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Weeks of work lie ahead to clear a massive landslide that has fully blocked State Highway 35 on the East Cape, severing vital connections for coastal communities.
East Cape road Closure: Weeks-Long Repair Ahead
A notable landslide has collapsed a section of State Highway 35, cutting off access for residents and disrupting essential services.
- The landslide occurred in Punakaru, near Te Araroa Camp and Hicks Bay.
- Approximately 500,000 cubic meters of material must be removed from the highway.
- Coastal communities between Pōtaka and Tikitiki remain isolated.
- Crews are working to restore access on both sides of Hicks Bay.
The section of roadway near Punakaru, between te Araroa Camp and Hicks Bay, was overwhelmed by the slide following a ferocious storm that swept across the North Island this week. NZTA regional manager for maintenance and operations, Rua Pani, described the situation as the biggest challenge facing the area in the wake of the storm.
“It’s a significant amount of material – around 500,000 cubic meters – that needs to be removed,” Pani said. “We have crews working on both sides of the slip, but the scale of the damage is substantial.”
As of Friday afternoon, water continuing to flow from the 200-square-meter slip.
Further complicating matters, the Taurangakoau Bridge over mangaowira Stream has partially washed away, requiring immediate work to secure access for contractors. Pani cautioned motorists to exercise extreme care in the open sections of State Highway 35, where debris removal is ongoing. “If you don’t need to travel up there it’s not an excellent idea to go tiki-touring to have a look. It is still a construction zone.”
State Highway 2, between Gisborne and Ōpōtiki through the Waioeka Gorge, remains closed, forcing a lengthy detour via Napier and State Highway 5 to Taupō for northbound travelers. “We do acknowledge that detour is really problematic for the community, for businesses, for freight, which is why we are working really hard to reopen state highway 2 at Waioeka, to reopen that link,” Pani added.
Tash Wanoa, Te Araroa civil defense co-ordinator, emphasized the critical importance of State highway 35 for the East Cape communities.”It’s what connects us to health services,lifeline utilities and supplies like Pak’n Save,supermarkets,even fuel,gas,generators,we need State Highway 35 to survive.” Wanoa expressed hope for a swift restoration of access, noting that once both ends of the highway are open, residents of Hicks Bay will have access to Ōpōtiki, while those in Te Araroa can reach Gisborne.
Though, Wanoa highlighted the interconnectedness of the Hicks Bay and Te Araroa communities, emphasizing Hicks Bay’s reliance on the Matakoa health Centre in Te Araroa for healthcare and fuel. Volunteer fire brigades also collaborate closely, and Te Araroa will now need to access St John ambulance services from Ruatoria, a journey of approximately 30-45 minutes under normal conditions.
“It’s really critical that that hill is reinstated, so that we can key lifelines in,” Wanoa stated.