North Rural Auckland flood recovery progress North Rural Auckland flood recovery progress
North rural Auckland was the most severely impacted by the storm events of 2023. We’ve made a lot of progress on fixing storm-damaged roads over the last 2 years, as shown by the following statistics.
Reported sites and slip repairs in June 2025
There are:
- 323 sites in total (67 major)
- 320 completed sites (99%).
We have completed:
- 64 of 67 major slip sites (93%)
- all 256 minor slip sites (100%).
There is one slip under construction:
- Matakana Valley Road, Matakana
The reported number of sites requiring minor to major repairs will change slightly over time as the design and investigation of each slip site develops. We ask for your patience as we repair sites all over Auckland.
To report new issues, please contact us
The following is a list of recently completed major sites in the North Rural area. Our thanks go to everyone in each of these communities for your patience and understanding as we made necessary repairs and restored safe connections.
- Ahuroa Road, Puhoi – 8 slips
- Ashton Road, Leigh
- Coatesville Riverhead Highway, Coatesville
- Goat Island Road, Leigh
- Haruru Road, Wainui
- Kahikatea Flats Road, Waitoki
- Krippner Road, Puhoi – 22 slips
- Leigh Road, Leigh
- Mahurangi Road East, Snells Beach
- Makarau Road, Makarau
- Matakana Valley Road, Matakana – 9 of 10 slips
- Moir Hill Road, Warkworth – 11 slips
- Pakiri Road, Leigh and Pakiri – 8 slips
- Pinchgut Road, Kaukapakapa – 4 slips
- Pine Valley Road, Dairy Flat – 2 slips
- Red Hill Road, Te Arai
- Ridge Road, Riverhead – 2 slips
- Smyth Road, Warkworth
- South Head Road, Helensville
- Tahekeroa Road, Tahekeroa
- Takatu Road, Tawharanui Peninsula - 8 slips (now monitoring)
- Tauhoa Road, Tauhoa
- Wainui Road, Wainui
- Waitoki Road, Waitoki
- Waiwhiu Road, Dome Valley
- Weranui Road, Wainui – 6 slips
- West Road, Kaukapakapa
- West Coast Road, Kaipara Flats – 9 slips
- Wishart Road, Helensville – (now monitoring)
Road status: open
9 May 2025
We are currently designing the slip repair.
8 November 2024
Construction work is now planned for early 2025.
25 September 2024
The final design process is underway for repairs needed on Dairy Flat Highway. We expect to begin construction work later this year.
Road status: open, single lane with stop/go traffic management
4 June 2025
The team are now 93% of the way through the installation of the block wall blocks and backfilling. They have also started on new stormwater drainage uphill of the site and have installed 2 new box culverts towards the centre of the road.


9 May 2025
The team are progressing with the installation of the block wall. It is starting to take shape. We expect this work to take up to 6 months to complete.
3 April 2025
Work is progressing well and is currently on programme.
7 March 2025
Slip repair work at the 10th and final site on Matakana Valley Road began on 20 January 2025. This site is known as the waterfall site. The team are progressing with the installation of the block wall, breaking out rock for the foundations and then backfilling behind the blocks as they progress along.

13 February 2025
Slip repair work at the 10th and final site on Matakana Valley Road, known as the waterfall site, began on 20 January 2025. We'll be installing a large concrete block wall approximately 5m high to enable the road to be widened, as well as working in the flow path below the road to manage the stormwater run-off. This work is expected to take 4 months to complete. To date the team have created an access ramp.

