Motorists are being urged to report potholes when they see them, so roading contractors can get them fixed quickly.

“During weather events, road conditions can change quickly, and our teams are ready to respond,” said NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Bay of Plenty system manager Sandra King.

“Repairs will happen as soon as it’s possible, and in some instances, we may need to install traffic management to ensure the safety of both our road users and crews.”

She said potholes can form quickly during rain, when water gets beneath the road surface.

Combined with the constant pressure of vehicles, this causes the surface to weaken and eventually break down.

Contractors respond within 24 hours, but they can’t fix what they don’t know about, said King.

“If you spot a pothole, please report it by calling 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49) so we can get it repaired as soon as possible.”

King also urged motorists to remember road closures and temporary speed restrictions are “for the safety of you, other road users and road workers, and these need to be followed”.

Motorists are advised to plan ahead and stay updated on road conditions by visiting Journey Planner.

Winter weather is causing some roading headaches around the region. Photo / NZTA

NZTA has also introduced a new segment called ‘Simon Says’, where NZTA’s Bay of Plenty journey manager Simon Sinclair, shares helpful tips and suggestions for commuters.

“With more rain, wind, ice and, in some parts, snow, it’s time to think about how we drive in winter versus how we should drive in winter.

“We need to drive to the conditions, adjust following distances, lower speeds and be ready for the unexpected.

“Here’s the link to NZTA’s winter driving, nzta.govt.nz/winter-driving have a read, review your driving habits and be ready for what mother nature has to throw at us."

Bay of Plenty

Tauranga

SH2/Fifteenth Ave: Major works to build the connection from SH2/Fifteenth Ave to SH29/Takitimu Drive Toll Road are progressing as part of the Takitimu North Link project. Works are under way and include building a 120m long retaining wall and a 127m long single lane bridge. Piling is under way with six of the nine piles already completed. Piling will take approximately three months, and construction of the bridge will take approximately 12 months. One lane at SH2/Fifteenth Ave near Edgecumbe Rd is closed while this work takes place, this is likely to remain in place until mid-2026. More information.

SH36 Tauriko: Tauranga City Council is upgrading a section of Taurikura Drive in Tauriko. The upgrade includes reconfiguring Taurikura Drive to include more lanes, building two new signalised intersections to improve traffic flow and safety, and new paths for walking and cycling with a new signalised mid-block crossing and expanded bus facilities. One of the signalised intersections will replace the existing roundabout at the main entrance of Tauranga Crossing. While this work is under way, on Taurikura Drive and at the SH36 roundabout, lanes have been changed and temporary traffic management is in place, with a reduced speed limit for the duration of the project. This upgrade is expected to take 12 months. People are encouraged to be patient and drive carefully through the site. More information.

Tauriko Enabling Works – SH29/Redwood Lane: The SH29/Redwood Lane roundabout is open under a temporary layout. As part of ongoing construction in the area, temporary traffic management including shoulder closures, lane deviations, mobile operations, and reduced speed limits are currently in effect. From Monday July 28 to Wednesday July 30 (9am - 4pm) a lane deviation and temporary speed limit of 30km/h will be in place on SH29, between Belk Rd and the Redwood Lane roundabout, to allow for kerb pouring and safety barrier adjustments. From Sunday August 3 (8pm - 5am, Sunday to Thursday nights) night works for road surfacing will begin and continue for two weeks between Gargan Rd and south of Belk Rd. Temporary traffic management will include stop/go operations and a 30km/h speed limit. From Monday August 4 (24/7) a lane deviation with a 50km/h speed limit will be in place on SH29, from south of Gargan Rd towards the Redwood Lane roundabout, to enable watermain installation work which is expected to take approximately five weeks, progressing southbound along SH29.

SH29/Tauriko Village: As part of ongoing construction, there are multiple active work sites along the northern side of SH29 in Tauriko Village and on Cambridge Rd, with temporary traffic management in place including temporary reduced speed limits, mobile operations, shoulder closures, and lane changes in place as required. More information.

SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road: Ongoing works in this area for the Takitimu North Link project include the construction of a flyover bridge and southbound slip lane. A reduced speed limit of 70km/h remains in place while crews are working behind the barriers. Traffic is anticipated to be diverted onto the flyover bridge and southbound slip lane in the next year while works continue. More information.

SH29A Maungatapu Bridge: Bridge maintenance is taking place underneath the structure with no disruption to traffic, but workers will be visible between 7.30am and 4pm Monday to Friday. The work is expected to be completed late September.

SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): The Tauranga City Council led project continues. A 2km section of SH2, just past the Kaituna River Bridge, continues to be reduced to a single lane in each direction allowing construction of the Pāpāmoa East Interchange to progress. This closure will remain in place for the duration of construction, with a temporary 70km/h speed limit in place. More information.

Western Bay of Plenty

SH2 Apata Station Rd: Road construction works are under way as part of the new roundabout works. Lane shifts are in place along with speed restrictions. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place during the day which may cause delays. Follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes.

SH2 Esdaile Rd/Pahoia Rd intersection: State highway road widening works are under way at this intersection. There will be speed restrictions and intermittent stop/go traffic management in place, which may cause delays. Follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes.

SH2 Pahoia Rd to Plummers Point Rd: While services are being installed, lane shifts will be in place along with speed restrictions. Intermittent stop/go traffic management may cause longer delays. Follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes.

SH2 Ōmokoroa Rd intersection upgrade: Road construction and service relocation works are under way in preparation for the new roundabout. A temporary single lane roundabout is operating at this intersection. Speed restrictions and intermittent stop/go traffic management are in place. Follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes. Expect delays, especially during peak times. More information

SH2 Minden Rd – Takitimu North Link Stage 1: There is a temporary speed limit of 50km/h throughout the worksite area of Minden Rd. Please take care travelling through and adhere to the speed limit.

