Mangawhai Road reopens after cyclone repairs

Mangawhai Road has fully reopened following the completion of one of Kaipara’s largest and most complex slip repairs, more than three years after the route was damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Just last month, Kaipara District Council said the repair was expected to be completed by mid-August.

Mangawhai Road was closed around the clock between Coal Hill Road and Cames Road while crews carried out the complex repairs required to restore the route.

The project is part of Kaipara District Council’s $17 million programme to restore roads across the district damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle and the February 2023 Mangawhai storm.

It was majority funded by NZTA under the Cyclone Gabrielle 92% funding assistance rate.

Since February 2023, crews have repaired over 70 significant slips caused by back-to-back weather events.

The repair saw crews use anchored H-piles and a mesh-faced reinforced slope, a hybrid design that addressed ground movement while costing significantly less than a traditional concrete wall.

Kaipara Mayor Jonathan Larsen said the extensive repairs, which included rebuilding the northern side of the road from the ground up, would make the route more resilient to severe weather.

“It’s really great to see the road future-proofed and back open again. More importantly, these extensive repairs – which included rebuilding the north side of the road from the bottom up – help to make this stretch of road more resilient during severe weather events, supporting both the Mangawhai community and the many other travellers who rely on this route every day,” he said.

“Thanks to the contractors – the teams at CLL Service & Solutions and Geonexus, and everyone else involved in the planning, design and delivery of this project, and to residents, businesses and road users for their patience and understanding while this work was carried out.

“We know the closure was disruptive, but it was necessary to deliver a long-term solution.”