Mark Owen

The Government is planning to spend billions of dollars on new roads under a transport plan proposed last month.  Audio

Roading networks along the North Island's East Coast are still fragile one year after Cyclone Gabrielle caused widespread devastation.

State Highways are still being repaired, with many temporary… Audio

Part of State Highway 2 between Wairoa and Napier has reopened on Tuesday morning, following a safety inspection

A stretch of the road between Kotemaori and Pūtōrino was closed for most of Monday and… Audio

There's a blanket black ice warning issued for South Island roads as cold weather affects drivers through the country.

Snow is hindering travel at the top of the South Island, with closures around… Audio

Much of the country has been hammered by strong gusts, rain and snow overnight, with delays on roads expected today.

Northwest winds at speeds of up to a hundred and twenty kilometres an hour are… Audio

Rough weather across the country yesterday and throughout the night has caused problems for drivers.

There are road closures and warnings to drive with caution on state highways in Northland, Waikato… Audio

Waka Kotahi is warning Transmission Gully between Pauatahanui and Paekakariki will be closed for some time due to a fuel spill. A fuel tanker and another truck crashed before rush-hour this morning… Audio

Waka Kotahi's National Emergency Response spokesperson Mark Owen concedes while State Highway 25 is partially open now, more earth under the road could slip away, damaging it further. Video, Audio

Horrendous downpours have been hitting Gisborne and Wairoa this morning, forcing families in both towns to evacuate their homes as floodwaters rose.

The continued rain, has also hammered the roading… Audio

Despite urgent repair works, many key roads across the North Island are still closed as the working week begins. 

Those crossing the Auckland-Northland border are faced with massive detours, with… Audio

Regions devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle are being hit by more atrocious weather, hampering clean-up efforts - and putting people on edge.

Metservice has issued orange rain warnings for Hawke's Bay… Audio

Some communities on the East Coast are still stuck as they wait for roads to be fixed.

Te Puia Springs remains isolated, with State Highway 35 closed to Tolaga Bay.

Wairoa has had access restored to… Audio

Dozens of roads remain closed due to the damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle, and it will be some time still until many are reopened.

Bridges are a big issue, many of which were washed away in the… Audio

Roads are finally starting to reopen across cut off parts of the country after the destruction from cyclone Gabrielle

The entire perimeter of the Coromandel peninsula is now drivable - and the… Audio

There's been confusion in Hawke's Bay where the only road linking Hastings and Napier was opened, only to have been closed again. Waka Kotahi National Spokesperson for Emergency Response Mark Owen… Audio

Waka Kotahi says travel to and from the Coromandel should be possible by this morning, with the region having been cut off for days. Dozens of roads have been damaged by slips and flooding across the… Audio

Waka Kotahi says travel to and from the Coromandel should be possible by Thursday morning.

A mammoth slip on Northland's State Highway 1 at Dome Valley may be cleared by Friday

Meanwhile across… Audio

Key roads across the North Island are badly damaged and isolating communities.

Bridges have been taken out by floods and roads have been severely damaged across the country - requiring a big clean up… Audio