Update: Final closed highway in south reopens

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi | 28 Oct 2025 4:40pm | Otago

28 October, 4.40pm – Final closed highway in south reopens

State Highway 6 between Haast and Makarora (including Haast Pass) has now reopened. This is the last of the state highways closed in the central and lower South Island since the weather event that began yesterday.

Road users are asked to take care when travelling this route, and others that were closed due to snow and obstructions such as fallen trees.

Roading teams will be out overnight gritting road surfaces where the mix of melted snow and cold temperatures present a risk of ice, such as on State Highways 8 and 80 in the Mackenzie Country. People travelling this evening or early tomorrow should be especially cautious around shaded areas where ice may form.

Stay up to date at our Journey Planner site.

28 October, 1.25pm – State Highways 8 and 80 in Mackenzie Country reopened

State Highway 8 between Fairlie and Twizel (including Lake Tekapo and Burkes Pass), and State Highway 80 between Aoraki-Mount Cook and Lake Pukaki, have reopened after heavy snow.

While the snow has largely cleared since the closures were put into effect last night, there will be some traffic management in places on these highways – including areas down to a single lane – that road users should be aware of.

There is also a significant risk of ice forming on these roads tonight due to combination of snow melt and low temperatures from this evening. People are urged to drive with extra care.

State Highway 6 between Haast and Makarora (including Haast Pass) is the remaining state highway still closed in the central and lower South Island from the current weather event.

28 October, 11.45am – West Coast highway to reopen

State Highway 6 between Inangahua and O'Sullivan's Bridge is due to reopen early this afternoon after being closed because of fallen trees.

Road users should travel with care through the area.

Remaining state highway closures in the central and lower South Island, due to the current weather event, are as follows:

State Highway 8 from Lake Tekapo to Fairlie (heavy snow)
State Highway 8 from Lake Tekapo to Twizel (heavy snow)
State Highway 80 Aoraki-Mount Cook to Lake Pukaki (heavy snow)
State Highway 6 between Haast and Makarora, including Haast Pass (snow and fallen trees)

28 October, 10am – Further Otago highways reopened

Both State Highway 85 between Kyeburn and Palmerston, and State Highway 87 between Kyeburn and Mosgiel, have now reopened after closures due to snow.

Road users should take extra care when using these routes.

State Highway 94/Milford Sound Highway has also reopened but will close again at 5pm today for evening snow expected.

28 October, 9.20am – SH8/Lindis Pass now reopened

State Highway 8 from Tarras to Omarama, including Lindis Pass, has now reopened. Road users should still take extra care when using this route.

Meanwhile, four vehicles off the side of State Highway 1 in snow on the south side of Leith Saddle (north of Dunedin) are due to be towed out about 10.30am this morning, and this may mean some temporary disruption for traffic in this area.

Additionally, due to a fire, State Highway 1 at Herbert, in Otago, is now closed. The highway is closed between Cullen and Ord Streets. Northbound traffic should turn left onto Cullen street, right onto Monk street, right onto Ord street and left back onto SH1. The reverse applies for southbound traffic.

28 October, 8.30am – Highways beginning to reopen

Following prior closures due to the weather event, both State Highway 79 between Geraldine and Fairlie, and State Highway 82 between Waimate and Kurow, are now open.

Four vehicles remained in car parks through the closed section of State Highway 6 between Haast and Makarora overnight, around the Camerons Flat area. Those vehicles have been cleared out this morning.

The drivers chose to remain overnight with a truck and a van on the closed section of State Highway 8/Lindis Pass.