21 August 2024
Site 9 (of 10 sites) has now been largely completed. This month, pavement and asphalting, line marking and guard rail installation have been completed. Minor remedial work will be undertaken as the weather allows. Site 10 remains in design and work is planned to begin later in the year.
26 July 2024
This month, we installed 16 piles at site 9. All piling and retaining wall work is now complete, and pavement work will progress this coming month. Site 10 is still in design. Work should begin later in the year.
26 June 2024
The team here are making great progress and are well ahead of programme. Eight sites have now been completed, with another one under way and one in design.
22 April 2024
Three slip sites have been repaired and another 5 are under way.
At RP773 (below left) 17 steel UC beams have been installed, ready for the lagging to be installed. Further along the road 39 timber poles have been installed with another 8 to come (see below right).
At RP7037 timber poles and lagging is complete (below left), while at RP7730 all steel beams are in place and timber lagging and backfilling is under way (below right).
At RP7330 (below left) and RP7257 (below right) 17 beams have been installed, and curb and channel work are under way.
8 April 2024
Chip sealing has been completed on 3 sites (RP7330, RP7257 and RP5900) and 25 retailing poles are being installed and backfilled at RP7037. Ten steel beams have been installed at RP7730.
18 March 2024
The retaining wall at RO5900 is completed and kerb and channel will be installed next. Contractors are working on another three sites.
21 February 2024
Downer, on behalf of AT, will be undertaking permanent repair works on the 10 slip sites across Matakana Valley Road between numbers 732-952 from late February/early March. The construction work includes building retaining wall structures to reinforce and prevent further slips from occurring.
Works will begin near number 952 Matakana Valley Road, with the plan to progressively move through the area as each slip is remediated. Construction is expected to take 10 months, and we will provide regular updates on timelines.
- Hours of work 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday
- Traffic management includes temporary traffic signals, stop/go and speed restrictions.
22 September 2023
Work commenced on Monday 18 September. After initial works, we found that a design change was required. Works are on hold while we refine the design. Traffic management will remain in place.
20 September 2023
Work commenced on Monday 18 September. Our initial works will involve excavation and site setup before preparing for construction of the timber pole retaining wall. This work is expected to take 6 weeks. Once this is completed, Downer will make their way to the next slip further up on Matakana Valley Road. Resilience work in this area is still in the design phase.
8 September 2023
Work is set to begin on Monday 11 September for a 6-week period. A lane closure will be required with a stop/go in place.
17 August 2023
- Final designs under way
20 July 2023
- Additional damage caused by storm of 9 May 2023
- More slips were identified during investigation.
3 May 2023
- 6 underslips and overslips have been identified
- Preliminary site investigations completed
- Road status - open.
26 April 2023
- 6 underslips and overslips have been identified
- Preliminary site investigations completed
- Road status - open
Road status: open, single lane
14 July
Mill Flat Bridge project has made steady progress, with all the piling for stage one of the bridge to be completed by mid-July. Despite encountering poor weather and minor site issues, including unexpected rock formations, the project remains on track.
Coordination between contractors and stakeholders continues, with environmental actions being addressed and communications being prepared for upcoming road closures.
16 June 2025
JFC Ltd are making significant progress on the Mill Flat Bridge project. JFC crews have started work on the temporary walls parallel to the bridge on the Mill Flat Road side and the Coatesville-Riverhead Highway side. They are performing undercuts for the permanent retaining wall on the Coatesville-Riverhead Highway side.
Traffic management plans are being developed for the next stage, with testing of automatic temporary traffic lights. Variable Message Signs (VMS) boards are being used to inform the public about ongoing works and to remind them to drive cautiously while travelling through the site.
Hon Mark Mitchell MP visited the construction site as co-chair of the Coatesville Forum (which is in his electorate), but as he is also Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery, the Mill Flat Bridge reconstruction was of particular interest to him. Despite wet weather expected to cause minor delays, the project is progressing well, with permanent piling works for the bridge expected to start soon.
4 June 2025
JFC Ltd are making significant progress on the Mill Flat Bridge project. JFC crews have started work on the temporary walls parallel to the bridge on the Mill Flat Road side and the Coatesville-Riverhead Highway side. They are performing undercuts for the permanent retaining wall on the Coatesville-Riverhead Highway side.
Traffic management plans are being developed for the next stage, with testing of automatic temporary traffic lights. Variable Message Signs (VMS) boards are being used to inform the public about ongoing works and to remind them to drive cautiously while travelling through the site.
Despite wet weather expected to cause minor delays, the project is progressing well, with permanent piling works for the bridge expected to start soon.


