Auckland Flood Response Update On Roads

09/02/2023

Homai te pakipaki (a round of applause) for our dedicated flood-response teams! Since parts of the North Island, and Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland were inundated by torrential rain in January, our teams have spent long hours at mahi (work) to keep New Zealanders safely connected. 

This is particularly true in Tamaki Makaurau Auckland where our Transport team continues to work alongside Auckland Transport while the city is under a State of Emergency. 

Iconic and arterial routes, such as Great North Road and Tāmaki Drive, were significantly affected by flooding and subsequent slips and damage, as were roads less travelled but equally important to the communities they serve. Together with Auckland Transport, we have been able to minimise the disruption of these effects and keep communities connected. 

Read about how we reconnected 200 community members by building a new, temporary bridge on Mill Flat Road here. 

Remaining slips, debris, and flooding continue to be our focus. By clearing these as quickly as possible, we are doing our part to ensure our communities stay connected and our roads remain safe and accessible. 

In these photos, you can see Tāmaki Drive following ‘cliff scaling’ that our teams completed yesterday. This area was subject to a large slip where heavy rain washed tonnes of loose material onto the road.  Prompt geotechnical inspections revealed more rock and material was at risk of falling, meaning cliff scaling was needed to maintain safety and prevent further slips. 

The whenua (land) encompassing Tāmaki Drive is of great significance to Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, the local iwi. In acknowledgement of this, Downer teams consulted and collaborated with representatives to plan and undertake the cliff scaling.

With more adverse weather predicted for the entire North Island from Sunday onwards, our remediation and ongoing preventative actions continue to prove their importance. Downer New Zealand teams will continue to clear debris, prepare catch pits and culverts, sweep footpaths and roadways, and undertake and plan major slip repairs.