Gisborne District Council

06/06/2026

The next time you’re crossing Te Ikaroa a Rauru, take a moment to stop, read and connect with the kōrero behind this special place.

Storyboards have been installed marking completion of final elements to the bridge project, acknowledging and celebrating our unique heritage and navigators of Te Tairāwhiti.

Telling the narrative of the waka’s significance, name and design features, they highlight the stern, hull and bow elements, and the meaning of the rauawa wheku representing tīpuna to connect all iwi of Tairāwhiti.

Co-designed by LiveCreative, Council and Ngāti Oneone artist Nick Tupara, the storyboards were delivered through Trust Tairāwhiti’s contribution to the waka bridge project.

An unveiling was held last Friday with karakia led by Barney Tupara. Check out the video here of Nick describing the narrative of the design.
▶️www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0KxUyHI9J0

05/06/2026

♻ Secondhand Sunday is on from 9am to 12noon!

👀 Just a reminder that items will be on the front verge or by the letterbox - please don't enter private property.

💚 Have fun hunting and collecting and giving items a new home.

👇 Feel free to add your address in the comments on the Facebook post if you've got things to give away too.

🏠 Participating addresses:

14 Owen Rd
9 Richardson Ave
480 Nelson Rd
38 Cook St
2c Karamu Rd
43 Chalmers Rd
31 Pilmer Rd, Makauri
22 Steele Rd
3 Martin Rd
49 Shelley Rd
122 Harris St
14 Ralph St
2 Wi Pere Street

What items can be put out for collection❓

✅ You can put out any household items like furniture, kitchenware, toys, books, ornaments, clothing and tools.

❌ But please don't put out food, chemicals or hazardous goods, faulty electrical equipment, fi****ms and definitely no rubbish.

✨ Want more information or keen to register for next month, visit our website.
https://www.gdc.govt.nz/.../recycling.../secondhand-sunday

05/06/2026

Heads up if you’re travelling north this weekend - NZTA have advsied State Highway closures 🚗 🚧

With bad weather expected on the East Coast overnight NZTA will proactively close State Highway 35 at the Punaruku slip site between Wharekahika/Hick’s Bay and Te Araroa tonight, from 10pm Friday 5 June to 8am Saturday 6 June.

The hillside remains fragile following the late January storm, and sodden ground conditions combined with further heavy rain increase the risk of additional movement at the site. Closing the road overnight reduces the risk to road users.

A site inspection will be carried out at first light on Saturday, with an update on the road status expected by 8am.

SH2 Gisborne to Opotiki is currently open but may be closed if conditions change. A planned closure will be in place overnight tomorrow, Saturday 6 June from 9pm to 5am to undertake planned works on the Goldsmith's slip site.

Stay safe if you're travelling this weekend and follow NZTA for updates.

Waioweka Gorge - Night closure still scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday 6 June)

Despite the overnight forecast we are still expecting to begin critical work to stabilise the Goldsmith Slip this weekend.

The Gorge will be closed on Saturday 6 June, from 9pm to 5am. A one-hour window from 1am to 2am will allow freight through.

This work is weather dependent and may need to shift to our contingency day of Sunday 7 June.

Crew will inspect the worksite tomorrow morning and confirm the timing of the work by midday Saturday 6 June.

Night closures and daytime stop/go traffic management are needed so a large crane can carry out drilling and installation work for a rockfall attenuator - a large steel net which is designed to contain falling rock and debris before it reaches the road.

02/06/2026

And the connection is back! The gorge is open. Thanks NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi - Waikato & Bay of Plenty

As always, check road status before travelling.
👉 Road status
State Highway: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/journey-planner
Local roads: https://www.gdc.govt.nz/services/roads/road-information

SH2 Waioweka Gorge is now OPEN

SH2 Waioweka Gorge reopened from 8:30am today following an inspection of the road at first light this morning.

Weather will continue to be a challenge while we work through the next phase of the recovery works. The Trigger Action Response Plan (TARP) remains in place and will continue to help us make decisions to keep road users and our crews safe. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi would like to thank road users for their understanding.

Upcoming night closures

Night closures will begin this weekend as critical work starts to stabilise the Goldsmith Slip.

Night closures and daytime stop/go traffic management are needed, so a large crane can carry out drilling and installation work for a rockfall attenuator.

On Saturday 6 June, the Waioweka Gorge will be closed for one night, from 9pm to 5am, so crews can begin initial drilling and investigation work. A one-hour window from 1am to 2am will allow freight through.

