Summer is roadworks season

Published on 11 November 2026

Summer means longer days, warmer weather and plenty of opportunities to get out and about. It also means roadworks season is here. 

Over the coming months, you’ll see plenty of activity across Whangārei District as road crews make the most of the warmer, drier conditions to repair and renew our roads. 

Work on local roads is carried out by contractors working for Whangarei District Council, while work on state highways is managed by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. At times, state highway works can also mean detours or extra traffic on local roads. 

Why summer? 

Warm, dry weather and longer daylight hours provide the best conditions for many types of road repair and resurfacing. 

Dry conditions help the different layers and materials bond properly, creating a better-quality, longer-lasting road surface. Getting this work done in the right conditions means repairs should last longer and need less maintenance over time. 

A break over Christmas 

While summer is our busiest time for roadworks, most work pauses over the busy Christmas and New Year travel period. 

This year, Council’s Christmas and New Year roadworks moratorium runs from 12:00pm noon on Friday 18 December 2026 until 11:59pm on Sunday 3 January 2027. 

During this time, no new excavations or above-ground activities are permitted on the Whangārei District local road network unless an exemption has been approved. 

Existing excavations are to be reinstated beforehand, and traffic management removed or reduced for longer-term projects as agreed. 

You may still come across roadworks sites over the break, and it’s important to take care even when no one is working at the site. 

Temporary road layouts, reduced speed limits, signs or other traffic management may remain in place at longer-term projects during the moratorium. 

If you come across one of these sites, please slow down, follow the signs and drive to the conditions. A roadworks site can still present risks even when the crews have gone home. 

Please look out for our road crews 

We know roadworks can mean delays and disruption, especially when lots of people are travelling over summer. 

Our crews are working in hot, noisy and dusty conditions, often just metres from passing vehicles. 

Please slow down, follow temporary speed limits, signs and traffic management, and give them a friendly wave as you go by. A little patience helps everyone get home safely.