State Highway 35 will reopen tomorrow from 7am to 7pm, restoring a through-route between Tairāwhiti and the eastern Bay of Plenty three weeks after heavy rain and flooding closed the road between Pōtaka and Te Araroa.

Transport Minister Chris Bishop said NZ Transport Agency crews and local contractors have been focused on two major slip sites: the Waikura slip between Pōtaka and Hicks Bay, and the larger Punaruku slip closer to Te Araroa. About a quarter of a million cubic metres of rock and soil came down at Punaruku; crews have so far shifted 25,000 cubic metres to reinstate access.

NZTA has confirmed the section from Pōtaka through Hicks Bay to Te Araroa will be open daily during daylight, with closures overnight to allow work to continue. Drivers should expect single-lane sections, lower speeds and traffic management, and longer travel times.

The reopening follows limited convoys during the closure to support isolated communities. Bishop said the move would help people reach medical appointments, resupply and reconnect with family and friends, and acknowledged community patience and the advocacy of East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick.

Officials warned the route remains fragile and will require ongoing work. The agency expects a visible construction presence on SH35 for some time, a familiar sight since Cyclone Gabrielle. Travellers are asked to take extra care.