A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
Gisborne district councillor and Uawa ward member Pat Seymour has urged the New Zealand Transport Agency to have a close look at safety issues at the Rototahi swamp on State Highway 35 — the scene of Wednesday’s fatal crash.
A 69-year-old woman died and her daughter, aged in her 30s,
suffered injuries when their SUV went off the road and crashed into the swamp, two kilometres north of the Waihau Beach turn-off.
“That is the second fatality on the section of the Coast highway between Okitu and Tolaga Bay in recent times,” Mrs Seymour told yesterday’s GDC Regional Transport Committee meeting.
“That is not a good track record and after this week’s tragedy I urge the NZTA to examine the section of road by Rototahi swamp.
“There is a need for additional safety measures there, perhaps the installation of safety barriers.”
