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Nearly 186 lane kilometres of Northland state highways were renewed during the 2025/26 construction season, with NZTA Waka Kotahi delivering the majority of its planned programme despite a wet summer, severe storms, and ex-Tropical Cyclone Vaianu disrupting work across the region.
“Despite the challenges of severe weather, the team has put in a huge amount of mahi delivering the majority of planned works along with responding quickly to slips, fallen trees and surface flooding,” says NZTA’s regional manager of maintenance and operations, Jacqui Hori-Hoult.
“They’ve worked tirelessly to keep the state highway network operating.”
Between September and May, crews achieved 25 lane kilometres of road rebuilds, 11 lane kilometres of resurfacing and 149 lane kilometres of chipsealing.
The work was delivered by contractors Fulton Hogan, Wharehine and Far North Roading.
Hori-Hoult says crews completed a number of important slip and stabilisation repairs this season.
Progress was also made on a major drainage improvement programme designed to strengthen the network against future weather events, with 44 activities completed this season.
Culverts on key routes are being upgraded to withstand 1-in-100-year flood events.
Due to weather conditions, some works have had to be deferred to the 2026/27 season, including final surfacing at SH1 Whakapara (Puhipuhi Road), a rebuild on SH10 near Zidich Road, and more than 15 lane kilometres of chipsealing. All partially completed sites have been made safe and will be monitored and maintained over winter.
Over winter, crews will focus on tasks such as keeping drains clear in flood-prone areas, clearing vegetation, repairing potholes and responding to urgent events such as slips and flooding.
“Road users are encouraged to slow down in wet and foggy conditions, allow extra following distance, watch for crews working on the network and report potholes on 0800 4 HIGHWAYS,” Hori-Hoult says.
Planning is already underway for the 2026/27 summer maintenance season, with roads of greatest need being prioritised.
NZTA expects a similar volume of activity next season and will continue to schedule works to minimise disruption where practical, including night works, off-peak works and pauses for non-essential works over public holidays.
Across 2024–27, the Government has committed $2.07 billion to road and drainage renewal and maintenance through the State Highway Pothole Prevention activity class.
Northland has approved investment of $258.6 million for state highway maintenance and pothole prevention over the same period.
