Sunday morning’s slip blocked State Highway 1 through Mangamuka Gorge, south of Kaitaia. Photo: Supplied / Jo Leef
State Highway 1 through Mangamuka Gorge in the Far North has now reopened, says NZTA Waka Kotahi.
Traffic on the key highway started flowing again at 11.30am. It had been closed by a large slip since early Sunday.
A NZTA spokesperson said temporary speed limits would apply in the area, and stop-go traffic management would be in place at times as the clean-up from yesterday's deluge continued.
She said the slip was in an area not affected by previous weather damage.
Mangamuka Gorge only reopened in December 2024 after a two-year, $200-million-plus reconstruction project.
Another subtropical low and more heavy rain was expected to hit the area on Tuesday.
Northland's other State Highway 1 trouble spot, the Brynderwyns Hills, remained open through the weekend deluge.
According to Northland Regional Council data, the wettest place in Northland in the 24 hours to 5pm on Sunday was Glenbervie Forest, just north of Whangārei, with 124mm of rain.
The next wettest locations were Whakapara, also north of Whangārei, with 105mm, and Kerikeri in the Far North with 102mm.
That was close to Kerikeri's average for the entire month of April, which, according to Kerikeri Weather Station, is just over 140mm.
