26 June 2025
Council has endorsed a long-term strategy to tackle the critical condition of the region’s extensive 1,899km local roading network.
The Strategic Roading Network Resilience Programme Business Case, adopted at Council's meeting today, lays out a path to a more resilient and reliable transport network for Tairāwhiti for the level of investment it receives from rates and Waka Kotahi NZTA.
The business case outlines an evidence-based approach to where and how roads are maintained, and smarter use of funding to improve the resilience of critical transport routes over the next 30 years
Council Director Lifelines Tim Barry says the plan sets a realistic and forward-thinking framework for future decision-making.
“This isn’t a funding bid - it’s a roadmap for hard but necessary choices. Our roads are wearing out faster than we can fix them, and frequent storm damage is costing more than we can afford. We need to prioritise resilience where it matters most.”
The plan’s preferred option—Balanced Reach—targets investment on the roads that serve the greatest social and economic need, particularly in central areas of the region where most people live. Less-used or lower-priority routes may receive reduced levels of service, and some could revert to unsealed roads or be retired entirely.
Council will work closely with iwi, hapū, industry and communities to determine appropriate levels of service for specific roads, recognising the cultural, social, and economic value many routes hold. Future engagement will be part of Council’s Long Term Plan process.
Mayor Rehette Stoltz said the business case is a clear-eyed response to the pressures facing our region.
“We’ve spent more on emergency road repairs than ever before—$65 million last year alone—but many roads are still deteriorating. This plan helps us shift from reactive patching to proactive investment. It’s not about doing less—it’s about doing what’s most important.”
The Programme Business Case will now undergo peer review by Waka Kotahi NZTA, with a final version expected to return to Council in August for adoption.
For more background on the roading network review