State Highway 2 through the Waioweka Gorge, the main route between Gisborne and Ōpōtiki, is likely to remain closed for several weeks after heavy rainfall triggered dozens of slips, washed out sections of road and forced more than 40 stranded people to be rescued by helicopter.
Extreme weather that dumped 322mm of rain in 48 hours — double the area’s January average — turned gullies into waterfalls and overwhelmed culverts throughout the gorge on Friday.
NZTA Waikato and Bay of Plenty maintenance and operations manager Roger Brady said geotechnical assessments and drone surveys show the damage is far worse than initial crews could see.
"We want to be upfront that this is not something we can fix in a few days. The damage is significant, and reopening the road safely will likely take a few weeks."
Footage captures the moment a landslide surges across SH2 as torrential rain destabilises the hillside. (Source: Supplied)
Crews have spent the weekend clearing smaller slips to gain access to larger, more dangerous sites. Up to 40 slips were now confirmed, including four to eight major slips at both ends of the gorge.
"The sheer number of slips and continuing debris falling mean this is a complex and challenging situation. The safety of our crews will always come first."
Motorists were advised to delay travel or take lengthy detours via SH35 or SH5.
The long-term closure follows a major rescue after Friday’s heavy rain trapped dozens of motorists between slips.
By midnight Friday, more than 40 people had been airlifted out by a coordinated response involving local helicopter pilots, the New Zealand Defence Force, Police Search and Rescue and regional councils.
Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Commander Inspector Nicky Cooney said it was a "significant effort" and confirmed everyone known to be in the gorge had been accounted for.
A Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopter rescued 35 people, ferrying them from Manganuku Campsite to welfare centres at Ōpōtiki Airfield and Matawai.
Flight Lieutenant George Bellamy said the crew completed the rescues just in time.
"We managed to complete all the rescues just as the weather began to deteriorate, meaning we likely couldn’t have done much more. Without the coordination on the ground, there could have been unprepared people left out overnight."
The last flights wrapped up shortly before 2am.
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