NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi encourages drivers to be responsible for the safety of themselves and others when getting behind the wheel this Matariki weekend. 

Road safety is a responsibility that belongs to us all says Regional Manager Maintenance and Operations for NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Roger Brady. 

“Matariki is a time of reflection and remembering loved ones; be safe on the road so you can get to your destination and celebrate this special time with whānau,” says Roger. 

People across the country are expected to make the most of the long weekend by taking to the roads for a mid-winter break. Every driver can take small steps to ensure their journey is a safe one this Matariki weekend.

Planning ahead and being prepared will ensure you reach your destination on time. 

Key to this is the NZTA Journey Planner (journeys.nzta.govt.nz) which shows incidents and planned works that might disrupt a journey. Check the Journey Planner before leaving home to ensure you have the latest information on the state highway network.   
 
Bay of Plenty 

Tauranga 

·       SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road (TDTR): A reduced speed limit of 80km/h is in place while Takitimu North Link crews are working behind the barriers. More information 

·       Cambridge/Moffat roads: A section of Cambridge Road East from Moffat Road to St Andrews roundabout will be closed while the new intersection joining onto Moffat Road is constructed. Detours and temporary speed limits are in place for the closed section of Cambridge Road East. More Information 

·       SH2 Bay Link: In the coming weeks, daytime lane closures during off-peak hours will be required across the project site for surface inspections. Night works will take place from Monday 1 July to Friday 5 July, from approximately 7pm to 5am, and from Sunday 7 July to Thursday 11 July, from approximately 7pm to 5am. Road closures will be in place across SH2/SH29A Te Maunga interchange, on Maunganui Road (both directions) and of the SH2/Bayfair flyover (note for flyover and Maunganui Road closures will not both be at the same time) for final line marking. Lane closures across the site will also be required during the night shifts. Please follow signposted detours. These works are weather dependent, and closures will vary night to night, depending on site requirements and progress. More Information 

·       SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road: A 2km section of SH2, just past the Kaituna River bridge, will be reduced to a single lane in each direction to allow construction of the Pāpāmoa East interchange to progress. This closure will remain in place for the duration of construction, with a temporary 70km/h speed limit in place.  More information. 

·       SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): The Quayside Properties Ltd-led Rangiuru Business Park Interchange project continues. Temporary barriers are in place until approximately August 2024, with 1 lane available in either direction. A temporary speed limit of 70km/h applies through the site. More information. 

·       SH2/33 Paengaroa: On Sunday 30 June at night, on SH2 between Paengaroa roundabout and Wilson Road North and on SH33 Paengaroa, linemarking will take place. A road marking vehicle will drive along the road to paint new markings, with pilot vehicles either side to warn traffic of the work taking place. Please pass with care. 

Western Bay of Plenty 

·       SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Service relocations are underway between Wharawhara Road and Morton Road, with lane and shoulder closures in place, and daytime temporary speed restrictions. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management which may cause longer delays. Please follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes.  

·       SH2 Katikati: The Humes Pack’N'Cool Fun Run takes place on Saturday 6 July between 9am and 1pm. The start/finish line is on SH2 at the War Memorial Hall then turning left into Talisman Drive. People should be aware of more traffic in and around this location. 

·       SH2 Apata Curves: Road widening works are underway. Lane shifts are in place with speed restrictions. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays.  

·       SH2 Ōmokoroa Road: Shoulder closures and speed reductions are in place near the SH2/Ōmokoroa Road intersection as early works take place ahead of the Western Bay of Plenty District Council-led Ōmokoroa intersection upgrade project. More information.  

·       SH29 Tauriko/Redwood Lane: Work continues on Redwood Lane and on SH29 south of Belk Road and north of Redwood Lane as part of the SH29 Tauriko Enabling Works project. Traffic management including shoulder closures will be in place on SH29 and Redwood Lane. The left-turn slip lanes into Redwood Lane and Belk Road remain closed, while the right-turn bay into Redwood Lane is open. People are asked to drive and cycle with extra care through the SH29/Redwood Lane and Belk Road and adhere to the temporary 70km/h speed limit on SH29 through this section. More information. 

·       SH29 Kaimai Range: The Kaimai Range will be closed overnight from Sunday 14 July to Wednesday 17 July – inclusive – (4 nights), from 8pm to 3.30am to allow road resurfacing and maintenance to take place. The closure points on the western side of the Kaimai Range are at the SH29/24 and SH29/28 intersections and on the eastern side of the Kaimai Range at the SH29/Cambridge Road intersection. Detours are available for all vehicles southbound via Rotorua and northbound via SH2 Karangahake Gorge. Emergency services will have access at all times, residents can access their property from the relevant side of the closure. 

