Tauranga traffic: Congestion caused by truck on Hewletts Rd easing

Traffic around Totara St and Hewletts Rd was slowed by a protest today. Photo / Google Maps

Traffic flow is returning to normal after a truck caused congestion on Hewletts Rd this morning.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency said delays in the area were caused by a “public event”.

Tauranga Transport Operations Centre said a truck was blocking the Totora St entrance outside a BP service station and causing “significant” congestion on Hewletts Rd back towards the Harbour Bridge.

Police responded to the report of the truck blocking a lane around 10.50am. A spokeswoman said traffic was diverted from Totara St for a short period and there were no arrests.

Police were “unclear” about whether it was linked to a protest being held in the area. They confirmed they were aware in advance that a protest was planned.

Ngāi Te Rangi kaumatua Charlie Tawhiao told the Bay of Plenty Times the iwi’s protest in the area today aimed to slow traffic and send the Crown a message about it continuing to “ignore” Ngāi Te Rangi in relation to a long-running dispute about overlapping Treaty of Waitangi settlement claims with the Pare Hauraki iwi collective.

He was not aware of a stopped truck being linked to their action and said more protests may follow, depending on the Crown’s response.

The iwi previously staged a peaceful protest on Tauranga Harbour over the same issue, blocking Port of Tauranga pilot boats from guiding vessels. The port was given notice in advance of the action.

Te Arawhiti - the Office for Māori Crown Relations has been contacted for comment.

Cira Olivier is a social issues and breaking news reporter for NZME Bay of Plenty. She has been a journalist since 2019.