The walking track to Shine Falls has remained closed since Cyclone Gabrielle hit in 2023.
Work will begin in the new year to reopen two natural jewels of Hawke’s Bay that have been closed since Cyclone Gabrielle.
February 14, 2023, will forever be etched into Hawke’s Bay’s history as one of the region’s darkest days, with entire areas shut off to the outside world by flooding and slips.
Shine Falls walking track near Tutira leads to one of the region’s highest waterfalls.
The track was severely damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle and remains closed.
Department of Conservation (DoC) operations manager Hawke’s Bay, Grant Bennett, said DoC’s visitor safety team had carried out a recent assessment and much of the cyclone damage had now settled.
“We are planning to bring contractors in to begin repair work early in the new year. In the meantime, Shine Falls will remain closed, as the large slips, washouts, and slippery boulders continue to pose a risk to the public.
“We know Shine Falls is a popular destination, and we want to get it open as soon as possible, but we need to be sure that what we provide will be safe and sustainable for future generations. We’ll keep the community informed as work progresses.”
Near the Mohaka River up State Highway 5 lies the Glenfalls Campsite.
It, too, has been closed since Gabrielle hit the region.
Bennett said DoC staff had also reassessed the campsite and a decision had been made to reopen it “shortly”, to self-contained vehicles and day campers.
“The site still requires significant work to re-establish it to what it was, and to make it more resilient to further weather events.
“We are working with mana whenua to do this, and that work will be undertaken over the next 12 to 24 months.”
The Tangoio Falls Scenic Reserve Track, which leads to both the Tangoio and popular Te Ana Falls, remains closed until further notice.
Photographs from Te Ana Falls taken after the cyclone suggest the waterfall has been significantly lowered by erosion caused during the flooding.
DoC said the site was still unsafe for visitors because of flooding damage, slips and tree falls.
Bennett said DoC staff will be visiting the site alongside Maungaharuru Tangitū Trust soon to understand the state of the tracks, slips and potential risks.
“We will collectively consider if reopening some or all of the track network is an option, and update the public when we can.”
After the cyclone hit, Wairoa was cut off from the rest of Hawke’s Bay when the Waikare Bridge near Putorino connecting the town to Napier was destroyed.
State Highway 2, connecting Wairoa to Mahia and beyond, was also cut off.
Nearly three years on, Wairoa District Council chief executive Matt Lawson said everywhere in Wairoa was fully open for business.
“Our parks and reserves are open, and in the case of the main street riverbank reserve, has been enhanced.
“We still have roading and bridge replacement work to carry out, but we have temporary solutions in place while this work occurs.
“While Cyclone Gabrielle-related rebuilding, resilience and flood protection work is still ongoing, most of our district is accessible.”
Between February 12 and 14, 2023, 175.88mm of rain fell at Napier Airport – making it the second-wettest day of all time in the Art Deco city since records began in 1950.
The rain destroyed bridges around Napier.
But now all that is left to be fixed in the area is the Brookfields Bridge, connecting Napier and Hastings, according to a Napier City Council spokeswoman.
The rebuild is expected to cost upwards of $35 million, but subject to it meeting relevant funding requirements, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi will fund a large portion of the work, with the remainder being funded by Hastings and Napier councils.
Hastings was also hit hard by the cyclone, with many areas being cut off in the immediate aftermath by floodwaters.
However, Hawke’s Bay’s largest district by size has come through the other side of the devastation and now only has two areas still closed due to Gabrielle damage.
They are the lower part of the Maraetōtara Falls track from the pump station towards Waimārama Rd and a couple of short sections of the Tainui Reserve walking track.
Central Hawke’s Bay District Council chief executive Doug Tate said the council had delivered over $65m worth of repairs after the cyclone.
However, Wilson’s Cutting, Burnside Bridge, Tod Road Bridge, Te Uri Rd at 17km from Mangaorapa Rd and Walker Rd were still closed as a result of damage from the cyclone.
Jack Riddell is a multimedia journalist with Hawke’s Bay Today and has worked in radio and media in the UK, Germany, and New Zealand.