Praise and Criticism as Government Unveils $75m for SH2 Resilience

On Thursday, 25 May, the government announced Budget 2026, which included a $75 million investment in resilience work on State Highway 2 through the Waioweka Gorge.

Gisborne-based list MP and Labour’s candidate for East Coast, Jo Luxton, said regional New Zealand can’t keep being expected to do more with less.

“People here aren’t asking for anything over the top. They want decent roads, access to healthcare, warm homes, good schools and secure jobs. They want to know their kids can build a future here.”

She said strong advocacy has pushed the government to put money behind State Highway 2 resilience; however, “ there are already claims that the investment falls well short of what’s needed.”

“National has neglected critical maintenance and upgrades across our road network,” said Luxton.

“That contributed to the extended closure of the Waioweka Gorge after the January weather events.”

She said despite the “clear and repeated” warnings about the vulnerability of rural and coastal roads, there is still no dedicated funding for SH35.

“Communities along the Coast remain exposed and isolated.”

Luxton said she will keep backing the region in the fight for investment and support that “East Coast whānau deserve.”

“Our communities should never feel like they’re being left behind.”

East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick says the investment will help keep a critical transport lifeline open more often.

Kirkpatrick said the gorge route was vital for freight, primary industries and communities across Tairāwhiti and the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

“Anyone who lives on the East Coast or in the Eastern BOP knows how important SH2 through the Waioweka Gorge is. When it closes, the impacts are felt right across our region,” she said.

“SH2 through the Waioweka Gorge carries around 1700 vehicles every day, with more than one in five of those being freight trucks moving goods to and from the region.”

The upgrades are expected to include slope stabilisation, rockfall protection, drainage improvements and targeted works at vulnerable sections between Ōpōtiki and Matawai.

Kirkpatrick said the investment would focus on improving the road’s reliability during severe weather events.

Federated Farmers welcomed the investment, saying rural communities had repeatedly faced disruption from severe weather.

Federated Farmers infrastructure spokesperson Mark Hooper said the organisation had long pushed for greater investment in rural roads and regional freight routes.

“It’s very pleasing that in a tight Budget the Government has found $400 million to tackle drainage, slope stabilisation and rockfall protection at known weak spots, such as the Waioweka Gorge,” he said.

“We can’t continue to see communities like the East Coast or Golden Bay cut off every time a major rain event occurs.”

Hooper said repeated repairs to vulnerable roads were costly and longer-term planning was needed.

“The cost of repeated highway and rural road patch-ups quickly mounts,” he said.