From Sunday 21 June, there will be further closures for 10 nights, from 9pm to 5am, as installation continues. Work will take place Sunday to Thursday, with no work on Friday or Saturday nights. A one-hour window from 1am to 2am will again allow freight through.

From early July, installation of the steel net will begin. This work will be carried out during the day under the current stop/go traffic management in place at the Goldsmith Slip.

Other recovery work will continue throughout the Gorge under stop/go traffic management.

A rockfall attenuator is a large steel net which is designed to contain falling rock and debris before it reaches the road. When material falls, the net slows it down and guides it to the bottom of the slope, where it is safely contained behind a fence and concrete barrier.

A rockfall attenuator is a common treatment for slips like the one at Goldsmith and provides a near-permanent solution at the site. Once it’s installed, two-way traffic will be able to resume at the slip site, and the Gorge should require fewer proactive closures than it has since January. This will improve safety and reduce disruption for all road users.

02/06/2026

Here's the latest update from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi - Waikato & Bay of Plenty. The gorge will be closed overnight (Tuesday 2 June)

Road status
State Highway: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/journey-planner
Local roads: https://www.gdc.govt.nz/services/roads/road-information

SH2 Waioweka Gorge closure UPDATE -8:50AM WED 3 JUNE

SH2 Waioweka Gorge has now reopened.

Full update here: https://www.facebook.com/nztawbop/posts/pfbid0JjSnX3Ym4tkHp7fM1hAGYAcbqcdDK4KP8Q7c5cuVtQnnjXyQLvCEL9RYZUq6JqhRl

------

UPDATE - 4:40PM, TUE 2 JUNE

As confirmed earlier, SH2 Waioweka Gorge remains closed for the rest of today, Tuesday 2 June. The Orange Heavy Rain Warning remains in place until 6pm tonight.

Please note there are no guided convoys through the Gorge.

Our crews and geotechnical experts will be on site at first light tomorrow morning to fully inspect and clear the road. There are 2 sites in particular that we'll be paying attention to - Goldsmith Slip and the Rockfall Rockfill site where rocks and debris have fallen on the road.

We will provide an update around 8:30am tomorrow morning and hope to confirm when the Gorge will reopen.

------

SH2 Waioweka Gorge will remain closed for the rest of today, Tuesday 2 June, following the extension of the Orange Heavy Rain Warning through to 6pm.

Once the weather warning has been lifted, NZTA will fully inspect and clear the road. This can only be safely done during daylight hours. This inspection will be done at first light tomorrow morning, Wednesday 3 June, and we will notify the public when the Gorge can be opened. No convoys are being escorted through the Gorge during this closure.

Closing the Gorge isn't a decision that we make lightly, as we know how important this lifeline is. We use a safety plan called a 'Trigger Action Response Plan' (TARP) to help us take early action when weather conditions become riskier than normal on state highways.

It is based on factors such as rainfall and wind, ground conditions, and monitoring equipment data. This will happen under an orange or red weather warning issued by MetService and the road will be proactively closed until conditions are considered safe.

The current Orange Heavy Rain Warning forecasts 60 to 100 mm of rain on top of what has already fallen. Peak rates of 10 to 20 mm/h expected, but 25 to 40 mm/h in possible localised downpours.

Since we proactively closed the Gorge yesterday, more rocks and debris have fallen on the road, heightening dangerous conditions. Closing the road is the best way to keep all road users safe.

02/06/2026

🎉 Congratulations to our 38 newest citizens who've made Tairāwhiti their home. It's been a busy few weeks in chambers!

Last weeks's citizenship ceremony in Council Chambers was a celebration of the diverse community that makes our region strong. Welcomed by our Waiata Group. Mayor Rehette Stoltz then had the honour of presenting each participant with their citizenship certificate.

These 38 individuals, gathered with friends and whānau, join the many people from all parts of the world who have lived in and contributed to our region for many years, choosing to make this place home.

Their skills, cultures, perspectives, and dedication enrich our community in countless ways. They bring with them the gift of language and culture from distant whenua - each carrying unique ways of seeing and expressing the world, adding depth and richness to how we communicate and understand each other.

