A new section of road to bypass the Hangaroa bluffs, improving safety and accessibility for road users will include 2 new bridges. The project includes 2 new bridges, one crossing the Hangaroa River into farmland and another spanning Tiniroto Road after Bluff 2. The bypass is expected to be completed in 2027.
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.
Interim solution to reopen the bluffs in 2024
To ease the impact of the road closure, we commissioned a report to assess safe, temporary options for reopening the bluffs. The report identified a feasible solution to reopen Tiniroto Road safely.
The reopening of Tiniroto Road at Hangaroa Bluffs took 5 weeks to complete and included: rock scaling at bluff 3 to remove loose and overhanging rocks, reducing the risk of rockfall. We also installed concrete blocks, earth-bunding and catch drains along bluffs 1 and 2 to protect road users from low-volume rockfall. The road reopened on 17 June 2024.
Heavy rain and monitoring
Tiniroto Road at the bluffs is closely monitored, especially during heavy rain events. If high rainfall occurs, the road may close at short notice until a safety assessment is completed.
If a MetService heavy rain warning is issued for the area, stay updated on road conditions.
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