UPDATE 29 June 6:30am:

State Highway 53 has reopened near Martinborough overnight. It reopened to traffic just after 10:30 pm.

It is open with STOP/GO traffic management in place at Jenkins floodway. 

Drivers should allow extra time for their journeys and take extra care on this route.

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UPDATE 10:35am:

Wellington Water has completed wastewater repairs on State Highway 2 between Petone and Ngauranga. Both southbound lanes are open to traffic. A shoulder closure remains in place, and work crews will repair the road surface tonight.

Floodwaters have also dropped on State Highway 2 near Tauwharenīkau. Both lanes are open.

State Highway 53 remains closed at Waihenga Bridge near Martinborough due to flooding.

State highway updates can be checked online:

• Highway conditions (external link)
• NZTA/Waka Kotahi Facebook page (external link)
• Report a state highway problem - 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)

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UPDATE 28 June 6:30am:

State Highway 2 is now open at Opaki near Masterton. The highway reopened shortly before 5 am this morning.

State Highway 53 remains closed at Waihenga Bridge near Martinborough due to flooding. Water levels remain high in the Ruamahanga River. A local road detour is available.

Traffic management and a lane closure remain in place on State Highway 2 near Tauwharenīkau.

State Highway 2 between Ngauranga and Petone.is open to two lanes, but a southbound shoulder closure is in place at the site of a Wellington Water worksite near the southbound Ngauranga offramp.

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UPDATE 7pm:

State Highway closures remain in place in Wairarapa tonight following bad weather and flooding.

Contractors have been clearing debris from the Waihenga Bridge on State Highway 53 near Martinborough today. However, the Ruamahanga River remains in flood, and water levels are still too high for the route to reopen.

On State Highway 2, flooding remains at Opaki north of Masterton. The highway is closed between Lennies Road and Somerset Drive. Local road detours are available Lincoln Road, Akura Road, and Paierau Road.

A closure for northbound traffic remains in place on State Highway 2 near Tauwharenīkau as well. Stop/go traffic management is in place, and road users should expect travel delays.

In Wellington, work is ongoing to fix a wastewater issue on State Highway 2 between Petone and Ngauranga. Wellington Water contractors are on site and a lane closure for southbound traffic remains in place.

Current closures

• SH53 Waihenga Bridge – flooding
• SH2 Opaki - flooding
• SH2 Tauwharenīkau - northbound lane closure due to flooding
• SH2 Ngauranga to Petone – Wellington Water works, southbound lane closure.

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UPDATE 10am:

Flooding has caused another road closure on State Highway 2 in Wairarapa.

The highway is now closed at Opaki, between Lennies Road and Wingate Road. Local road detours are available via Lincoln Road, Akura Road, and Paierau Road.

Drivers can expect travel delays in the area until the highway reopens.

Flooding is also affecting State Highway 2 between Camp Road and Tauwharenīkau River Bridge. The northbound lane has been closed. Drivers must follow instructions from emergency services at the scene. Travel delays can be expected.

State Highway 53 remains closed near Martinborough at the Waihenga Bridge due to high water levels in the Ruamahanga River.

Meanwhile, in Wellington there is a southbound lane closure in place on State Highway 2 between Petone and Ngauranga for emergency roadworks. Wellington Water is carrying out investigations and repairs to wastewater infrastructure.

Current closures

• SH53 Waihenga Bridge – flooding
• SH2 Opaki - flooding
• SH2 Tauwharenīkau - northbound lane closure due to flooding
• SH2 Ngauranga to Petone – Wellington Water works, southbound lane closure.

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UPDATE 27 June 8am:

Bad weather and flooding continue to affect state highways in Wellington and Wairarapa this morning.

Wairarapa

State Highway 53 remains closed at Waihenga Bridge near Martinborough due to high water levels in the Ruamahanga River. The route will remain closed until flood waters recede and the bridge is safe to reopen. There is no estimated time for when this may happen.

The northbound closure on State Highway 2 at Waingawa between Wiltons Road and Norfolk Road has been lifted. The highway is now open in both directions, but a 50 km/h temporary speed limit is in place where residual flooding remains near the road.

Wellington

All state highways are open in Wellington, the Hutt Valley, Porirua and the Kāpiti Coast.

Surface flooding and a blocked drain are affecting southbound traffic on State Highway 2 between Ngauranga and Petone. Wellington Water will be on site today to carry out inspections and drainage repairs. Traffic management, including a lane closure, is in place, and drivers can expect delays on the route while this work is underway.

General advice

While the MetService weather warnings have been lifted and the bad weather is easing, wet weather driving conditions remain across the region. Caution is still needed on the roads and driving to the conditions is essential.

Contractors are continuing to respond to incidents and clear storm damage. Drivers are asked to respect traffic management and temporary speed limits at sites where they may be working.

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UPDATE 9:50pm

Flooding in Wairarapa is affecting local roads and means the detour for the State Highway 53 Waihenga Bridge closure via Kahutara Road and Lake Ferry Road is no longer available.

Drivers should delay their travel and avoid the area while the bad weather continues.

Current closures

• SH53 Waihenga Bridge – flooding
• SH2 Waingawa – flooding. Closed to northbound traffic.

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UPDATE 8:40pm

The Ngauranga to Petone shared path has reopened after being closed for approximately seven hours due to bad weather today.

The path reopened around 8:10 pm.

While the path is open, people should still use extreme care if they choose to use it. The weather is still bad, and the route will be affected by debris from today’s swell and rough seas.

Meanwhile, flooding on State Highway 2 near Masterton has just closed the route to northbound traffic at Waingawa between Wiltons Road and Norfolk Road. The highway remains open for southbound traffic.

Local road detours are available via East Taratahi Road, Hughes Line, and Cornwall Road.

Current closures

• SH53 Waihenga Bridge – flooding
• SH2 Waingawa – flooding. Closed to northbound traffic.

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7:35pm:

Ongoing severe weather and rising water levels in the Ruamahanga River have closed State Highway 53 at the Waihenga Bridge near Martinborough.

The route will remain closed until water levels recede and the bridge is safe for traffic.

Local road detours are available

Featherston – Martinborough: via Kahutara Rd and Lake Ferry Road

This route can be used in both directions.

There is localised flooding on State Highway 2 in Masterton at Solway, and it is affecting State Highway 2 through the Hutt Valley. 

Southbound lanes also remain closed on the Wellington urban motorway due to high seas, and the Ngauranga to Petone shared path is also closed to pedestrians and cyclists. 

Road crews have cleared slips and rockfalls on State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill and also a treefall that blocked a lane on the highway near Kaitoke. They remain on call and are responding to incidents as they occur.

Current closures

• SH53 Waihenga Bridge – flooding
• Ngauranga to Petone shared path – swells and high seas

General advice

Heavy rain and strong winds are continuing to affect the lower North Island, and driving conditions are hazardous.

MetService weather warnings have been extended with heavy rain expected to continue until early tomorrow (Saturday) morning.

Drivers should avoid non-essential travel until the bad weather eases. Those who are on the roads should drive to the conditions and exercise extreme care.

Ongoing weather hazards – flooding, slips, rockfalls, treefalls, downed powerlines, and wind-blown debris - remain an ongoing risk. 

Roads may close at short notice, and drivers should check road and weather conditions before they travel. 

Any issues or problems should also be reported to NZTA/Waka Kotahi so that contractors can respond.