Take care on the roads around Manawatū-Whanganui
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi | 17 Feb 2026 5:39am | Manawatū-Whanganui
A number of state highways remain closed around the region following the severe weather yesterday and over the weekend.
As at 5.45am
- SH54 is currently CLOSED between Vinegar Hill and Cheltenham
- SH56 at Opiki is currently CLOSED
- SH4 is currently CLOSED between Whanganui and Raetihi
A reminder that State Highway 1 is OPEN between Hunterville and Weka Street in Taihape.
This stretch of road remains under stop/go traffic management in multiple locations, so care is needed.
There is a reduced speed in place.
If you do need to drive today, please continue to do so with care, while many roads are open, be aware of the potential for debris or slips. Take care out there and drive to the conditions.
Crews are continuing to inspect slips and fallen trees on the roads. While we want to restore access as quickly as possible, that needs to be done safely.
We will continue to provide updates as soon as possible.
Make sure to check Journey Planner or Facebook for the latest state highway conditions.