Looking ahead to Labour weekend: weather a mixed bag - motorists should plan for delays

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Weather and road conditions offer a mixed bag for those looking forward to Labour Weekend.

Checking with MetService and weather programmes indicates the possibility of a bit of everything, starting with fine weather on Friday.

However MetService has pointed to a low off Northland which is supposed to slowly drift southward, and deliver some rain on Sunday.

That is likely to affect the eastern Bay of Plenty and top of East Cape, and is expected to clear away eastward by Monday.

Road travellers intending to head north  through the Waioeka Gorge and Bay of Plenty should plan for major roadworks and big delays.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency says the section of the Waioeka Gorge between Matawai and Waioeka Pa Road is closed for resurfacing work which began yesterday and no detour is available.

That section is closed again today from 7am to 5pm and on Friday from 7am to 2pm.

Each day there will be just three “windows”  for vehicles  to pass through.

Travellers are warned to expect long delays, with stop/go management only allowing vehicles through for approximately 20 minutes at a time, at 9am, midday and 2pm.

For those travelling on via State Highway 2 through Edgecumbe, major refurbishment has closed a section of the road there.

The road from just outside Edgecumbe to Gow Road is closed, and motorists heading to Tauranga would be advised to take the coast highway through Matata.