Rotorua 

·       SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: From Monday 1 July for 3 days, there will be a shoulder closure on SH30 near Puketāwhero Park while a new airport light is installed, and the old light removed. On Tuesday 2 July and Wednesday 3 July SH30 will, at times, be reduced to 1 lane between Basley and Iles Road for road testing, with temporary traffic management and speed restrictions in place from 7am to 5pm as these works are undertaken. Later in July there will be a lane closure when work restarts on the culvert near the Motion carpark. A temporary speed restriction of 50km/h is in place between Tumene Drive and the Ōwhata Roundabout. More information.   

·       SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Pavement construction, approximately 6km north of Ōkere Falls, is almost complete. Safety barrier installation has started and is expected to be completed by mid-July. Temporary traffic management is in place including stop/go, lane shifts, shoulder closures and reduced speed limits. Minor delays can be expected. More information 

·       SH30/30A Rotorua:  On Thursday 27 to Saturday 29 June at Puketāwhero Park, SH30 Te Ngae Road, a rugby league tournament will take place from 8am to 3.30pm each day. There will traffic management in place, people should be aware of more traffic and pedestrians in the area. 

Eastern Bay of Plenty 

·       SH2 Waioeka Gorge: Contractors have returned this week to complete the road resurfacing and repairing of the guardrail near Oponae in the Waioeka Gorge, this work is expected to take 2 weeks to complete. 

·       SH34 Kawerau – Tarawera River bridge walkway: Upgrades to the walkway over the Tarawera River in Kawerau continue until mid-July. The old walkway is being demolished and a new steel walkway will be built. There is stop/go in place between 6.30am and 5.30pm Monday to Saturday, when there is no work taking place on site traffic signals will be operating. Scaffolding will be in place under the bridge, so the waterway can be protected, and workers can be kept safe during construction. More information 

·       SH2 Pekatahi bridge: The Pekatahi bridge will be closed for scheduled maintenance for 4 days from Monday 15 July to Thursday 18 July with Friday 19 July a contingency day. Contractors will be repairing and replacing damaged decking planks and undertaking general maintenance. While the work is taking place between 8.30am and 4.30pm each day, a detour for all vehicles will be available northbound via Tāneatua Road, Arawa Road, Hinemoa Street and onto SH30 towards Awakeri, southbound traffic will use the same route in reverse. 

Tairāwhiti Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay 

·       SH5 Napier to Taupō: Recovery alliance Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) continues to progress safety improvements, as well as repair, recovery and maintenance activities at multiple sites on SH5 between Eskdale and Waipunga. While this work takes place, there will be stop/go traffic management, traffic reduced to one lane, and temporary 30km/h and 50km/h speed limits from 7am to 6pm. Temporary speed restrictions will also remain in place at night in some areas. Overall, please expect cumulative delays of up to 40 minutes if travelling the whole of SH5 (Napier to Taupō) and on SH2 from Napier to Tūtira. More information.  

Waikato 

·       A variety of safety improvements across the Waikato continue, these will contribute towards making the roads safer. The programme of works includes a mixture of new and modified signage, new hazard warning signs, roadside safety/barrier guard rail, road widening, improved road lines and improved road markings. It is expected there will be minimal disruption for motorists while this work is completed. The works will take place until the end of July 2024. More information. 

East Waikato 

·       SH25 Coromandel: Drainage repair and clearance is continuing between Waihī and Whiritoa. More information.  

Central Waikato 

·       SH1 Ātiamuri: Road widening work is wrapping up ahead of safety barrier installation, from the Waikato River bridge south to Thorpe Road. There is a mix of speed restrictions through the 6km worksite. 

·       SH1 East Taupō Arterial: Road widening continues ahead of flexible safety barrier installation, between SH5/Napier Road and the airport roundabout. One lane is open in each direction with speed restrictions in place. Completion is expected late July. More information.   

·       SH41 Tokaanu: Due to a washout, the road is down to one lane under temporary traffic lights, with a 30km/h temporary speed restriction in place. Works to repair the washout are due to begin in July and will take 6 weeks to complete. 

West Waikato 

·       SH1C Waikato Expressway - Te Rapa Bypass: Resurfacing work continues at the northern end of the Te Rapa section, with the Horotiu northbound offramp closed for up to 2 weeks and traffic reduced to one lane in each direction and shifted on to the southbound lanes with speed restrictions in place. Early July work will switch to begin on the southbound lanes, with a closure of the Horotiu southbound onramp. More information will be provided when the date for this closure is confirmed. More information. 

·       SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia section: Safety improvements and remedial works continue with traffic managed through the site with a single lane in each direction. Within the current work site there is a temporary speed limit of 80km/h for 2-lane sections, speeds are further reduced to 70km/h and 50km/h for 1-lane sections. Night-time closures and detours are ahead: Southbound closures: 30 June-4 July, Sunday to Thursday, 7pm-5am. Northbound closures: 7-11 July, Sunday to Thursday, 7pm-5am. Detours will be signposted. More information. 

