Tararua Alliance has reflected on a year that balanced significant investment in the district's road network with responding to a number of weather events that tested infrastructure across the region.

Tararua Alliance Manager Daniel Erard said the 2025/26 year highlighted both the importance of maintaining vital transport connections and continuing to invest in long-term resilience. "The past few financial years have been about balancing long-term investment in the road network with responding to the challenges that weather can bring to a rural district like Tararua."

Storm events in October, February, April and June resulted in additional emergency works applications to NZTA, with crews responding to weather-related issues across the district. Over the past 12 months, Tararua Alliance responded to 554 emergency event dispatches, including 112 slips and 151 road dropouts. Each dispatch represents a call or Antenno notification from the public, covering issues such as slips, fallen trees and other hazards affecting the network.

"Each weather event gives us a better understanding of where the vulnerabilities are within our network and where future investment will make the biggest difference."

Despite these challenges, Tararua Alliance delivered one of the district's largest road renewal programmes, renewing 75.2 kilometres of road through chipseal resurfacing and completing 4.17 kilometres of pavement rehabilitation.

The programme exceeded annual targets, addressing reseal backlogs and improving the overall condition of the network. Crews repaired 4,364 potholes, completed 53,210 square metres of pavement maintenance and graded more than 1,300 kilometres of unsealed roads to help keep communities connected.

Drainage maintenance remained a strong focus, with 125 kilometres of high shoulder removal, 99 kilometres of water table cleaning and 751 sumps cleaned.

Total emergency works expenditure for the year reached $8.9 million, including $7.9 million associated with the Cyclone Gabrielle recovery.

Looking ahead, Mr Erard said increasing costs, ageing infrastructure and more frequent severe weather events would continue to present challenges.

"The issues we face are shared by roading teams across the country. The more we know our own network and environment, the better placed we are to invest strategically and build resilience resourcefully with the funds we have available."

Work is continuing through the Alliance's bridge management programme to better understand long-term investment priorities across the district's ageing bridge network.

Mr Erard said the year also brought recognition for Tararua's infrastructure management, including a national Āpōpō Asset Management Excellence Award for the Land Stability Project and international recognition for Route 52 at the International Federation of Municipal Engineers Awards in Finland.

"It's been a busy year with some standout achievements. The awards were a big boost for the team but there’s nothing to rest on our laurels about - we are looking forward to a fast paced reseals and rehabs season starting in a few months.”