‘Horrendous’ stink after giant offal spill on SH3 in Waikato

Police received multiple reports of animal remains falling out of a truck on SH3 near Hangatiki, Waikato on December 21, 2024. Image / Supplied

• A giant offal spill on SH3 near Waitomo caused a “horrendous” stench today.
• Police received reports of animal remains falling from a truck near Hangatiki around 4.20pm.
• Contractors have been contacted to clean the road, and motorists are advised to take care.

The Waikato has been hit by a “horrendous” stench today after a giant offal spill on a state highway near Waitomo.

Police told the Herald they had received multiple reports of animal remains falling out of a truck on SH3 near Hangatiki at around 4.20pm.

“Motorists are advised to take care around the area,” a spokesperson said.

“Contractors have been contacted to clean the road.”

A witness sent the Herald a video showing a small part of the spillage, with a trail of animal parts leading to a large pile of offal sitting behind a truck.

“The spillage went for about 10km of a light scattering of it, then about 1km of a massive dumping,” they said.

“The smell was horrendous!”

Another person on a local community page warned it “stinks like anything”.

Witnesses say the stench is "horrendous" after animal remains fell out of a truck on SH3 near Hangatiki, Waikato on December 21, 2024. Image / Supplied

A Waitomo local, who lives about 100m up from the scene, said it was a grim sight, and the smell “absolutely reeks”.

“It’s probably about a 100m stretch of offal, like beautifully spread out along the road… It’s hooves and intestines and heads, skins.”

They said there was a bridge followed by a “couple of bumps” along that stretch of SH3, which they believed may have caused the truck’s tailgate to open.

“There’s people driving past, they’re driving next to it because it’s just the one lane.

“It absolutely reeks.”

The New Zealand Transport Agency has been contacted for comment.