changes to speed limits on other sections of state highways in the region will be considered when we develop the full State Highway Speed Management Plan.

The Waka Kotahi national project, Improving Road Safety with Māori, under Road to Zero Te Ara Ki te Ora involves Te Tairāwhiti as one of the first regions to focus on. The impact of weather events, including Cyclone Gabrielle, has slowed progress on the project, however the work is ongoing, and we remain committed to doing better for Māori, making sure people are getting home safe to their whānau, hapū, iwi and hapori community.

Completed in the last 12 months

• All programmed TAC (asphaltic concrete resurfacing) and SCRIM (skid safety) sites in the region’s 2022/23 summer maintenance programme were completed. The majority of full road rebuilds, and chip seal reseal sites were completed however the programme was disrupted by the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle.
• Improved passing opportunities have been created at five sites along SH35/SH2.
• The detailed business case on resilience and safety improvements on SH2 through the Waioeka Gorge, between Gisborne and Ōpōtiki, was completed.
• A new permanent speed limit was proposed for SH2 through Ormond township, and variable speed limits proposed on SH2 and SH35 outside five schools and one marae.
• We undertook engagement and relationship building with road safety advocates in the region as part of the national Road Safety with Māori project.
• Emergency responses to both Cyclone Gabrielle and other extreme weather events, involving significant repair works to restore the state highway network were considerable.
• Following weather events, urgent work on a Tairāwhiti Wairoa Resilience Strategic Response and a recommended broad rebuild work programme for the region was completed to ensure the future resilience of the state highway network.
• The Transport Recovery: East Coast Alliance was established to lead the design and delivery of physical works on the state highway and rail networks in the region in the coming years.

Underway or about to start

• Using the Government’s initial fund for Cyclone-related emergency repairs and works, we’re improving the resilience of SH2 between Gisborne and the Waioeka Gorge with an extensive asphalting programme. Cyclone recovery work will continue.
• We’re reporting to the Government on recommended longer term broad rebuild work programmes to progress as soon as feasible, and the ranges of funding required. There are still many significant decisions to be made going forward with iwi, hapū, councils, stakeholders and communities.
• Two projects that are part of the low-cost low-risk programme are about to get underway on SH35 at Tatapouri. The first is a rock fence replacement to improve resilience and the second is a safety project to improve the right-hand turn into a busy campground and boat ramp.
• We’re planning for the 2023/24 summer maintenance season. Works not completed last season because of the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle will be added to the 2023/24 programme. We’ll review the planned drainage works programme because some works have been completed as part of the cyclone recovery, and priorities may have changed.

Funding overview

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