Smoother, safer roads delivered

The Government’s focus on improving roads across the country continues, with the successful completion of the 2025–26 state highway renewal programme, Transport Minister Chris Bishop confirmed today.

“We are focused on ensuring government agencies are better at looking after the infrastructure assets we already have, to ensure New Zealanders get the most from their public infrastructure,” Mr Bishop says.

“That’s why we’ve invested in road maintenance and renewals through the State Highway Pothole Prevention Fund, which has seen a record $2.07 billion allocated to road and drainage maintenance and renewals through the 2024–27 National Land Transport Programme.

“The recently completed 2025–26 state highway renewal programme builds off the back of groundbreaking work the summer before, continuing our focus on building high-quality, longer-lasting roads across the country.

“This was achieved despite a number of significant weather events affecting the country’s roads, particularly across the upper North Island throughout the start of 2026.

“Water is the enemy of roads, and the continued presence of weather events this summer made it challenging for roading crews to complete programmes, while also presenting challenges to the roading network as a whole.

“In the end, over 1,800 lane kilometres of road either received a new layer of seal or asphalt, or the entire road was completely replaced. With more than 250 lane kilometres of road being rebuilt, NZTA and its maintenance contractors achieved a similar result to last summer, delivering a large number of brand-new, high-quality roads.

“Any sites that were unable to be completed due to weather or other factors will be completed next summer – the final year of the 2024–27 National Land Transport Programme.

“I extend my thanks to the communities, drivers and truckies who’ve been patient through another busy maintenance season, and to the contractors who’ve worked hard to deliver these improvements despite challenging conditions.

“This work is disruptive, however the use of innovative construction techniques, improving practice around the utilisation of risk-based traffic management guidance, alongside comprehensive communication campaigns, ensures that New Zealanders experience better journeys both during construction and after works take place.

“Having safe, high-quality roads to drive on is critical for people getting to work, transporting goods, and travelling to their favourite destinations.”

Notes to editors:

Around 2,100 lane kilometres of road were expected to be rebuilt or resealed over the 2025–26 summer maintenance period.
The annual renewal programme can be viewed on the NZTA Forward Works Programme interactive map.
October to March is the traditional construction season, however some works may take place outside of this window, depending on the treatment type and weather/temperature conditions. ...