Roading updates
Published on 28 March 2023
Getting in and out of Northland
Latest information on road closures around the District and detour routes while the Brynderwyn repairs are underway.
SH1 Brynderwyns to fully re-open on 31 March
SH1 Brynderwyns will be open in both directions from 12pm on Friday 31 March 2023.
The road will then need to close in both directions from 17 April for two weeks to complete major earth works and drainage installation before permanently opening the road in May 2023.
Southbound detours
Two routes are available for travelling South.
1. Kaiwaka Mangawhai Road
The detour route from Waipu to Mangawhai through Kaiwaka is open for light vehicles. Trucks can also use this route if they are without trailer units and servicing the local area.
Please drive carefully as traffic management is still in place on some sections.
2. Paparoa-Oakleigh Road
Paparoa-Oakleigh Road is also open for light vehicles. A temporary speed limit of 70km/h is in place along the full length of the road.
Works to remediate some sections of Paparoa-Oakleigh Road are underway and will continue until 5 April 2023. Please expect delays and take care driving through the worksites. Temporary traffic management will be in place in some areas using stop / go signs.
During this repair work (20 March to 5 April), light traffic is encouraged to use Waipu-Mangawhai-Kaiwaka as the eastern southbound route, and heavy vehicles to continue to use the SH14 and SH12 detour. Note that a truck and trailer restriction remains in place on Cove Road (eastern detour route).
Recommended route South for heavy vehicles
The State Highway 12/14 detour via Dargaville is the recommended route for all heavy vehicle traffic, particularly truck and trailer units.
Map updated: 24 March 2023
Local Roads
Last updated 1:20pm Monday 27 March
Caution is still needed when driving as many roads are damaged and down to one lane in places due to slips.
Report issues to us directly:
Report it
Roads closed
- Finlayson Brook Road – dropout / underslip
- Memorial Drive (Parihaka) – drop out / underslip
- Shoemaker Road – dropout / underslip
- Stuart Road – landslip
- Waipu Caves Road – dropout / underslip and landslips
Impacts of extreme weather events on Northland roading network
Passable with caution
This list is indicative only - please drive with high caution at all times.
- Abbey Caves Road – underslip
- Awaroa River Rd – one lane only dropout/underslip
- Bay View Road – one lane only, landslip
- Clemo Road – underslip
- Cove Road – passable with caution, local access only
- Crows Nest Road – one lane only, underslip
- Durham Road (near the end) – road scouring
- Glenmohr Road – one lane only
- Hartnell Road – dropout / underslip
- Harwood Road – fallen tree
- Helmsdale Road – underslip
- Hillcrest Road – dropout, underslip
- Mangapai Caves Road – landslide, overslip
- Marsden Bay Drive – flooding
- Millbrook Road – one lane only, underslip
- Mimiwhangata Road – landslip
- Ngahau Bay Road – one lane only, landslip
- O'Carroll Road – one lane only, landslips
- Otuhi Road – dropout / under slip
- Paiawa Road – dropout / underslip
- Prescott Road – fallen tree
- Rockell Road – one lane only, landslip
- Salmon Road – underslip
- Schultz Road – fallen tree
- Snooks Road – dropout / underslip
- Springfield Road – one lane only, underslip
- Takitu Road – landslip, fallen tree
- Waiotira Road – one lane only, landslide
- Waipu Gorge Road – only open to local through traffic
- Walker Road – landslide / overslip
- Whangarei Heads Road (near School Road intersection) – uneven surface
Plan your journey
If you are travelling on a State Highway, use Waka Kotahi's Journey Planner:
Waka Kotahi Journey Planner (nzta.govt.nz)
If you are travelling on local roads, please plan your journey using Waze:
Waze live map