State Highway 3 north of New Plymouth has now reopened.

The road between Mokau and Piopio has been closed since Tuesday morning following heavy rainfall which caused flooding, multiple slips, and left lots of trees and debris on the road.

While SH3 has reopened, SH43 Forgotten World Highway between Whangamōmona and Taumarunui and SH4 between Pio Pio and Taumarunui remain closed.

Both SH43 and SH4 are expected to reopen at approximately 5pm today.

Crews have been continuing to assess damage and restore single lane access on the highways.

SH3 will have a reduced speed in place over the weekend and when crews return from Monday, there will also be sections of the highway with stop/go traffic management, in addition to a reduced speed limit.

“It’s really important people need to adhere to the lower speeds, and to the traffic management in place. Crews will be continuing to work on clearing sites and people can expect extensive delays of more than half an hour.” says Liesl Dawson, System Manager for Taranaki and Manawatū-Whanganui.

“The damage caused throughout SH3 means crews will be on the road for some time to come, and will become a familiar sight to motorists.”

In addition to the recovery work from this week’s heavy rainfall, below is this week’s list of upcoming planned works on state highways in the region. 

Dates in this bulletin may change at short notice due to weather or other unforeseen factors. Before you travel in the region, please check Journey Planner for the latest travel information and journey times.     

To find out more about the upcoming maintenance season sign up to receive your regional newsletter here:
Taranaki maintenance(external link)

State Highway 3 – New Plymouth to Awakino 

SH3 Tongapōrutu underslip 

• Retaining wall construction to repair underslip. 
• Stop/go traffic management, 24/7. 
• Repair expected to be complete mid-December (weather permitting). 

SH3 Mangaotaki underslip 

• Retaining wall construction to repair underslip. 
• Stop/go traffic management, 24/7. 
• Repair expected to be complete early-December (weather permitting). 

State Highway 3A 

SH3A Mountain Road, Inglewood 

• Road rebuild. 
• Monday 6 October – Sunday 7 December 2025. 
• Work between 6am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday.  
• Stop/go traffic management with delays of 10-15 minutes. 

State Highway 44 

• New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) watermain replacement. 
• NPDC expect to complete work prior to Christmas. 
• 30km/h temporary speed limit and stop/go traffic management in place.