·       SH31 Kāwhia Road: Slip repairs are finishing on Friday 5 July and require a one-day closure on Thursday 4 July, 8am and 5pm. There will be the usual 2 30-minute openings at 11am and 2pm. For the rest of the week the road will be open with traffic management in place.

·       SH1 Karāpiro (Hickey Road): The finishing touches are being applied to the fifth turnaround bay in the SH1 Cambridge to Piarere safety improvements project, just north of Hickey Road. Along with constructing the turnaround bay, we’ve widened the entrance road at the weigh station on SH1, between Hickey and Hydro Roads, and are installing median and side safety barriers. Night shifts are currently occurring Sunday to Friday, between 7pm and 6am, until early July (weather dependent). Motorists should expect delays as there will be periods of alternating stop/go traffic management. More information  

·       SH1 Karāpiro: The finishing touches are being applied to a new section of median barrier between Keeley’s Reserve and Moana Roa Road. Temporary traffic management remains in place, including a temporary speed limit of 50km/h. Work is on track to be completed by late June 2024. More information 

·       SH1/SH29 Piarere intersection: Construction is underway on the southern side of the roundabout, with the Tīrau approach road being built. To safely accommodate this work, traffic south of the roundabout has been moved onto a recently constructed section of road adjacent to SH1. This is a short bypass road which rejoins SH1 before the intersection, which continues to operate as normal. This arrangement is expected to remain in place until September 2024, when construction will start on the next approach road and another temporary layout change will be put in place. More information will be provided to road users ahead of each change in layout. Motorists are reminded to drive with care through the site. A temporary speed limit of 60km/h is in place around the project site to protect road workers and ensure the safety of everyone travelling through the area. More information 

North Waikato 

·       SH1 Pioneer Road: The Pioneer Road northbound off-ramp remains closed. Please continue on SH1 and exit at Pokeno northbound off-ramp, turn around at McDonald Road and head south using Pokeno southbound on-ramp on SH1 to get off at Pioneer Road (South). This work has been extended and will be ongoing until 10 July due to unfavourable weather conditions. 

·       SH2 Koheroa Road: The westbound off-ramp will be closed on Tuesday 2 and Wednesday 3 July between 9pm and 5am for general maintenance to take place. Please use alternative off-ramp at Rawiri Road or Great South Road.   

·       SH2 Rawiri Road to Maxwell Road: Stop/go traffic management will be in place on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 July between 9pm to 5am for maintenance. 

·       SH2 Wyatt Road to Kopuku Road: Stop/go traffic management will be in place on Tuesday 2 and Wednesday 3 July between 9pm and 5am for maintenance.  

·       SH2 Monument Road to Dimmock Road: Stop/go traffic management will be in place on Thursday 4 July between 9pm and 5am for maintenance.  

Taranaki 

·       SH3 Te Ara Tutohu Waitara to Bell Block: Until the end of June, Princess Street will be closed between SH3 and Armstrong Avenue to everyone except residents while roadworks continue. Crews are now ready to start on the final pieces of work for the roundabout and pedestrian underpass. This will include completing the roundabout itself, installing streetlights on SH3, and laying down asphalt. To allow this work to take place safely and efficiently, the temporary roundabout at the SH3/Princess Street intersection has been removed and the road reduced to one lane until late June 2024. During this time stop/go traffic management will be in place, road users are advised to expect delays of up to 5 minutes. A temporary 30km/h speed limit will be in place at all times. The roundabout is expected to be complete by mid-2024. More information.  

·       SH3 Waitara Road, Bell Block: From Monday 13 May until the end of July, there will be a 30km/h temporary speed limit in place on SH3 through the intersections with Waitara Road and Raleigh Street and on Raleigh Street from the intersection of SH3 through to the intersection with Tate Road. SH3 will remain open to two lanes of traffic at all times. There will be no right turn into Raleigh Street. Tate Road, from the intersection with Raleigh Street through to SH3, will be closed to everyone except residents. This will allow workers to complete necessary work on the road in preparation for it connecting with the roundabout. All properties on SH3, Raleigh Street and Tate Road will be accessible for residents during these works. 

·       SH4 Paroparowhero Culvert Replacement: Construction has been progressing well to install the  culvert on State Highway 4 north of Taumarunui, between the intersection of SH43 and Okahukura Bridge Road. The site has been reinstated to two lanes under a temporary speed limit of 30km/h. The site will be held by a temporary seal over the winter months, until it can be fully rebuilt during the summer construction season.  

The above information is accurate at the time of release. Many of the above works are dependent on a number of factors, particularly weather, and may be postponed at short notice. For up-to-date information on road works, traffic, detours and delays, motorists are encouraged to visit the NZTA Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz). 
 
NZTA thanks motorists for their patience while we complete this essential work to keep the state highway network safe, accessible and resilient. 

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

·       Traffic updates: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic

• Facebook: facebook.com/TransportAgency
• Twitter: twitter.com/WakaKotahi_news
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)