All “Roading” topics

Spinning its wheels: the new national transport plan steers NZ back to a car-dependent past

The Government’s new National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) could easily have been renamed the “highway funding project”, given its intense focus on road building. Released this month, the plan outlines funding priorities for the next three years. If it comes to fruition, much of the spending will be driven into major highway schemes, and steered away from sustainable transport alternatives for the main cities. 

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Cyclone Gabrielle: Preparing for the next disastrous event

Cyclone Gabrielle caused widespread damage and disruption to most parts of New Zealand, resulting in the closure of many of the country’s main highways and significantly impacting the local economy. In the weeks and months that followed, many businesses suffered from delays and supply chain disruptions, with the rebuilding work still underway, even now.

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Clearing the way for future resilience in the roading network

When a national state of emergency was declared on Tuesday 14 February due to Cyclone Gabrielle, more than 30 sections of state highway were completely closed to traffic, impacting a significant proportion of the roading network serving Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Manawatu, the Central Plateau, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay. Several months on, it’s clear just exactly how much Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (Waka Kotahi) and local councils are facing as they look to restore the damage and upgrade infrastructure.

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Cyclone was a true test of Kiwi resilience

When Cyclone Gabrielle hit the North Island earlier this year, the strong winds and widespread flooding caused major disruption to the roading networks and core services throughout the Hawkes Bay, Auckland and Northland regions. In many regions key transport routes were completely cut off, isolating communities and hindering access to vital services. This created immense challenges for emergency response teams, as well as for residents attempting to evacuate or seek assistance. The disruption to the roading network also had significant economic consequences, impacting transportation of goods and services, and causing delays in supply chains.

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Unprecedented devastation, now for the rebuild

Cyclone Gabrielle claimed the lives of 11 people, described as the worst weather event of this century. It devastated Hawke’s Bay, causing unprecedented damage to lives and livelihoods. There was also a loss of life to the north, in Tairawhiti, while two volunteer firefighters died in a Muriwai landslide. But while life has returned to normal for many in Hawke’s Bay, many thousands of others across the region still face a long and difficult journey to return to some semblance of normality.

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The state of New Zealand’s roads

The quality of New Zealand’s roads and the infrastructure we drive over have been top of mind for many frustrated drivers of both small and commercial vehicles. However, there may be smoother roads ahead thanks to a $400 million funding boost.

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