Washing away: Fight to save popular tourist route from the sea

In the first part of a focus on the North Island’s fragile – but well-travelled – road to Cape Palliser, Local Democracy Reporting examines the road’s current state.

By Sue Teodoro of Local Democracy Reporting

The road to the iconic North Island landmark is at risk of being reclaimed by the sea, with the community and the council working on a permanent fix.

Windswept and isolated, the most southerly of North Island roads gets regularly battered by winter storms.

Last year, one section of an entire lane washed away just before the small fishing village of Ngawi. Since then, that part of the road has been one-way traffic only.

Not that this deters tourists. All year round a steady stream of campervans and daytrippers head along Cape Palliser Rd – down to the boats, campground and food truck at Ngawi.

A major drawcard, Cape Palliser lighthouse and its resident seal colony is just 15km beyond.

Palliser Bay farmer Brian Jephson, who was previously a South Wairarapa District Councillor for 12 years, said the local community was working with the council on getting the road fixed as soon as possible, and ensuring the road was funded going forward.

“South Wairarapa District Council are really in behind this,” he said.

“Last winter that part of the road got pretty bad.”

He said roading contractors Fulton Hogan were doing a good job of managing the now one-lane road.

“When there’s sea coming over the road at night, they close the road. If it happens during the day, Fulton Hogan generally have a stop-go in place.

“Generally, it hasn’t been shut for more than a day.”

Jephson said there were large numbers of tourists and others using the road these days.

“Ngawi demographics are changing quite a bit. Retirees are probably not affected if the road is closed for a day or two, but people who work in town are affected. ”

Cape Palliser Rd is presently categorised as a special purpose road, meaning it is a local road with high tourism or strategic value.

They typically received 100% funding from the government, unlike other local roads that shared funding with councils.

“We are lucky to have had the special purpose road category for some years,” he said.

A spokesperson for NZTA confirmed they helped fund repairs for the road, which was managed by South Wairarapa District Council.

“We help fund the South Wairarapa District Council for its operation and maintenance, but any work done on the road is done by the council, not NZTA/Waka Kotahi,” the spokesperson said

“Currently, it is classified as a special purpose road which means NZTA/Waka Kotahi has a 100% financial assistance rate, covering approved maintenance, low-cost, low-risk, and emergency works activities for the road.

“However, while the cost is covered by NZTA/Waka Kotahi, the work is done by the council as the relevant road controlling authority.“

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air