Work to repair five slips under the road on State Highway 38 (SH38) is progressing well, with crews expected to complete four of the Cyclone Gabrielle sites by early June.

The remaining site at Rosie Bay has proved challenging due to hard ground conditions and recent weather impacts. As a result, works at this site are now expected to be completed by Friday 17 July.

Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) is completing the work, on behalf of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.

Road closures are currently in place so work can be completed. Full closures are required because the road isn’t wide enough for construction work to take place alongside a single lane of traffic.  

Closure times and dates are as follows:

Monday 2 March to Friday 5 June 2026

SH38 will be closed between Lake Waikaremoana Holiday Park and Tuai:

• 8am to midday and 1pm to 5pm
• Monday to Saturday (6 days each week)

The road will be open before 8am, between 12pm and 1pm, after 5pm, and all day Sundays.

There will be no access to Rosie Bay Campsite or the Great Walk entrance at Onepoto Bay during the closure times.

Monday 8 June to Friday 17 July 2026

The closure area will shorten, and access to the Great Walk entrance at Onepoto Bay will be available for those travelling from Wairoa.

SH38 will be closed between Lake Waikaremoana Holiday Park and Onepoto Road:

• 8am to midday and 1pm to 5pm
• Monday to Friday (5 days each week)

The road will be open before 8am, between 12pm and 1pm, after 5pm, and all day Saturdays and Sundays.

There will be no access to Rosie Bay Campsite during the closure times.

There are no viable detours, so please plan ahead.

Once completed, all Cyclone Gabrielle related repairs along SH38 will be complete, restoring the road back to their original width, improving long-term resilience and keeping communities connected

For more details on the closures, visit: SH38 Wairoa to Waikaremoana | NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.

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• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)

29 May 2026

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