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UPDATE: Top of the South, state highway status

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi | 13 Jul 2025 3:35pm | Tasman, Nelson and Marlborough

Update 3:35pm:

State Highway 6 has reopened between Belgrove and Kohatu this afternoon.

This means direct access between Nelson and Murchison/West Coast has been restored.

Drivers can expect road work sites, areas reduced to a single lane, and stop-go traffic management along this route. Please allow extra travel time.

Drivers can expect weather damage on all state highways across the top of the South and must drive to the conditions. The potential for slips, rock and tree falls remains, and drivers are urged to check road conditions before they travel as routes can close at short notice.

Current state highway closures:

SH6 Rocks Rd, Bisley Avenue to Richardson Street – closed to all road users, pedestrians and cyclists due to debris falls. All traffic can detour via Waimea Road. A further update on this route will be provided later today.

More information:

Update 13 July 11:50 am:

Work to reopen and repair state highways continues in the top of the South Island today.

SH6 Belgrove to Murchison:

State Highway 6 has reopened between Kohatu and Murchison, but remains closed between Kohatu Junction and Belgrove

Contractors are working hard to clear tree falls, slips, and washouts on this route. There remains a significant amount of work to do to remove many tree falls, and the highway will remain closed for the rest of the day and until further notice. 

NZTA/Waka Kotahi cannot give an estimated reopening time for this section of State Highway 6 at this stage.

While the closure remains, direct access to the West Coast from Nelson is restricted and travellers need to take the longer detour options and should allow plenty extra time for their travel. 

Drivers must observe the road closure. It is there to keep the public safe.

SH6 Rocks Road:

Assessments continue on the slip and rockfall risk on State Highway 6 Rocks Road. Stormwater has destabilised areas at the top of the cliff. Loose material and vegetation at the risk of falling onto the road are in the process of being assessed and carefully removed.

This route is closed to traffic, cyclists, and pedestrians until further notice, and it is likely to remain closed into the working week. Delays and congestion can be expected, particularly during peak hour traffic, until the route is restored. 

People must not go beyond the closure points on Rocks Road as there is serious danger from potential falling debris, particularly as contractors work to remove material from the cliff face. 

A further update on its status will be provided later today.

General advice:

All other state highways are open, but it is not business as usual on the roads or for driving.

In Marlborough, State Highway 63, Kawatiri Junction to Waihopai Valley Road remains restricted to residents and essential travel only.

State Highway 60 Tākaka Hill, while open to light and heavy vehicles, has suffered slip and washout damage and extra care and time is needed when travelling this route. It is vulnerable to further disruptions and possible closure.

Across the network, because of weather damage, drivers must drive to the conditions and take extreme care when travelling. There remains an ongoing risk of slips, rock and tree falls, and the potential for further road closures. These may happen at short notice.

Road users can expect to encounter multiple road work and repair sites across the region and must allow extra time for their journeys. 

Please follow all traffic management and temporary speed limits in place. They are there to keep the public and work crews safe.

Current state highway closures:

  • SH6 Belgrove to Kohatu  - closed due to slips, treefalls, and flooding damage 
  • SH6 Rocks Rd, Bisley Avenue to Richardson Street – closed to all road users, pedestrians and cyclists due to debris falls. All traffic can detour via Waimea Road

More information:

12 July, 6pm: 

State Highway 60 has reopened between Riwaka and Upper Tākaka. The route is open to all traffic.

However, the highway has suffered weather damage and drivers can expect some sections of the road to be restricted to one lane and under give way and traffic light controls.

Road users must use extreme caution on this route.

Current state highway closures:

  • SH6 Belgrove to Murchison - closed due to slips and flooding
  • SH6 Rocks Rd, Bisley Avenue to Richardson Street – closed to all road users, pedestrians and cyclists due to debris falls. All traffic can detour via Waimea Road

More information:

3:20 pm:

State Highway 63 is now open, with restrictions, between Renwick and Kawatiri Junction.

The previously closed Kawatiri to Korere-Tophouse Road section reopened at around three pm today.

However, with weather and flood damage still affecting the highway, it is only open to residents and essential travel between Korere-Tophouse Road and Waihopai Valley Road.

Road users must drive to the conditions and be prepared for hazards when travelling the route.

