Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
State Highway 2 between Napier and Wairoa remains closed following a slip over the weekend, due to a risk more land could fall.
The slip came down at Waikare Gorge - between Kotemaori and Putorino - early on Sunday morning.
Crews were clearing the road, but it would be shut until there was confidence no more material would fall, Waka Kotahi said.
A drone will help carry out a geotechnical assessment of the top of the slip, which could not be seen from the road.
Road users' safety was top priority, Waka Kotahi Hawke's Bay / Tai Rāwhiti system manager Martin Colditz said.
"We need to keep the road closed while that geotechnical assessment is carried out, from the ground and from the air.
"We anticipate being in a position to provide more information about today's timeframe early this afternoon."