Road crews are continuing to clear slips and fallen trees after recent severe weather hit the Bay of Plenty and Waikato, affecting the state highway network.

System Manager for the Waikato, Andy Oakley, said NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi teams are working across both regions to maintain key freight and travel routes.

“SH29 is a vital freight route linking the Port of Tauranga to Waikato and Auckland, so keeping the road in top condition is a key priority,” Oakley said.

Four overnight closures are planned for State Highway 29 over the Kaimai Range from Sunday 15 June to Thursday 19 June, between 8pm and 3.30am each night.

During the closures, work crews will carry out drainage improvements, road repairs and maintenance on both sides of the Kaimai Range.

Oakley said crews will also remove a shipping container lodged in a slip, and repair fencing in the same area. “We try to complete as much work as possible while the Kaimai Range is closed,” Oakley said.

On the Waikato side, work includes sign maintenance, line marking, and surface repairs. On the Tauranga side, contractors will lay rumble strips, line markings and resurface areas near Tauriko.

The Kaimai closure points are at the SH29/Cambridge Road intersection in the Bay of Plenty and the SH28/29 intersection in the Waikato. Detours are available southbound via Rotorua and northbound through Karangahake Gorge.

The upcoming Matariki weekend has also triggered a temporary work moratorium from midday Thursday 19 June until midnight Sunday 22 June. Most state highway maintenance will pause during this time to ensure smoother travel over the long weekend.

Across the wider region, road works are also ongoing. In Tauranga, construction at SH2/Fifteenth Avenue continues as part of the Takitimu North Link project.

Work includes a 120-metre retaining wall and 127-metre single-lane bridge, with lane restrictions expected until mid-2026.

Other major projects include resurfacing at Maungatapu Bridge, roundabout construction at SH29 and Redwood Lane, and safety improvements in Tauriko Village and on the SH2 corridor from Apata to Ōmokoroa.

Motorists are advised to check NZTA’s Journey Planner and drive with caution.