Arrest after Kaikoura road rebuild worker allegedly hit by vehicle and injured

Huge slips on State Highway 1 north of Kaikoura following November's quake. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A man has been charged after allegedly running over a quake rebuild worker at a Kaikoura slip site.

A 39-year-old man will appear at Kaikoura District Court next month charged with careless driving causing injury, police confirmed, after the incident near Half Moon Bay north of the recovering seaside tourist town on Sunday morning.

It's understood that a worker for the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery (NCTIR) alliance - the group comprising NZTA, KiwiRail, Fulton Hogan, Downer, Higgins and HEB Construction to oversee the repairs to State Highway 1 and the rail line north and south of Kaikoura - was hospitalised with leg injuries after being struck by a vehicle.

A NZTA spokeswoman said the injured man was soon discharged. He is back on light duties and expected to return to normal duties next week.

An investigation into the accident, which happened at around 7.30am, is under way.

SH1 north of Kaikoura is planned to re-open on December 15.

However, several sites will still be under construction, with stretches of unsealed surfaces, lane closures and stop/go traffic controls. The route will be closed at night in places for several months as a safety precaution, and planned closures will also be needed at times to carry out high-impact work.