In the second part of a focus on the North Island’s fragile, but well-travelled road to Cape Palliser, Local Democracy Reporting describes the community’s fears for the road’s funding, and plans to fix current damage.
By Sue Teodoro of Local Democracy Reporting
Funding for the popular road along Wairarapa’s south coast to Ngawi and Cape Palliser is changing, with locals anxious to ensure the vulnerable route is future-proofed.
Plans to repair damage from last year’s winter storms are well advanced, but longer-term funding is now uncertain for the route, which also provides access to the iconic lighthouse and its resident seal colony.
Cape Palliser Rd is a special purpose road, meaning it receives 100% funding from NZTA /Waka Kotahi (NZTA) for most repairs and maintenance. Upcoming changes have worried the community.
A survey in December showed 52% of residents used the road daily, and 48% weekly.
The Cape Palliser Road Action Group was set up last year to protect the special purpose road status, and optimise longer-term funding.
A group spokesperson said South Wairarapa District Council did not have the resources to fund the road.
"Cape Palliser Rd provides an essential lifeline for local communities," she said.
"All people who travel have the expectation that central government [via Waka Kotahi] will provide them with the basic right to access their homes, and livelihoods – agribusiness, crayfishing, paua, and wet fishing.
"The current road is in need of more funding than what has been committed to it."
The group proposed a longer period of funding settlement, on 20- to 50-year cycles.
They are promoting use of a QR code to help assess road usage by visitors and locals. This would help build a business case for government funding.
Cape Palliser farmer and former district councillor Brian Jephson said the current funding cycle was expected to end in 2027. He encouraged people to use the code.
"Could any visitors coming here please scan the QR code attached to the signs. The more we can get it out there the better."
He said it was important to involve locals in discussions about the road and its future.
"We need everyone to get around the table and talk about it.
"Local people with local knowledge and local ideas ensure work like this can be done successfully."
Jephson said the South Wairarapa District Council was fully supportive of plans to fix the road, and secure its funding.
"[The council] are really in behind this."
'Enormously important to the local community'
The council’s chief executive Janice Smith confirmed the council’s views.
"The [special purpose road] classification for Cape Palliser Rd will expire in June 2027, and Waka Kotahi NZTA has confirmed it will no longer fund 100% of special purpose roads nationwide.
"As part of our business case to NZTA for future funding, we will advocate to keep full funding for the vulnerable and high maintenance sections of the road. The road is enormously important to the local community and wider region for cultural, economic, and social reasons and it is critical that appropriate levels of funding are maintained."
Emma Speight, NZTA director regional relationships for greater Wellington and top of the south, confirmed the agency decided in 2014 to phase out all special purpose roads over 10 years.
"In 2023, the NZTA board extended the 100% funding assistance rate for the Cape Palliser Rd through to the end of the current 2024–27 national land transport programme period."
She said NZTA appreciated the road was an important link for residents and visitors and had funded improvements over the past six years.
"While NZTA is not able to extend the current 100% [funding assistance rate] arrangement beyond 30 June 2027, we will be working closely with the council on the development of the 2027-30 regional land transport plan, including the council’s funding bid for the maintenance and operation of Cape Palliser Rd."
Plans to fix the current section of the road north of Ngawi damaged in last year’s storm are well under way. A Greater Wellington Regional Council spokesperson confirmed it was processing a resource consent application from the council to change the design of existing seawalls in parts of the seaward side of the road, including the badly damaged section.
Smith said the road remained safe to use. She hoped the Greater Wellington Regional Council resource consent would be granted soon.
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
SHARE ME