Regional Mayors Call for Urgent Action as Massive Slip Paralyzes State Highway 3

Taranaki and Waikato mayors call on NZTA CEO Brett Gliddon to address the "unacceptable" repeated closures of State Highway 3 following a massive slip in Awakino Gorge.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 28, 2026, 3:58 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

The Awakino Gorge Crisis

State Highway 3, the primary link between New Plymouth and Te Kuiti, has been closed since April 18, 2026, due to a significant landslide in the Awakino Gorge. This marks the seventh weather-related closure for the gorge in the last 12 months. NZTA crews are currently tasked with clearing an estimated 12,000 to 16,000 cubic metres of debris—enough to fill several Olympic-sized swimming pools. While work is underway to excavate a 50-metre bench into the hillside to capture future falling material, the road is not expected to reopen until May 2 at the earliest.

Mayors Demand "Front Up" from NZTA

New Plymouth Mayor Max Brough, supported by leaders from Waitomo, Ruapehu, Ōtorohanga, and Waipa, has formally requested that NZTA CEO Brett Gliddon visit Taranaki within ten working days. The mayors are seeking a site visit and a "targeted discussion" on long-term resilience options to prevent the region from being repeatedly isolated. Waitomo Mayor John Robertson highlighted that the current bypass route, the "Forgotten World Highway" (SH43), was also closed by the recent severe weather, leaving the region effectively cut off and emphasizing the fragility of the current infrastructure.

Economic Toll on Small Communities

The closure has had a devastating impact on small settlements along the route. Mōkau, a coastal town reliant on through-traffic, has been described by locals as a "ghost town."