Flood resilience upgrades on a key stretch of State Highway 2 near Te Karaka have been completed two months ahead of schedule, improving reliability on one of the most flood-prone sections of road in Tairāwhiti.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop says the Hakanui Straight project targeted a section of SH2 that was often the first to close during severe weather events.
“The Hakanui Straight project upgraded a section of SH2 near Te Karaka, which was typically the first part of the highway to flood and close during severe weather events. I’m really pleased to see this work completed early,” he says.
The project involved raising an 850-metre section of the highway by around three metres, installing new culverts, diverting part of the nearby Hakanui Stream, strengthening the road surface and adding safety barriers.
Bishop says the work has been driven by the importance of the route to local communities and the wider region.
“Everyone involved in this project knows acutely how important this stretch of road is to local communities. That shared commitment to making it more resilient has really helped drive the pace of work on site,” he says.
The upgrades were funded through the Government’s state highway recovery programme, which allocated $609.25 million in Budget 2024 to restore roads damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events.
“We know these highways are crucial for the region to connect communities on the East Coast and have been closed many times due to flooding in the past. Closures cause significant disruption for communities, businesses, the flow of freight and goods, and emergency services responding to emergencies. I want to thank the community for their patience as this resilience work has been carried out,” Bishop says.
The project has already been tested by recent weather events, including heavy rain in January and the local impacts of Cyclone Vaianu, with the upgraded section remaining operational.
Bishop says the work highlights the importance of improving access and resilience following Cyclone Gabrielle, which saw widespread flooding across the region and forced evacuations.
“Cyclone Gabrielle underscored the importance of access in this area. During the event, around 500 residents had to evacuate as floodwaters overtook homes, businesses and the local marae. The section of SH2 being upgraded was flooded, contributing to restricted access for emergency services and for the community,” he says.
The project was delivered by Transport Rebuild East Coast in partnership with local iwi Te Aitanga a Māhaki and a range of contractors.
Additional works included upgraded drainage to reduce flood risk and planting to stabilise riverbanks, while the Hakanui Stream has been diverted through a new 1.8-metre culvert designed to improve water flow and fish passage.
Bishop says the Government remains focused on restoring and strengthening state highway corridors affected by severe weather.
“Our Government is committed to ensuring our state highway corridors impacted by the NIWE are returned to the standard that Kiwis need and expect.”
