Cyclone Gabrielle left its mark on Tiniroto Road at the Hangaroa Bluffs wiping out 1.4km of road and reducing sections to less than a single lane. River protection works were destroyed. It required repairs to the retaining wall structures and rock protection works. Following emergency works the road reopened to a single lane.
After heavy rain in June 2023 a geotechnical report identified imminent and extreme risk to road users. The section of road was closed again in August 2023 and reopened 10 months later in June 2024.
Tiniroto Road bypassing the bluffs is the best option
A transformative solution is on the horizon for Tiniroto Road, with plans to bypass the Hangaroa Bluffs — one of our region’s most challenging and high-risk stretches.
We've explored 2 options - reinforcing the existing road or creating a bypass that crosses the Hangaroa River, skirting 2 of the unstable bluffs.
After careful assessment, the bypass emerged as the best long-term solution — not just for safety, but for best value and environmental impact.
Even with sizeable protection measures, the existing road would remain highly vulnerable to flooding. These measures could also disrupt the river’s natural flow.
Meanwhile, the stability of the Bluffs would continue to be a headache — with weather or earthquakes potentially closing the road and putting road users at risk.
By contrast, the bypass offers a safer, more reliable route that will serve the region for generations to come.
The project is now moving forward with input from landowners, iwi, and the community to ensure all perspectives are considered.
Next steps include environmental and ecological assessments, hydraulic river modelling, and preparing a resource consent application. Procurement for the bypass design has already begun.
Thanks to a $45 million investment from the government, a safer, more resilient alternative route is in the works — one that will better withstand future storms and ensure vital connectivity for our region.
Considering a long-term resilient solution
Tiniroto Road is considered an alternative route to State Highway 2 and a resilient roading solution is needed. This is a major project expected to be completed within a 3 - 5 year period.
Interim solution to reopen the bluffs
We commissioned a further report to understand what was required to safely open the bluffs as a temporary measure to ease the community impact of the road closure. The report identified a feasible option to safely open Tiniroto Road.
Work to re-open Tiniroto Road at the Hangaroa Bluffs took 5 weeks to complete. The work included:
- rock scaling at bluff 3 to remove overhanging and loose rocks, to reduce the risk of rockfall
- installing concrete blocks, earth bunding and catch drains along bluffs 1 and 2 to protect road users from low-volume rockfall.
The road reopened 17 June 2024.
Be aware in heavy rain
Tiniroto Road at the bluffs is closely monitored, especially during heavy rain events. High rainfall which could trigger a road closure at short notice until the road is assessed for safety. If this happens, the community will need to use the alternative detours during a closure.
If we get a MetService heavy rain warning for the area, make sure you stay up to date with alerts regarding road conditions.