Current state highway closures:

  • SH6 Belgrove to Murchison - closed due to slips and flooding
  • SH6 Rocks Rd, Bisley Avenue to Richardson Street – closed to all road users, pedestrians and cyclists due to debris falls. All traffic can detour via Waimea Road
  • SH60 Riwaka to Upper Tākaka – closed due to slips and flooding.

12:50 pm:

State Highway 63 has reopened this afternoon to residents and essential travel between Waihopai Valley Road and Korere-Tophouse Road. It remains closed between Kawatiri Junction and Korere-Tophouse Road.

With no direct access to the West Coast from Nelson and Blenheim, people needing to travel to the West Coast will have to go via the east coast and State Highway 1.

Current state highway closures:

  • SH6 Belgrove to Murchison - closed due to slips and flooding
  • SH6 Rocks Rd, Bisley Avenue to Richardson Street – closed to all road users, pedestrians and cyclists due to debris falls. All traffic can detour via Waimea Road
  • SH60 Riwaka to Upper Tākaka – closed due to slips and flooding.
  • SH63 Kawatiri Junction to Korere-Tophouse Road - closed due to flooding

10:20 am:

Progress is being made on reopening state highways in Marlborough.

State Highway 63 has reopened in Renwick between the intersection of State Highway 6 and Anglesea Street, and the closure on the highway through the Wairau Valley has been shortened slightly – it is now open between Renwick and Waihopai Valley Road.

Current state highway closures:

  • SH6 Belgrove to Murchison - closed due to slips and flooding
  • SH6 Rocks Rd, Bisley Avenue to Richardson Street – closed to all road users, pedestrians and cyclists due to debris falls. All traffic can detour via Waimea Road
  • SH60 Riwaka to Upper Tākaka – closed due to slips and flooding.
  • SH63 Kawatiri Junction to Waihopai Valley Road - closed due to flooding

The closures mean there is no direct access to the West Coast from Nelson or Blenheim

8 am:

Additional state highway routes have reopened in the Nelson/Tasman region this morning.

The closure of State Highway 60 has been reduced, and the highway is now closed between Riwaka and Upper Tākaka. The highway is open between Richmond and Riwaka, and between Upper Tākaka and Collingwood.

However, weather damage can be expected on reopened sections and drivers are urged to avoid non-essential travel as work to restore and repair roads across the region continues.

Current state highway closures:

  • SH6 Belgrove to Murchison - closed due to slips and flooding (SH6 Brightwater to Belgrove has reopened).
  • SH6 Rocks Rd, Bisley Avenue to Richardson Street – closed to all road users, pedestrians and cyclists due to debris falls. All traffic can detour via Waimea Road
  • SH60 Riwaka to Upper Tākaka – closed due to slips and flooding.
  • SH63 Renwick to Kawatiri Junction - closed due to flooding
  • SH63 Renwick – closed between the intersection of SH6 and Anglesea Street due to flooding

7 am:

Work is underway to investigate and assess weather damage to state highways across the top of the South Island.

Road crews are out from first light this morning, working hard to restore access to communities cut off yesterday and overnight by flood and storm-related damage.

While this work is underway, state highway closures remain in place on multiple routes until further notice.

Because of the scale of yesterday’s weather, some closures are likely to remain in place for some time. People must be prepared for ongoing delays across the region and multiple roadworks sites.

The public are asked to obey all closures, not to drive through flooded areas, and avoid all unnecessary travel.

Heavy machinery will be operating at various locations across the network. Repair work will be faster, and roads will reopen sooner if people can avoid non-essential travel.

Routes will be reopened after they have been assessed/inspected for weather damage, and only if it is safe to do so. Please be patient, contractors are working hard to restore state highway connections.

Current state highway closures:

  • SH6 Belgrove to Murchison - closed due to slips and flooding (SH6 Brightwater to Belgrove has reopened).
  • SH6 Rocks Rd, Bisley Avenue to Richardson Street – closed to all road users, pedestrians and cyclists due to debris falls. All traffic can detour via Waimea Road
  • SH60 Richmond to Collingwood – closed due to slips and flooding.
  • SH63 Renwick to Kawatiri Junction - closed due to flooding
  • SH63 Renwick – closed between the intersection of SH6 and Anglesea Street due to flooding

Updates will be provided during the day as the situation changes. People should ensure they stay up to date on the latest weather, Civil Defence, and road information.