SH35 Reopens, Reconnecting Tairāwhiti After Major Slips

State Highway 35 will reopen at 7am tomorrow, restoring a critical transport link between Tairāwhiti and the eastern Bay of Plenty after three weeks of isolation caused by severe weather, Transport Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed.

The reopening marks a significant milestone for communities cut off by widespread slips between Pōtaka and Te Araroa, following heavy rainfall and flooding late last month.

Lifeline Restored After Three Weeks

The closure severed access for residents, businesses and freight operators along one of the East Coast's most vital corridors. Communities between Pōtaka and Te Araroa were effectively isolated, relying on limited convoys and constrained access for essential travel.

From tomorrow, SH35 will be open daily between 7am and 7pm, enabling full through-access to Gisborne for the first time since the storm.

"We know how critical this road is for medical appointments, resupplying stores, supporting local businesses, and reconnecting whānau," Mr Bishop said.

Engineering Effort on a Massive Scale

The reopening follows an intensive recovery operation led by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) in partnership with local contractors.

Multiple slips struck the route, but two sites required particularly complex engineering responses:

• Waikura slip, between Pōtaka and Hicks Bay

• Punaruku slip, near Te Araroa — the largest and most challenging site

At Punaruku alone, approximately 250,000 cubic metres of rock and soil collapsed onto and around the highway — the equivalent of roughly 100 Olympic-sized swimming pools of material. Crews have so far removed around 25,000 cubic metres to carve out a safe corridor for traffic.

The recovery has involved:

• Heavy earthmoving equipment operating around the clock

• Geotechnical assessments to stabilise unstable slopes

• Ongoing rock scaling and debris clearance

• Installation of temporary traffic management systems

• Continuous safety monitoring in a high-risk environment

"Shifting this volume of material in difficult terrain and unpredictable weather is no small feat," Mr Bishop said. "Crews have worked tirelessly, often in challenging conditions, to make this reopening possible."

Managed Reopening to Protect Safety

While traffic will resume tomorrow morning, access will remain controlled.

• Road open 7am–7pm daily

• Closed overnight to allow further stabilisation and clean-up

• Single-lane sections in multiple areas

• Reduced speed limits

• Traffic management in place

NZTA has stressed the road remains fragile, with slopes still susceptible to movement, particularly if further heavy rain occurs.

Motorists are being urged to plan ahead, expect delays, and exercise extreme caution.

"The journey will take longer than usual, and safety must remain the priority," Mr Bishop said.

Strengthening East Coast Resilience

The SH35 reopening is the latest in a series of recovery milestones for the region, which continues to rebuild from repeated severe weather events, including Cyclone Gabrielle.

For many along the East Coast, the ongoing presence of high-visibility vests, heavy machinery and road crews has become a familiar sight.

"There is more work ahead to build resilience into this route," Mr Bishop said. "But reconnecting communities is a critical first step."

He acknowledged the patience of local residents and thanked East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick for her advocacy, as well as the crews who worked through adverse conditions to restore access.

Critical Artery for Regional Economy

SH35 serves as a key freight and supply corridor for isolated coastal settlements, supporting:

• Local retail and essential goods distribution

• Forestry and primary sector transport

• Tourism operators

• Access to health, education and social services

The restoration of limited but reliable daily access is expected to ease supply chain pressures and reduce the social and economic strain experienced over the past three weeks.

Further updates on repair progress and road conditions will be provided by NZTA.