Road and Highway Conditions

The Coromandel is hosting two back-to-back celebrations of music, motors and community spirit. Motorbike enthusiasts and live music fans will kick things off with the Kickdown Festival: Downtown Edition from 20–21 March, before tens of thousands of visitors roll into town the following week for the Repco Beach Hop from 25–29 March 2026.

Keep in mind that there will be some road closures in Whangamatā and a bit of traffic management on the State Highways for the Pāuanui Power Cruise on Thursday and Friday's Thunder Cruise to Onemana.

If you’re out and about, be mindful of the classic cars and drive safely around town – there will be thousands of extra people in the district. Traffic marshals will be on the job helping to keep cars and people safe – please follow their directions and check out the road closures below.

A message from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA)

"Motorists should expect SH25 and SH25A to be busier than usual as people travel to Repco Beach Hop from Wednesday 25 to Sunday 29 March. Drivers are advised to avoid SH2 Karangahake Gorge if possible as there is a single-lane closure with stop/go traffic management due to major recovery works happening within the Gorge. If you are travelling through the Karangahake Gorge while works continue, plan your journey outside peak times where possible, and follow all signage and instructions on site. You can plan ahead for your journey by checking out the NZTA journey planner. Thanks to everyone for their patience while the work is underway." 

Kickdown Festival road closure

Kickdown is in Whangamatā this year with a special Downtown Edition that is bringing the motorbike action into the heart of town for two days of riding and live music, including the Friday night rally and prize giving.

Things will be busy, check out the road closure, do your part by driving safely and listen to the advice of the traffic marshals.

• Date: Friday 20 – Saturday 21 March
• Road closure: Port Road between the Aickin Road and Lincoln Road intersections will be closed from 2–10pm on both days.

Traffic returns to normal at 10pm.

Whangamatā Repco Beach Hop road closures

Wednesday 25 March 2026 | Thursday 26 March 2026
7.00am – 11.00am
• Ocean Road closed from Lowe Street to Williamson Road
• Resident access maintained through closure points
• Detour via Lowe Street, Mary Street and Williamson Road
Friday 27 March 2026
• No road closures
Saturday 28 March 2026
• One-way closure on Chartwell from 10.20am – 1pm (may be upgraded to a 2-way stop and go)
7.00am – 5.00pm
• Port Road closed from Ocean Road to Hetherington Road
• No vehicle/business access (cars will be parked on both lanes of the road)
10.20am – 5.00pm
• Port Road closed from Hetherington Road (last roundabout) to Tuck Road (new closure for 2026 event)
• No vehicle/business access (cars will be parked on both lanes of the road)
From 5.00pm
Port Road reopens but with no entry between Ocean Rd and Hetherington Rd

Part of Rabarts Road, around #10, in Tuateawa will be closed from 7.30am to 5pm from Tuesday 24 March until Friday 27 March to carry out drainage renewal and replace a damaged culvert. There will be no access to residents or pedestrians during this time. Apologies for the disruption while our contractors carry out vital maintenance.

Planned closure of Mangatu Road, Kennedy Bay, 7.30am until 5pm from Monday 30 March until Friday 3 April to allow drainage and trenching works to take place. Apologies for disruption while vital work takes place. If the full road closure is not needed, the road will be reopened with stop/go signalled. 

Ventia will be carrying out drainage renewals and trenching activities from 9 March to approximately 31 March 2026.

Traffic will be managed via a Stop/Go system and there will be shoulder closures.

The current phase of Hetherington Road stormwater upgrade is now complete. Further work is being planned for autumn this year, after Easter - we'll let you know more closer to the time. 

See more about this project here

Over the next five months, from late September 2025 to March 2026, Hopper Construction will be undertaking the site development earthworks and infrastructure upgrades for a new subdivision at 925 Purangi Road Cooks Beach.

Work will take place in two separate areas:

• the primary works area at 925 Purangi Road
• secondary works on Purangi Road, between edge of road to boundary with the tennis courts and community centre.

A traffic management plan will be in place from 22 September until 31 March 2026. It will include stop/go signs and shoulder closures.

A section of the Tapu-Coroglen Road, around the square kauri, will be under stop-go traffic management until work is completed about 1 May 2026.

The works consists of earthworks, drainage, bench and backfill, batter trimming and pavement reinstatement.

• Our contractor Hopper Construction will be doing site development earthworks and infrastructure upgrades for a new subdivision at 2a Pohutukawa Grove in Whitianga (the cul-de-sac end).
• This is a long-term project that is scheduled to run from 5 January to 31 August 2026, with works taking place from 6:00am to 6:00pm.
• Work will be done using a combination of shoulder closures, truck crossings and road closures, as required.
• Affected residents have been notified by letter and they will have access to their properties at all times.

Artist's impression

Subject to consents, NZTA contractor Fulton Hogan should be starting work in July on the new two-lane bridge and pedestrian walkway to replace the single-lane Pepe Stream Bridge on the southern side of Tairua.

Early works, including service relocations, are scheduled from May.

First up, a temporary pedestrian bridge will be built upstream of the current single-lane bridge. Services like water, sewerage and telecoms, will be relocated to this bridge and the existing pedestrian bridge will be removed.

Fulton Hogan will build one lane of the new bridge and the shared path on the downstream (seaward) side of the old bridge. Traffic will then use the new lane while the old bridge is dismantled, creating room to build the other half of the new bridge and a footpath.

The current narrow 3-span bridge opened in 1943 - it crosses a tidal stream on SH25 south of the Tairua town centre.

The $22 million bridge replacement is being funded as part of a wider bridge programme to improve safety, efficiency and resilience on the state highway around the peninsula.

SH25 through Tairua will remain open while the new bridge is built and the old one is demolished, with occasional brief closures at night.

The new two-lane bridge is expected to be open by December 2027.

Public information day, Thursday 26 February

NZTA is holding a public information day this week on Thursday 26 February, from 2pm–6pm at the Tairua Community Hall. People are encouraged to drop in to see the latest plans and talk with the project team.

Community Liaison Group

NZTA has set up a Community Liaison Group to help keep local stakeholders informed as the project moves into construction. The group had its first meeting in early February. Attendees will be reporting back on any queries or issues raised by their memberships and communities.

Key dates ahead this year

• Public information day 26 February
• Consent conditions lodged by end of February
• Consents granted by end of April
• Detailed design finalised by end of June
• Early works (services etc) May-July
• Subject to consents being granted, construction scheduled to start July
• Bridge completed by December 2027

Read more here

Get the latest NZTA project news for our district

State Highways are controlled by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. Check their website for State Highway status updates. 

With work still underway at sites along SH25, it's important that motorists drive to the conditions.

To keep contractors and road users safe, signage is in place to give advance warning of worksites and potential hazards such as slippery or uneven surfaces. Please follow any temporary speed restrictions and reduce your speed as you approach these sites.