New Rockfall Protection System Installed at Waioweka Gorge, Two‑Way Traffic to Resume

Transport Minister Chris Bishop announced that a new rockfall attenuator has been installed at the Goldsmith slip site on State Highway 2 in Waioweka Gorge. The system, built from high‑tensile steel mesh, cables and energy‑absorbing components, has already captured more than 10 cubic metres of falling material. It is part of a $33 million recovery effort, with an additional $75 million earmarked for the wider corridor between Ōpōtiki and Matawai. The attenuator, spanning roughly 45 metres and supported by six steel posts, is expected to allow two‑way traffic to resume early next month, the first time the route has been open in both directions since January. The project follows extensive geotechnical investigations, slope scaling and drainage improvements, and is a key step toward a safer, more resilient transport link between the Bay of Plenty and Tairāwhiti.