Motu Trails Trust Welcomes Start Date for Motu Road Slip Repairs

Months after a major slip closed Motu Road, repair work is scheduled to begin later this month, bringing relief to cyclists and local communities.

Motu Trails Trust has welcomed news that Ōpōtiki District Council will begin clearing the slip on Motu Road later this month.

The 100-metre slip, between Papamoa Hill and Whitikau Road, has closed the road in both directions since November last year.

Ōpōtiki District Council Asset Manager Jessica Wiseman said the closure has impacted locals, the resilience of the road link to Gisborne, and access to sections of the Motu Trails.

After months of monitoring the slip and investigating repair options, funding has been secured from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi to begin the work, she said.

While staff finalise work plans, the council aims to have machinery on site by July 20.

Trust Executive Officer Jim Robinson said the closure had significantly impacted use of the Motu Road and Pakihi tracks over summer.

"To get to the top of Pakihi for cycling, you have to go via Motu Road, so especially with the Waiweka Gorge problems, it meant that it was very difficult to get to the top of Pakihi Track.

"So while the track was in awesome condition, unfortunately people couldn't get onto it unless they were walking from the bottom end, so it had a big impact."

However, usage of the coastal and dune trails remained high, he said.

Robinson said the repair work was a welcome development, as it would restore access for cyclists travelling through to Gisborne and beyond.

"There's an event called Kōpiko Aotearoa, which is a bikepacking mission from the east of the North Island to the west, or vice versa, where people ride in a self-contained way.

"Not having Motu Road as a through road has been a problem for people who want to do that, but it means that they're back in business, they can go through again."

While it is currently the off-season, Robinson said he hoped cycling numbers would increase again over summer, with around 2,500 people using the inland tracks annually.

"Hopefully we'll just be back to those kind of numbers again," he said.

In the meantime, he encouraged people to walk the Pakihi Track, which remains accessible from the southern end.

Wiseman said the site was initially too unstable for clearing work and required detailed planning before repairs could begin.

"Once works begin, the site will be an active construction area and remain fully closed to the public at all times, including outside working hours.

"This is due to the safety risks associated with earthworks and ground stability."

She said staff were working to complete the repairs as safely and quickly as possible.