“Many sites remain vulnerable, however, and full reinstatement is now underway to restore long-term resilience and reliability,” he said.
New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) Waka Kotahi’s emergency funding arrangements allows council to prioritise urgent remedial works, but permanent repairs often require full engineering assessments and detailed costings.
“These processes take time, and we appreciate people’s patience as we work through the necessary steps to ensure repairs are done properly and at the lowest possible cost to ratepayers,” Waru-Savage said.
The council’s main contractor, Inframax, will have assistance from additional contractors to accelerate repairs during the limited summer construction season.
Sites are being grouped into logical work packages based on location, type of repair and contractor expertise to improve efficiency, reduce traffic management costs and ensure the right contractors are matched to the right work.
The NZTA funding will reduce council costs and ratepayers.
Under normal conditions, NZTA funds 75% of eligible roading costs.
When emergency works exceed 10% of council’s annual land transport operational budget, the Funding Assistance Rate increases to 95%, with ratepayers contributing 5%.
The June and July events alone caused around $4.2m in emergency works damage, with council’s share estimated at around $1.2m, spread across the current 2025/26 and next 2026/27 financial years.
The October weather event generated more than 350 callouts and caused substantial damage on over 30 roads.
Early estimates indicate between $8m and $10m will be required to repair around 420 sites, with works expected to take two to three years, depending on contractor availability, design requirements, and the weather.
Some sites are expected to take more than a week to repair, which will require stop/go controls or diversions.
The affected roads include: Kururau Rd, Makokomiko Rd, Ohura–Mokau Rd, Ohura Rd, Oio Rd, Okahukura Bridge Rd, Otunui South Rd, Pukeatua Rd, Saddler Rd, Taringamotu Rd, Uepango Rd, Viles Access Rd, and Whanganui River Rd.
A handful of sites from the August 2024 weather event and around 75% of the June and July emergency works are expected to be completed this financial year, with the remainder finished in 2026/27.
The council has asked motorists to slow down, take extra care and follow all instructions at work sites to keep crews and other road users safe.
