Officials have identified a "tar-like-substance" scattered across highways and roads in the North Island, but are still trying to find the culprit.
By Rebecca Hogan of Local Democracy Reporting
Lumps of bitumen, most often made from crude oil, were littered from Southern Waikato to Wellington, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi revealed.
The substance, at first thought to be tar, appeared on the highways on February 25.
"It’s not a good look when there are billions being spent on roads, while healthcare and education go lacking," said Auckland resident Jeremy Bradley.
He approached Local Democracy Reporting with photographs of bitumen on some residential streets and footpaths in the suburb of Kohimarama, and in Takapuna on Auckland's North Shore.
The biggest issue wasn’t the bitumen's "messy appearance", said Bradley, rather its raised positioning on roads and footpaths that caused a "stumbling hazard" for those not paying attention under foot.
Waka Kotahi said it was "deeply concerned" about the damage caused by the bitumen spills on State Highways 1, 4 and 49.
The agency was reviewing the evidence and welcomed the public to continue contacting them with information which could help its investigation and identify the culprit.
Bitumen is easily confused with tar, but it’s most often used as a binding agent with asphalt for road construction.
Transporting NZ had received multiple emails from truck operators across the North Island who’d identified spillage and had damage or inconvenience caused by "sizeable" amounts of bitumen.
Its policy and advocacy adviser Mark Stockdale was concerned for motorists because it was "rare for NZTA to compensate for vehicle damage".
Only five of the 145 complaints which NZTA received for road-related damages in the 2022-23 financial year were paid to complainants.
"Once NZTA has more information on who was responsible for the spillage, we will be seeking legal advice on behalf of our members," said Stockdale.
The independent organisation had released advice for at-home solutions on how to clean or loosen the substance from vehicles, and Stockdale advised those effected to report damage to their insurers promptly.
Waiouru locals told LDR they believed NZTA and police needed to check security cameras from the morning of the incident to track the culprit; particularly the cameras at Waiouru’s BP station.
Police said they released an initial alert to notify motorists of the substance, but the issue didn't warrant any further action from police.
A key route in Manawatū, Railway Rd from Palmerston North to Bunnythorpe, remains stained with bitumen. While some clumps have been pushed into the road, others remain raised.
Industrial roads and truck stops in Palmerston North, such as Malden St in the suburb of Milson, were particularly rife with splotches and raised clumps of bitumen.
Manawatū District Council said there hadn’t been any further impact in the district from the bitumen, and it was waiting on NZTA’s investigation to consider next steps or taking further action.
Palmerston North City Council did not wish to provide a comment.
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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