Nau mai haere mai - welcome

Erin Bickford, Scotland
Steven Richard Brady, United Kingdom
Ronnie May Brady, United Kingdom
Claire Louise Daniels, United Kingdom
Cristobal Matias Court Riesco, Chile
David Hale Crosby, United States of America
Claudio Felipe Gonzalez Vejar, Chile
Luiz Cesar Gualberto Veras Inoue, Brazil
Francisca Elanessa Lavor de Souza Inoue, Brazil
Caue Micael Lavor Inoue, Brazil
Ana Sofia Lavor Inoue, Brazil
Kevin Robert Haggard, United States of America
Anatalia Domondon Halog-Revell, Philippines
Wyatt Jessie Ocampo Ilarde, Philippines
Elsa Mariya Joju, India
Joju Joseph, India
Thresiamma Thomas, India
Kirpaljit Kaur, India
Tegh Singh, New Zealand
Jack Kelemete Lemanu, Samoa
Chris Tovio, Samoa
Torika Maurirere, Fiji
Soryun Park, Korea, Republic of
Aanya Prasad, Fiji
Aanav Hari Prasad, Fiji
Abha Raj, Fiji
Albert John Hilton Pretorius, South Africa
Hermien Pretorius, South Africa
Albert John Hilton Pretorius, South Africa
Willem Christiaan Pretorius, South Africa
Rohit Sharma, India
Amarjot Singh, India
Silke Steffen, Germany
Daniela Stevens, Germany
Alke Elfriede Friederike Stubbe, Germany
Markus Theodor Szillat, United States of America
Adrienne Weatherley, Brazil
Birgitt Whyte, South Africa

He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.
What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.

Our strength lies in our diversity and the contributions of all who choose to build their lives here alongside us. 💛
For information on becoming a NZ citizen: https://bit.ly/3Ri3Q7D

02/06/2026

📍 Nearly half of Gisborne lives within a 20-minute walk of this future pathway. Is that you?

📍 Te Ara o Taruheru, the Taruheru River Pathway, will be a 4.5km walking, cycling and wheeling route along the awa, from Derby Street to Campion Road.

The numbers:
📍 8,000 people within a 5-minute walk
🚲 23,000 people within a 5-minute bike ride
👣 Around 1,000 daily users expected
💰 $13.50 back for every $1 spent

We're working with Tapuwae Tairāwhiti Trails to make it happen. Design scenarios are coming later in 2026 and you'll get to have your say.

participate.gdc.govt.nz/taruheru-river-pathway
Hit +Follow to stay in the loop, read the business case and learn more...

The Gisborne Herald Radio Ngati Porou Turanga FM Media Bevan for Breakfast on MORE FM Gizzy Local

The preferred route will provide a safe pathway along the river between Derby Street and Campion Road. Follow the page to stay informed and get involved.

01/06/2026

Mōrena,
Please keep an eye out on NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi - Waikato & Bay of Plenty updates for Gorge closures and status.

Road status
State Highway: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/journey-planner
Local roads: https://www.gdc.govt.nz/services/roads/road-information

Have a great week.

28/05/2026

🛣️ $75 million confirmed for SH2 Waioweka Gorge resilience.

👉 The Government has announced today $75 million for resilience upgrades through the Waioweka Gorge corridor, following strong advocacy from Gisborne District Council and our regional partners.

🩵 This is a big win for Tairāwhiti and the wider East Coast.

🔵 We’ve worked alongside Ōpōtiki District Council, Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council to make the case for long-term resilience, backed by evidence, local experience and community voices.

🟡The announcement investment shows the Government has heard the concerns being raised across the East Coast. This won’t remove every risk, but it is an important move toward a stronger, more reliable SH2 corridor. We'll keep pushing for the wider SH2 East Coast route, including south to Hawke's Bay.

👉 Read more: https://www.gdc.govt.nz/council/news/media-releases/council-welcomes-$75m-resilience-investment-for-sh2-waioweka-gorge

26/05/2026

🚗 Heads up if you’re parking in town – our meters are gradually going coinless

After repeated damage to meters from people trying to access the coins inside, we’re removing the coin slots over time. The first coinless meters are now in place on Grey Street, the Grey Street carpark and at the Library carpark.

Everything else still works the same. Same rules, same fees – just hopefully fewer reasons for meters to be vandalised.

You can pay by PayWave or by scanning the QR code on the meter to pay online.

We know this change may not suit everyone but replacing a damaged meter costs at least $2,600 every time. Removing the coin slot saves costs and significantly reduces repeat damage.

❓We do get asked… why can’t we just make all parking free?

It’s a nice thought...🤔 but we’ve run trials before. Each time, workers and people parking all day took up the spaces making it harder for customers and visitors to find a park.

For now, there's still coin-operated and free time-limited options – but hopefully with fewer broken meters and less uncessary costs.

👉🏽 Read more about the coinless machines https://bit.ly/4uxXcMw
👉🏽 Or find out the fees and time limits here https://bit.ly/4v9FCi2