Whatatutu Mangatu Puha response team

01/09/2026

Anei whanau,
Updates on the gorge road closures over the next couple of days.
Kia matara whanau ma.

Due to a recent slip, State Highway 2 through Waioweka Gorge will be closed for short periods of time on Wednesday 2 September and Thursday 3 September, between 7am and 5pm, to allow crews to undertake rock scaling and make it safe for crews working on the road.

The closures will be for up to 10 minutes at a time, so expect short delays to your journey. The rest of the time, stop/go traffic management will remain in place.

These works are weather dependent, please check the NZTA Journey Planner before travelling: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/journey-planner

Click on the following link for more information about these works: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic-bulletins/sh2-waioweka-gorge-short-periods-of-full-closure-required-from-tomorrow

30/08/2026

UPDATE WHANAU.

GORGE IS OPEN

Kia Ora Whanau,

We have had reports coming in about a landslide on this side of Goldsmiths in the Gorge around Opato area.
We have been informed that Waiotahi contractors are on site, but unsure how long closure will be for. Please delay your travel.
At present there is no update on the Gisborne NZTA page.

Nga mihi
Whanau

21/07/2026

Morena whānau,

If you missed this panui there is a hui happening at Te Karaka Area school tonight. 5pm. Details in the post but it would be good to get as much of our Whatatutu/Puha whānau there as there will be a korero regarding coates corner.

Ngā Mihi

10/07/2026

Kia ora whānau an update as night falls, we advise whānau not to travel across Coastes corner overnight although it may look ok theres some lethal potholes under the surface water. Stay home, stay safe, stay warm. 🤗

09/07/2026

‼️‼️ Mōrena whānau, alot of rainfall overnight. Please read panui below.

SH2 TE KARAKA, GISBORNE - FLOODING - FINAL UPDATE 7:25AM, FRI 10 JUL

State Highway 2 is now OPEN north of Gisborne this morning, between Te Karaka (Cliff Road) and Whatatutu Road.
------

5:55AM, FRI 10 JUL

State Highway 2 is CLOSED north of Gisborne this morning, between Te Karaka (Cliff Road) and Whatatutu Road. Consider delaying travel through the area at this time.

26/06/2026

🌧️ Community Weather Update 🌧️

As night falls, we want to remind everyone to stay safe. We've had significant rainfall over the past couple of days. While conditions have eased for now, we're unsure what the weather front may bring overnight.

For everyone's safety, we encourage whānau to stay home unless travel is absolutely necessary.

A special reminder to our whānau beyond Omapere Station who may have been away during the day – please take extra care if you are travelling home. The flooded area remains hazardous, and conditions can change quickly, especially after dark.

Please don't take unnecessary risks. Stay home, stay warm, and stay safe. Let's all look after one another. 💙

Our team will continue to monitor the situation throughout the evening and night whanau.

25/06/2026

Morena whanau,

We have had considerable amount of rain over night, with forecasts of it not easing up until around 3pm today.
Please be mindful on the roads this morning.
Coates Corner has started to flood out already.
Also reports of flooding across the road on Matawai road, with a vehicle already in the drink.
Please take your time on the roads.
Be mindful of pothole which may be full of water and be bigger than anticipated.

Kia haumaru te haere.

Tairāwhiti Civil Defence Whatatutu Volunteer Fire Station Māhaki Tiaki Tangata

01/06/2026

Orange rain warning north of Tokomaru bay whanau.
We will likely get a softened version of this weather front.
But with all weather events, keep an eye out for fallen trees, possible road flooding and our awesome pot holes may hurt your vehicle wheels so kia tupato.

UPDATE (8.15am Tues): MetService have updated the ORANGE heavy rain warning for the ranges of Tairawhiti, north of Tokomaru Bay, to run 10 hours from 8am this morning through to 6pm this evening. Expect 60-100mm if rain with peak rates of 10-20mm/hr, but possibly 25-40mm/hr in localised downpours. Stay safe out there! 💙

UPDATE (7.30pm): MetService has extended the ORANGE heavy rain warning to run for 22 hours from 8pm tonight through to 6pm Tuesday. UPDATE

‼️ ORANGE HEAVY RAIN WARNING ‼️

Mōrena whānau! Just when we thought we were going to slide through the weekend without the weather hitting us, MetService issued an 🍊 ORANGE 🍊 HEAVY RAIN 🌧️ WARNING for the ranges of Tairāwhiti, north of Tokomaru Bay for the 21 hours from 6pm tonight (Monday) through to 3pm tomorrow (Tuesday).
Expect 90-130mm of rain ☔️ with peak rates of 10-20mm/hr expected but increasing to 25-40mm/hr in possible localised downpours on Tuesday morning and afternoon. Thunderstorms ⛈️ are possible on Tuesday. There is a minimal chance of this upgrading to a red warning.
Streams and rivers may rise rapidly, with surface flooding, slips and difficult driving 🚗 conditions possible. Clear your drains and gutters. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously.
Stay safe out there whānau! 💙

01/06/2026

Kua Kati te rori...
The road is closed heading to Opotiki whanau.
Roads closed precautionary with the pending weather event heading our way. Kia mataara whanau

17/04/2026

Anei whanau, the Gorge is open 24/7 under stop go support through Goldsmith worksite moving forward.

Kia matara whanau!

SH2 Waioweka Gorge is open around the clock again under stop/go traffic management, following the heavy rain and strong winds from Cyclone Vaianu.

We closed the gorge from Friday 10 April to Monday 13 April to keep people travelling safe during the severe weather. Fortunately there wasn’t much to clean up after the storm, but crews acted quickly to clear debris.

Recovery work is under way. The road is open 24/7, with stop/go traffic management at the Goldsmith slip site.