Three Years of Cyclone Repair Works Conclude on SH2 and SH5 in Hawke’s Bay

Why It Matters

Restoring SH2 and SH5 reopens critical freight and tourism corridors, bolstering regional economic resilience and demonstrating New Zealand’s commitment to climate‑adapted infrastructure.

Key Takeaways

• 65 repair sites completed on SH2 and SH5.
• Devil’s Elbow rebuild took longest, added retaining wall.
• Transport Minister called project a “huge milestone.”
• Remaining works include SH2 raising and new Waikare bridge.
• Only SH38 still pending under‑slip repairs.

Pulse Analysis

Cyclone Gabrielle ripped through Hawke’s Bay in February 2023, collapsing sections of State Highway 2 and State Highway 5, two arteries that link the east coast with the central North Island. The damage included massive slips, destroyed culverts, and the loss of the Waikare Gorge bridge, halting freight movements and tourism traffic between Napier, Wairoa, and Taupō. For a region that relies on road transport for agricultural exports and visitor flow, the disruption threatened supply chains and local economies, prompting an urgent, multi‑agency response to restore connectivity.

Over the next three years, Transport New Zealand, KiwiRail and the Transport Rebuild East Coast consortium coordinated more than 90 local contractors to tackle roughly 65 repair sites along the two highways. The most complex effort centered on the Devil’s Elbow stretch of SH2, where crews executed nine under‑slip fixes, installed a 12‑metre retaining wall, and replaced the main culvert to improve storm‑water management. The final asphalting completed in March 2026 marks the end of major works, and the Transport Minister hailed the achievement as a “huge milestone” for road users.

While SH2 and SH5 are now fully operational, the region’s resilience program continues with projects such as raising the SH2 corridor at Whirinaki and constructing a permanent Waikare Gorge bridge to replace the temporary structure. The only remaining highway repair in Hawke’s Bay, SH38, is slated for completion by June 2026, underscoring the ongoing commitment to flood‑proof the network. These upgrades not only safeguard future traffic flows but also signal New Zealand’s broader strategy to harden critical infrastructure against climate‑driven events, a priority for investors and policymakers alike.