State Highway 35 at Punaruku slip has reopened this morning at Punaruku slip site.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is continuing to closely monitor the slip site, between Wharekahika/Hicks Bay and Te Araroa, using a range of methods.

We have a safety plan in place for this site. The plan takes into consideration factors such as rainfall and wind, ground conditions and information from monitoring equipment at the site. 

That safety limit was reached on Sunday and the slip site closed.

Crews worked yesterday to safely restore access as quickly as possible and removed between 10 and 15 truckloads of material from the latest slip.

The road reopened as planned this morning with no restrictions. Please continue to drive carefully through the area.

20 April - 12.21pm:

State Highway 35 at Punaruku slip is expected to reopen at 7.30 tomorrow morning following heavy rainfall since yesterday.

The heavy rainfall has caused a minor slip and dangerous driving conditions.

The site, between Wharekahika/Hicks Bay and Te Araroa, is already in a fragile condition, following January’s wet weather.

We continue to closely monitor the Punaruku slip area using a range of methods. We have a safety plan in place for this site. The plan takes into consideration factors such as rainfall and wind, ground conditions and information from monitoring equipment at the site. 

If these safety limits are reached, the plan requires us to take action – including closing the road if needed – even if there is no obvious change visible at the time. 

This helps prevent sudden or dangerous slip movement and allows the road to reopen as soon as it is safe.

Crews are working to safely restore access as quickly as possible and are removing between 10 and 15 truckloads of material from the latest slip.

At this stage, the road will reopen at 7.30 tomorrow morning following further site inspections this afternoon.

Please drive carefully when it does open.