Iwiata Pewhairangi and Aunty Iwiata Williams officially open the southern end of Pourau Road yesterday — a 2.2km bypass providing a temporary solution to washed-out Hikuwai No.1 Bridge on State Highway 35 between Tolaga Bay and Tokomaru Bay. Photo: Liam Clayton / Gisborne Herald
A bypass road allowing improved access to Tokomaru Bay was blessed and officially opened in front of a crowd of about 150 people on Monday.
The 2.2km route, named Pourau Road, provides a way around State Highway 35's Hikuwai No.1 Bridge, which was washed out during Cyclone Gabrielle.
Work on the road started on 18 February when Kuru Contracting - a forestry, civil and logistics company - gained permission from landowners Pourau Incorporation.
Kuru Contracting general manager Ma Parata said the process of finding an alternative route began as soon as the bridge washed away.
"As information came to hand with the extent of damage across the country, I came to question whether we'd be priorities here in terms of getting some resources here to fix this bridge," Parata said.
"My view was that we probably wouldn't be at the top of the list, so we had to take matters into our own hands and find an alternative."
Parata said the landowners were "100 percent supportive" and work commenced shortly after.
"It's been a long time coming and at least today, in some form, we are reconnected."
Landowner Pourau Incorporation is the largest Māori land incorporation of the Potae Estate, with shareholders being descendants of Te Potaeaute of Tokomaru Bay.
Chair Philip Hope - who is also the chief executive of the Eastland Wood Council - was present at the opening and played a significant role in getting the road established.
A stream of vehicles head north on the Pourau Road bypass. Photo: Liam Clayton / Gisborne Herald
In the days following the cyclone, while networks were still down, he drove to ask those connected to the land what their thoughts were on the new road.
Pourau spokesperson Kylee Potae said the answer was "a real simple yes".
"It just made sense. It's wonderful in this short window… it's a really good feeling."
The new road opened to all traffic from 7am on Tuesday, with vehicles guided between 7am and 6pm using a one-way system.
At night, the road will remain open but be managed by traffic lights.
Subsequent to Kuru Contracting commencing work on the project, Waka Kotahi provided backing in conjunction with Gisborne District Council, Pourauorporation said.
In a written statement, the incorporation indicated a main benefit of the bypass was to prevent economic impacts on community and primary industry - the latter being "critical to sustaining business and families based on the Coast".
Tokomaru Bay has been largely cut off from the rest of the district following Cyclone Gabrielle, with the impacts of flooding and forestry slash felt keenly by the small town.
The Hikuwai No.1 Bridge between Tolaga Bay and Tokomaru Bay was washed out during Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo: Liam Clayton / Gisborne Herald
Access to Gisborne has only been available through piloted convoys using Waimata-Hokoroa and Tauwhareparae back roads, which can take up to three-and-a-half hours each way.
The convoys are set to stop today with the opening of the Pourau Rd bypass.
On Wednesday, the panel for the government's independent ministerial inquiry into forestry slash and land use will turn its sights to Tokomaru Bay with an online meeting between 12.30pm and 2pm.
The panel was set up following ex-tropical Cyclone Hale and Cyclone Gabrielle and will present key findings to the government at the end of eight weeks.
Those wishing to attend the Tokomaru Bay meeting can do so by requesting a link from ministeriallanduseinquiry@mfe.govt.nz
Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.