Rotorua

SH30 Te Ngae Rd-Wharenui Rd: Work at the SH30 Te Ngae Rd and Wharenui Rd intersection is nearing completion. Wharenui Rd remains closed to through-traffic from the intersection while the work is being completed. Pedestrian/cycle access is retained. Wharenui Rd can be reached via Coulter/Glenfield or Brent/Reeve roads. On SH30 Te Ngae Rd traffic management including a temporary speed of 30km/h is in place, including a temporary pedestrian refuge 250m south of the intersection. The new traffic signals will be tested and, with the new road layout, are expected to be operating by early August. Once operating, a temporary speed of 40km/h will be in place until higher skid resistance surfacing is laid in October. More information.

SH5 Tumunui: Groundworks have started in preparation for the average speed cameras which will go live later this year. Two average speed cameras will be installed at either end of SH5 south of Rotorua. More information.

Eastern Bay of Plenty

SH2 Matatā: Groundworks have started in preparation for the average speed cameras which will go live later this year. There will be a shoulder closure by Herepuru Rd while crews clear vegetation, install a side barrier, culvert and concrete pad in preparation for the camera. A temporary speed limit will also be in place. More information

SH2 Waimana Gorge: Following wet weather earlier in July, an underslip has developed southeast of Tāneatua on SH2. The road is currently under 24-hour traffic management, traffic lights will be installed soon. A repair solution is currently being worked on, potential future road closures may be needed to complete repairs due to how narrow the site is. More information.

SH2/Wainui Rd, Matekerepu, near Ōpōtiki: Roundabout construction continues at the intersection of SH2 and Wainui Rd. From Tuesday July 29 (weather permitting) there will be a lane shift for people traveling on Wainui Rd to Ōpōtiki, allowing work to continue on the Matekerepu roundabout. People are asked to drive with care and stick to the temporary speed limit as they adjust to the new road layout, which is expected to be in place until later this year. All other road users are asked to take care when travelling through the area and expect traffic management such as shoulder closures, speed restrictions and, at times, stop/go while work is taking place. The roundabout is expected to be completed by April 2026.

SH35 Tōrere: Slip repairs are under way near Te Kura O Tōrere east of Ōpōtiki. Stop/go traffic management is in place. These works are expected to be completed in September, weather permitting. More information.

SH2 Waioweka Gorge: Ground investigation works continue in the Waioweka Gorge near Ōpōnae. Once contractors are confirmed, repair work is expected to begin and take approximately four months to complete. A shoulder closure remains in place.

Waikato

East Waikato

SH25 Kūaotunu: Underslip repairs are under way and the state highway on Kūaotunu Hill is reduced to a single lane. While work is under way the road is expected to remain open with lane shifts, however some short-term closures may be needed. Traffic management and speed restrictions will be in place and people are asked to watch out for directions from the traffic management team. These works are expected to take 6 months to complete.

Central Waikato

SH1/SH5 Taupō: A Commercial Vehicle Safety Centre is under construction at the SH1/SH5 roundabout. In-road weigh-in-motion scales, camera technology and electronic sign boards are being installed on 5 roads heading towards the safety centre, including SH1 and SH5. Work requiring lane closures has largely finished, apart from an occasional lane closure for a day, but continues on the road shoulders. More information

SH1 Putāruru: Monday July 28 between 7pm and 6am, the road will be closed at night on SH1 between Neal Street and Market Street in Putāruru. A detour for all traffic will be via Neal Street, Commerce Street, Market Street to rejoin SH1.

West Waikato

SH1B Telephone Rd, Hamilton: The project to upgrade the SH1B rail crossing on Telephone Rd is almost complete, with KiwiRail now in the final stages of testing and commissioning the new barriers and signals. The crossing is expected to reopen to traffic on the afternoon of Wednesday July 30. More information.

SH1/SH29 Piarere intersection: As part of finishing works on the new roundabout, road users should expect lane closures in the area next week. On Monday 28 July the SH1 Hamilton approach to the roundabout will be reduced to one lane for northbound traffic from 9am to 3pm, and on Tuesday July 29 the SH1 Hamilton approach will be reduced to one lane for southbound traffic from 9am to 3pm (weather permitting). The lane closures will be in place to enable work on the surface of the road, to ensure it is of the highest standard ahead of project completion. Minor delays are expected in the area, but traffic will be able to continue to use the other north and south bound lane during this time. Traffic management will be in place, including a temporary reduced speed limit of 30km/h in the affected lanes, and will be removed at the conclusion of each shift. The project is on track to be completed in late August. More information.

North Waikato

SH2 Between Coalfields Rd and Maramarua township: Stop/go traffic management will be in place on Sunday July 27 and Monday July 28 between 9pm and 5am for maintenance.

Manawatū -Whanganui

SH4 Ōtoko: Work is under way to repair an underslip on SH4, near Ōtoko, where the road has been down to one lane. The road closure that was in place has now lifted and stop/go temporary traffic management is in place on weekdays 6am-6pm until October 10 2025 while crews work to reinstate the northbound lane. Delays of up to 15 minutes are expected.

Tairāwhiti Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay

SH5 Napier to Taupō: Recovery alliance Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) continues to progress safety improvements, as well as repair, recovery and maintenance activities at multiple sites on SH5 between Eskdale and Waipunga. More information.

The above information is accurate at the time of release. Many of the above works are dependent on a number of factors, particularly weather, and may be postponed at short notice. For up-to-date information on road works, traffic, detours and delays, motorists are encouraged to visit the NZTA Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz).

NZTA thanks motorists for their patience while we complete this essential work to keep the state highway network safe, accessible and resilient.