Update: Wild weather means extra care needed on the roads
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi | 21 Oct 2025 6:25pm | Wellington, Nelson and Marlborough
21 October 6:25 pm
With the weather improving, service levels on State Highway 2 in Wairarapa are being restored.
State Highway 2, Clareville to Waingawa is now OPEN in both directions. However, further maintenance closures on this route are planned tomorrow.
State Highway 2 has reopened to light vehicles south of Opaki Kaiparoro Road. It remains closed for heavy vehicles which must detour via Paierau Road.
NZTA/Waka Kotahi and the Wellington Transport Alliance want to thank road users for their patience and cooperation during today’s weather disruptions.
21 October 4:20 pm
The weather continues to affect State Highway 2 in Wairarapa.
Latest updates/affected areas:
- SH2 Masterton,
- CLOSED between the intersection with Loopline and Opaki-Kaiparoro Road
- Downed powerlines.
- Drivers should follow the directions of contractors and emergency services.
- SH2 Masterton, Short Street
- OPEN with lane shift and 30 km/h temporary speed limit.
- Fallen power pole.
- Drive with caution.
- SH2 Clareville to Waingawa
- CLOSED to northbound traffic between Hughes Line and East Taratahi Road.
- Fallen trees.
- Highway is open to southbound traffic.
- SH2 Remutaka Hill
- OPEN but a strong wind warning is in place.
- Caution advised for light and high-sided vehicles.
Drivers are reminded to take care on the region’s roads and drive to the conditions as bad weather persists.
Road crews continue to respond to incidents as they occur, and the public are encouraged to report any problems they encounter when traveling on state highways. They should also check road and weather conditions before they travel.
21 October 2:05 pm
There is an additional road closure in place on State Highway 2 in Wairarapa this afternoon as bad weather and strong winds continue to affect the region.
Due to a fallen power pole, the highway is CLOSED to southbound traffic at the intersection of State Highway and 2 and Short Street in Masterton. The road remains OPEN for northbound vehicles.
The route is expected to remain affected until lines company workers resolve the incident.
Local road detours are available via Short Street, Harley Street, and Vivian Street.
Meanwhile, the northbound closure, due to tree falls, remains in place on State Highway 2 between Hughes Line and East Taratahi Road. Drivers should continue to use the local road detours and expect travel delays.
21 October 11:35 am
State Highway 2 has fully reopened in Carterton following a road closure earlier this morning.
The highway was closed for approximately two hours, between Belvedere Road and Broadway, while contractors and emergency services dealt with a lifted roof damaged by high winds.
21 October 11:30 am
Bad weather, strong winds, and multiple tree falls have now closed State Highway 2 in Wairarapa to northbound traffic between Hughes Line and East Taratahi Road.
A local road detour is available via Hughes Line and East Taratahi Road. Drivers must allow extra time for their journeys.
The highway remains OPEN to southbound traffic. Drivers are asked to follow all instructions from contractors and emergency services.
With bad weather and strong winds continuing to affect the region, drivers must be prepared for weather-related hazards and challenging driving conditions.
21 October 11am
With strong winds continuing to buffet the lower North Island, drivers are urged to keep a close eye on road and weather conditions across the region.
State Highway 2 is currently closed in Carterton between Belvedere Road and Broadway while contractors and emergency service attend a weather-damage incident. Local road detours are available, but drivers can expect delays in the area.
State Highway 2 Remutaka hill has a wind warning in place with Metservice data showing gusts of over 100 km/h recorded at the summit.
With a Metservice Strong Wind Warning in effect until 8 pm tonight, and gusts of up to 130 km/h forecast, drivers travelling between Wairarapa and the Hutt Valley are encouraged to check the route’s status before they travel. Strong winds can see this route closed for safety reasons.
Motorists must drive to the conditions and take extra care on exposed routes. This is particularly important for drivers of high-sided vehicles (trucks, vans, campervans), motorcycles, light vehicles, and towing vehicles.
Road crews are responding to incidents as they occur, and the public is encouraged to report highway problems to NZTA/Waka Kotahi.
20 October
With multiple Metservice weather warnings in place for the lower North and upper South Island, drivers are being urged to be ready for potentially challenging conditions on the region’s roads.
Lower North Island
An Orange Level Strong Wind warning has been issued for the Wellington, Wairarapa, and Tararua districts from 10 pm tonight (Monday) until 6 pm tomorrow. Severe gale northwesterlies, with gusts of up to 130 km/h in exposed areas, are forecast. A Heavy Rain Warning will also apply for the Tararua Ranges.
This weather will affect all state highways in the lower North Island. Drivers, particularly those of high-sided vehicles (trucks, vans, campervans), motorcycles, light vehicles, and towing vehicles must drive to the conditions and expect hazards such as sudden gusts, wind-blown debris, fallen trees, and downed powerlines.
Extra care will also be needed on exposed routes, such as State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill and State Highway 1 Transmission Gully – Wainui Saddle.
The forecast wind strength may approach levels that require the closure of State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill for safety reasons. People planning to travel between Wairarapa and the Hutt Valley should check road conditions before they travel.
Upper South Island
Orange Weather Alerts are also in force for the upper South Island.
A Strong Wind Warning applies to Marlborough from 2 pm this afternoon (Monday) until 6pm tomorrow (Tuesday). It will affect State Highway 1 from Picton to Kaikoura, State Highway 6 from Blenheim to Hira, and State Highway 63 through the Wairau Valley.
A Heavy Rain Warning will be in effect for Tasman (west of Tākaka), the Grey and Buller Districts, Nelson Lakes, and Saint Arnaud from 10 pm tonight until 1 pm tomorrow.
This will affect State Highway 6 Kohatu to Murchison, State Highway 65 O’Sullivan’s Bridge to Springs Junction, and State Highway 6 through the Buller Gorge.
Road users traveling these routes must drive to the conditions and be prepared for weather-related hazards. If conditions are bad, reduce your speed, increase your following distance, avoid sudden braking, and use your headlights if visibility is bad.
There are also weather warnings in place for other parts of the South Island, including the West Coast and Canterbury.
Bad weather can result in roads being closed at short notice, so people traveling in the wider South Island are encouraged to check road and weather conditions before they travel.