The following state highways in the central and lower South Island remain closed:

State Highway 6 between Inangahua to O'Sullivan's Bridge (fallen trees)
State Highway 8 from Lake Tekapo to Fairlie (heavy snow)
State Highway 8 from Lake Tekapo to Twizel (heavy snow)
State Highway 80 Aoraki-Mount Cook to Lake Pukaki (heavy snow)
State Highway 6 between Haast and Makarora, including Haast Pass (snow and fallen trees)
State Highway 8 from Tarras to Omarama, including Lindis Pass (snow and ice)
State Highway 85 from Palmerston to Kyeburn (heavy snow)
State Highway 87 from Kyeburn to Mosgiel (heavy snow)
State Highway 94/Milford Sounds Highway between East Gate (Hollyford) and Donne River (Westgate) – reopening by 10am today

28 October, 7.30am – Multiple highways still closed

The following state highways remain closed in the central or lower South Island this morning due to the current weather event:

State Highway 6 between Inangahua to O'Sullivan's Bridge (fallen trees)
State Highway 79 between Geraldine and Fairlie (fallen trees)
State Highway 8 from Lake Tekapo to Fairlie (heavy snow)
State Highway 8 from Lake Tekapo to Twizel (heavy snow)
State Highway 80 Aoraki-Mount Cook to Lake Pukaki (heavy snow)
State Highway 6 between Haast and Makarora, including Haast Pass (snow and fallen trees)
State Highway 8 from Tarras to Omarama, including Lindis Pass (snow and ice)
State Highway 85 from Palmerston to Kyeburn (heavy snow)
State Highway 87 from Kyeburn to Mosgiel (heavy snow)
State Highway 82 from Waimate to Kurow (fallen trees)
State Highway 94/Milford Sounds Highway between East Gate (Hollyford) and Donne River (Westgate) – reopening by 10am today

10pm – Road closures keep coming

State Highway 1 all the way from Dunedin to Palmerston is now closed (extended from Dunedin to Waitati), because of heavy snow.

State Highway 82 between Waimate and Kurow has also been closed, due to fallen trees. State Highway 79 between Geraldine and Fairlie has also been closed because of fallen trees.

A list of state highways currently closed in the South Island in this active weather event:

State Highway 80 Aoraki-Mount Cook to Lake Pukaki
State Highway 8 from Lake Tekapo to Twizel
State Highway 8 from Lake Tekapo to Fairlie
State Highway 6 between Haast and Makarora (including Haast Pass)
State Highway 82 from Waimate to Kurow
State Highway 79 between Geraldine and Fairlie.
State Highway 8 from Tarras to Omarama (including Lindis Pass)
State Highway 83 between Omarama and Kurow
State Highway 1 from Dunedin to Palmerston
State Highway 87 from Kyeburn to Mosgiel
State Highway 94/Milford Sounds Highway between East Gate (Hollyford) and Donne River (Westgate)

9.30pm – SH87 closed in Otago

State Highway 87 from Kyeburn to Mosgiel is also now closed because of heavy snow.

8.30pm – More highway closures because of snow

Due to snow, State Highway 1/Dunedin-Waitati Road from Dunedin to Waitati is now closed.

State Highway 83 between Omarama and Kurow is now also closed because of snow.

Road users are advised to delay their journeys or avoid the areas.

7.40pm – Further snow closures in the south

State Highway 8 from Lake Tekapo to Fairlie, and Tarras to Omarama (including Lindis Pass), are also now closed due to snow.

Road users are advised to avoid these areas or delay their journeys.

6.50pm – State Highways 6, 8 and 80 closed by snow

State Highway 80 from Aoraki-Mount Cook to Lake Pukaki, and State Highway 8 from Lake Tekapo to Twizel, in the Mackenzie Country have closed because of heavy snow.

Snow has also closed State Highway 6 between Haast and Makarora (including Haast Pass), where there are unconfirmed reports of vehicles trapped being followed up by emergency services and roading teams.

Road users are advised to avoid these areas or delay their journeys.

4.45pm – “Winter” driving conditions warning as cold snap arrives

New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi has issued area warnings on some state highways in Otago as the predicted significant weather system moves up the South Island.

Road users are being warned of “winter driving conditions” on State Highway 87 from Mosgiel to Kyeburn, and on State Highway 85 from Alexandra to Palmerston, and are asked to travel with caution.

There are no highway closures so far due to today’s weather event. However, conditions may worsen in some areas of the South Island through the rest of the afternoon and evening, so people should plan ahead and consider delaying travel where warnings are in place.

Stay up to date at our Journey Planner site.