SH2 to Napier a priority in National Party's road package

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

The National Party’s newly-announced East Coast Resilience Transport Package will include the priority upgrading of State Highway 2 between Napier and Gisborne, says East Coast candidate Dana Kirkpatrick.

In the months following Cyclone Gabrielle, many families and businesses had been faced with roading infrastructure damage that has made it difficult to transport both goods and people, she said.

“National is incredibly aspirational for the East Coast and upgrading our roads is key to rebuilding our local economy to help our local businesses get back on their feet.

“I’m thrilled to share this commitment with people in our region and I’ll always be an advocate for better transport infrastructure if I earn the right to represent East Coast as its next local MP,”

Prioritised funding for the upgrades of the Gisborne to Napier route as well as for State Highway 5 between Napier and Taupo and for changing the Hawke’s Bay Expressway from two lanes to four between Hawke’s Bay Airport and Pakipaki will come from the National Party’s $6 billion National Resilience Fund.

Ms Kirkpatrick told the Herald State Highway 2 to Bay of Plenty and State Highway 35 were definitely included in National’s plans.

“There will be a joined-up approach.

“It’s a massive job.”

But the current announcement was about prioritised roads.

It was not just a case of building roads, but building better roads.

A National Government would build key transport connections around the country, slashing congestion,. unlocking housing growth, boosting productivity and rebuilding the economy, said Ms Kirkpatrick.

Katie Nimon, National candidate for the Napier electorate which extends almost to the outskirts of Gisborne and inland as far as Matawai, said the importance of a resilient state highway network which could stand up against the expected increase in extreme weather events due to climate change had never been more important to the local economy.