Weeks of work ahead to clear part of SH35 on the East Cape due to ‘massive’ landslide

By RNZ

It will take weeks of work to clear part of State Highway 35 on the East Cape where a “massive landslide” collapsed the road down the hill.

The section in Punaruku, near Te Araroa Camp and on the way to Hicks Bay, was one of multiple hit in the ferocious storm which ripped across the North Island this week.

It’s the biggest challenge the area faces following the storm, NZTA regional manager for maintenance and operations Rua Pani said.

“There has been a landslide, and it has completely overrun the road and collapsed State Highway 35 down the hill.

“The recovery job for this one is a big one. This is not days of work, this is weeks of work, to clear that slip.”

Despite the size of the landslide, Pani said she believed the road was fixable.

Slips across SH35 above Hicks Bay Motor Lodge.

It meant coastal communities between Pōtaka near Hicks Bay and Tikitiki remained cut off. Crews were working to reopen access either side of Hicks Bay, Pani said.

NZTA estimated about 500,000 cubic metres of material would need to be removed across the whole of State Highway 35, with multiple other slips along the route.

That included another large slip at Hicks Bay which swept across the state highway and into the motel lodge.

A chef at Hicks Bay Motor Lodge said water was still flowing down from the 200sq m slip on Friday afternoon.

Pani said Taurangakoau Bridge over Mangaowira Stream had partially washed away, with work underway to secure contractor access across the bridge.

She urged people to be cautious about driving in the open sections of State Highway 35, where workers were still clearing debris, trees and culverts.

The landslide at State Highway 35, Punaruku, on the way to Hicks Bay.

“If you don’t need to travel up there it’s not a good idea to go tiki-touring to have a look. It is still a construction zone.”

State Highway 2, between Gisborne and Ōpōtiki through the Waioeka Gorge, was still closed – forcing a long detour through Napier, and State Highway 5 to Taupō for those heading north, Rua said.

“We do acknowledge that detour is really problematic for the community, for businesses, for freight, which is why we are working really hard to reopen State Highway 2 at Waioeka, to reopen that link.”

State Highway ‘critical lifeline’ for communities

Tash Wanoa, Te Araroa civil defence co-ordinator, said State Highway 35 is a “critical lifeline roading network” for communities on the East Cape.

“It’s what connects us to health services, lifeline utilities and supplies like Pak’n Save, supermarkets, even fuel, gas, generators, we need State Highway 35 to survive.”

Te Araroa was cut off right now – and Wanoa said she was hoping access would be restored soon.

She said once State Highway 35 on both ends reopened, Hicks Bay residents would have the option to go to Ōpōtiki, and Te Araroa residents could go to Gisborne.

But Wanoa said the Hicks Bay and Te Araroa communities were closely connected, with Hicks Bay needing Matakoa Health Centre, in Te Araroa, for health services and fuel.

The volunteer fire brigades also worked together, and Te Araroa would now have to access St John services from Ruatoria, about 30-45 minutes away on a good day.

“It’s really critical that that hill is reinstated, so that we can get key lifelines in.”

- RNZ