9 May 2025
John Fillmore Contracting (JFC Limited) have arrived and established on site, beginning vegetation clearance and storm water works. JFC delivered letters locally, informing the community about:
- the construction site
- expected disruptions
- planned communications through a regular newsletter.
21 March 2025
We're pleased to confirm the main contractor rebuilding Mill Flat Road Bridge has been awarded to John Fillmore Contracting (JFC Limited). We've since worked through the utility challenges that emerged just before the construction contract was awarded.
With solutions to these issues, we’re now working with Vector to implement changes to the infrastructure near the work site. They will be working at the site from 24th March to 18th April 2025. Once Vector has completed their remedial works, our contractor will take site possession soon after and will engage directly with the community about their work.
We expect construction of the bridge to take place near the existing temporary bridge, with minor disruptions to traffic while equipment and plant are delivered to the area. We'll keep the community informed about the bridge's progress on this page and with directly affected properties that neighbour the construction site.
5 February 2025
Things have progressed and a design is now approved with Vector. Following the changes from Vector works, we also submitted a consent amendment and are currently waiting on that to be approved. Once this is approved, we will be working with Vector to confirm a date for their work, so that we can then start ours. At this stage, if the above goes as expected, we should be on site around April.
2 December 2024
During November, work has continued in preparation for the upcoming construction work.
Vector requirements for the movement of lines and poles need to be resolved before further construction progress can be made. The team are working hard to achieve this.
Unfortunately, the Vector relocation works are having an impact on our ability to award the contract. As soon as this is resolved, the contract will be awarded and work will begin.
Construction is now expected to start in early 2025.
AT sent a memo to update the Coatesville Transport Forum on 28 November. You can download the memo (PDF, 105KB).
8 November 2024
During October, ecologists monitored the site we will work in.
They were looking for:
- bats
- native skinks and lizards
- native bird nests.
Before removal of any trees, they were checked for nests. No bats, skinks, lizards or native bird nests were found. Monitoring for skinks and lizards will be ongoing throughout construction.
We are still working with Vector to determine a start date for their work. We are also yet to confirm a preferred contractor for the work.
26 September 2024
The Auckland Transport (AT) design team has completed their part. Our construction team will now take over. We expect to appoint a contractor in October.
Sub-contractors and team members will be doing surveys and preparation works until mid to late October. Pending the survey's findings, Treescape will be on site to do vegetation work.
Before construction starts, Vector needs to move the power lines and poles out of the work area near the bridge. Chorus will be on site with Vector to reconnect power to the new source. That may affect telecommunications and internet access as the changeover happens. Vector and Chorus will liaise with residents about this work.
21 August 2024
An update has been shared with Mill Flat Road residents and the surrounding community this week, following the completion of the design phase of work.
The letter provides detail on the progress to date, outlines the proposed design and highlights some of the key anticipated construction impacts. Download a copy of the Mill Flat Road letter (PDF, 740KB).
29 July 2024
The design stage is now complete. A resource consent application was lodged with Auckland Council in May, and a tender for construction is out. An update was submitted to the Local Board, and an update for the community will go out shortly.
May 2024
A community drop-in session was held on 1 May 2024 to discuss the design to date. (See the April update for details on the design.) Download a summary of this discussion.
April 2024
Mill Flat Road bridge replacement project
On 27 January 2023, the Mill Flat Road bridge was washed away during the Auckland Anniversary Weekend flooding event. As an emergency response, AT commissioned a Bailey Bridge to be constructed at the same location a week later.
Since then, AT has been investigating options for a permanent Mill Flat Road Bridge replacement, securing the necessary funding and undertaking a design process which includes planned intersection safety improvements on the Coatesville-Riverhead Highway.
What is planned
The Mill Flat Road Bridge current design includes:
- a 2-lane replacement bridge with 3-metre-wide general traffic lanes
- a single 1.5-metre-wide footpath on the southern (downstream) side of the bridge
- a slightly widened approach to the bridge on Mill Flat Road, providing greater sightlines
- no vehicle class or weight restriction
- the ability to be submerged and withstand a one-in-100-year flood event without being washed away.
The new bridge will be located slightly upstream of the current bridge to enable continued community access throughout its construction. It will be constructed in two halves, with traffic running on the temporary Bailey Bridge during the first half of the build. Traffic will then run on the first half bridge while the temporary Bailey Bridge is removed and the second half of the new bridge is constructed.
Concept bridge design and typical cross-section
Intersection Improvements - Mill Flat Road / Coatesville-Riverhead Highway
- The current design includes:
- A right-turn bay on Coatesville-Riverhead Highway leading toward Mill Flat Road.
- Slight widening of the road in this area, including retaining walls on the Rangitopuni Stream side, to accommodate the right-turn bay.
- Improved signage and intersection warnings either side of the intersection.
Next steps
- Finalise the detailed design - July 2024
- Award contract for physical works to the successful tenderer by October 2024
- Construction start - late 2024 for 12 to 16 months.
March 2024
A memorandum was provided to the Local Board in March 2024.
January 2024
Geotechnical investigations will be done at the bridge location from 30 January for approximately one week. Traffic management will be in place and delays are expected at times.
13 November 2023
AT presented a progress update to the Coatesville Transport Forum.
17 August 2023
Investigation phase under way to inform the design of the new bridge.
3 May 2023
- Temporary one-way bridge installed
- Project plan in development.
Road status: open
4 June 2025
Designs are being finalised and the team are preparing for construction work to begin from late June. This work is expected to take up to six months to complete.
18 December 2024
Our monitoring has found that the ground is still moving, even with the new drainage in place. This means further non-urgent repairs to the road are needed. We're currently confirming the repair plans in this location.
Vector need to straighten a nearby power pole. They'll also move another pole which will need to be relocated because of the road repair work. They'll start from 8 January 2025 and be in touch with neighbours to communicate any effects from the work.
We'll be back touch next year once we've confirmed plans and programme for the repairs next year.
15 October 2024
We have installed drainage. We will actively monitor the site for an initial period of 3 months. If movement is detected, we will need to do further repair work.
25 September 2024
We have established an access track to the site and have started installing drainage.


4 September 2024
Work will start from Wednesday 11 September, taking approximately 4 weeks. The work involves the installation of a drainage system to redirect water from the slip area and surrounds.
Existing traffic management, which includes a lane closure with stop/go signals and temporary speed restrictions, will remain in place. This setup ensures that crews can carry out their work safely.
7 August 2024
We have been monitoring the site for the past year. Design for a solid drainage system to redirect water from the slip area and surrounds is under way, and the work should be carried out later this year. Once the new drainage is in place, we will actively monitor this section of the road for one to 2 years, looking for any movement of concern. If there is movement, we will finalise designs for a full repair at this location.
January 2024
Temporary repair to open road over Christmas completed.
20 July 2023
Final design delayed due to further investigation (movement being measured).
22 June 2023
Under design phase. Final design due 4 July
3 May 2023
- Preliminary site investigation complete.
- Road status – open but reduced to one lane with traffic lights at major slip site.
26 April 2023
- Preliminary site investigation complete
- Road status – open but reduced to one lane, with traffic lights at major slip site.