Roading FAQs

The majority of roads in the district are historic roads that were never designed or constructed to a specific or required standard. Road networks form over time, from access tracks forged to connect communities, and as usage changes and increases, infrastructure is renewed to maintain or improve the route for the service required. This means that some roads are built on aged foundations and often follow rivers, coastlines and valleys, which can increase the impact of water during a storm or weather event. Steep terrain means many of our roads are often on slopes, making them more vulnerable to slips and dropouts. Central Hawke’s Bay is susceptible to weather events and the impact on our roads is an unfortunate consequence.

There are two state highways running through Central Hawke's Bay: State Highway 2 and State Highway 50. If you notice any issues or imperfections that may require attention, please call NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi on 0800 44 44 49.

Our Land Transport Team manages a grading cycle that outlines which roads are to be graded when. This cycle is based on the volume of vehicles that use the road. If you believe a particular road needs an additional grade, please call our team anytime on 06 857 8060 and we will look into the request. 

Council prioritises repairs to the roading network by assessing the site’s impact to road users, how severe the damage is and how it impacts road users, and how many people use the road and are therefore impacted by the issue. We also take into consideration the likelihood of the site worsening if left untreated, which allows for flexibility when prioritising repairs and the order of work.

Ideally, civil construction works are undertaken in the construction season, from October through to March. Construction works incur fewer delays in dry weather, while completing repairs during the winter months is generally avoided as it is inefficient and, therefore, more expensive. 

General maintenance and repair work (resulting from age, wear and tear) on the district’s road is joint funded by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and Council via local ratepayers’ contributions. NZTA provides Council a FAR (funding assistance rate) of 59 per cent of funds to complete general maintenance and repairs on our roading network, and we fund the balance of 41 per cent. When the district undergoes a state of emergency or significant weather event such as Cyclone Gabrielle, NZTA will enhance the FAR and provide us with a higher percentage.

General maintenance and repair work is managed separately from Council's post-cyclone response and recovery programme, which addresses the damage to our district's roads as a result of Cyclone Gabrielle and other significant weather events, and has its own funding allocations. 

We are bound to comply with the traffic management requirements set by national standards. These standards are designed to keep both road users and road workers safe in the event of an identified fault on the road or work to repair the fault. Yes, there is a cost to complying with these standards, but it is done with the right intent and could save lives or prevent injuries. Public interference with traffic management or the removal of traffic cones pose an unnecessary cost to repair works and public safety risk.

Pedestrian crossings are required to meet a warrant based on the number of pedestrians and vehicles, among other things. Crossings that do not meet the warrant have proven to be less safe than no crossing at all.

Council is not the law enforcement agency. We can only address the problem by installing signage and advance warnings. If you see someone speeding, you can call the Police, who are authorised to deal with speeding infractions.

If you own or have recently brought a property and it has no number allocated to it, then one will need to be applied. This is essential for the purpose of Emergency Services being able to find you, should they ever be called to your property. This applies to either rural or urban properties.

Call our team anytime on 06 857 8060 if you need help applying for a RAPID number, or you can apply online using the form below.

Apply for a rural RAPID number using this online form.