Huge landslip keeps SH2 closed near Gisborne

State Highway 2 between Gisborne and Opotiki may remain closed for two days following a large landslip last night.

An estimated 2000cu m of dirt -- equal to more than 150 truck loads -- slipped on to the road near Te Karaka, north of Gisborne.

Transit New Zealand network operations manager Gordon Hart said the speed at which the slip could be cleared depended on how unstable land above the road was.

He said at worst the road could be closed for another couple of days but hoped a single lane could be opened today, provided material above the road had stopped moving.

The closure will drastically slow travel between Gisborne and the Bay of Plenty and Auckland, with traffic either having to divert around the East Cape or go through Taupo.

- NZPA