A central North Island highway will remain closed until at least Wednesday as the impact of weekend downpours continues to be felt.
State Highway 3, the main road between Taranaki and Waikato, is closed because of a rock fall. The closure begins just south of Mokau, 83 kilometres northeast of New Plymouth.
An alternative route is available using SH1 and Whanganui, but will add three-and-a-half hours to the journey. New Zealand Transport Agency advised travellers to avoid using other local roads, such as Ohura and SH43, because they were narrow, windy and unsuitable for heavy traffic.
SH43 was also closed this weekend because of slips but has since reopened.
New Zealand Transport Agency regional performance manager Karen Boyt said geotechinical engineers had warned there was a risk of more slips, making the road unsafe. The agency would continue to examine the cliff by drone and helicopter today and would reopen the section as soon as it was safe to do so, Boyt said.
