The source of the loose tar that littered roads and highways from Waiouru to Wellington earlier this week remains unknown.
By Rebecca Hogan for Local Democracy Reporting
Police were notified by the public to lumps of tar scattered around central roads and state highways on Wednesday morning as unsuspecting drivers tracked the substance during commutes.
Manawatū District Mayor Michael Ford was told by the district council’s operational team that much of the tar had been “pushed into the underlying seal with no detrimental effect”.
Though there were “a number of speculative ideas” about the source of the tar, there was no set culprit for the spillage.
Police believed the substance came off the back of a truck, with reports showing drivers and residents near state highways 1, 4 and 49 had been heavily affected by large clumps of tar, some of which were 10cm in size.
Much of the tar has either been swept off the road by Fulton Hogan crews or squashed into the roads by vehicles passing by – making the tar a new, potentially permanent feature on some roads.
Pictures emerged on social media showing the substance has been tracked as far as the Bluebridge ferry terminal in central Wellington by unknowing cars heading south.
"That's taxpayers money just dropped on the road. What a waste of product, and our money, and now tires may need to be replaced if ruined. What a shame", said one social media user.
Anyone who witnessed the tar being spilt from a vehicle can contact them on 105 and reference case number P065564731.
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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