state highway 25a

Coromandel businesses are popping the champagne in anticipation of State Highway 25A reopening three months earlier than planned. 

The route between Kōpū and Hikuai —badly damaged during Cyclone Gabrielle— will be in business by December 20. 

The tourism-reliant area suffered a severe economic downturn following the route's closure. 

Mercury Bay Business Association Chair, Lynda Grant, told Kate Hawkesby that while there was a little bit of hope, nobody really thought it would reopen before Christmas.  

She said that it’s a win-win for everyone. 

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The Coromandel's State Highway 25A's fix has come in ahead of time and under cost.

The road between between Kōpū and Hikuai was cut in two by Cyclone Gabrielle in January, with numerous major slips blocking travel.

It'll reopen by December 20, a full three months earlier than anticipated.

Waka Kotahi's Jo Wilton says the team worked hard and planned ahead- but there were special circumstances behind this faster-than-expected repair.

"Because it was emergency work, the consenting process is retrospective. As long as we built to the standard, we could do the consenting retrospectively. Plus, we didn't need to purchase any land."

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Tonight on The Huddle, NZ Herald senior writer Simon Wilson and Ben Thomas from Ben Thomas PR joined in on a discussion about the following issue of the day- and more!

Waka Kotahi are determined to reconnect Coromandel Peninsula's State Highway 25A by March next year. Up to 100 workers will work extended hours, seven days a week on a new bridge. Is it worth Waka Kotahi pulling out all the stops to finish the roads? 

The Government will give tertiary providers a cash injection of $128 million over two years to prop up the struggling sector. How can we boost student numbers before more funding is needed?

Was it wise or short-sighted for Ben O'Keeffe to post all the social media hate he was getting? Does it send the wrong message about responding to negative messages?

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Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute and Jack Tame, host of Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day: 

The Māori Party’s co-leaders were booted from the House by the Speaker after the pair led a haka for Meka Whaitiri that not every party agreed to. How much of a flop is this for The Māori Party?

The new State Highway 25A bridge is set to be built by early next year- is this good enough? Will Coromandel businesses suffer over the Christmas/New Year period because of it?

Were the comments and accusations from One NZ's Jason Paris an overreaction? Should the sponsorship deal be at risk because Jason Paris accused them of bias? Should the sponsorship deal be at risk because Jason Paris accused them of bias?

ACT proposed juvenile detention centres to crack down on young offenders- will these be helpful? Can people be swayed to see these as a good idea?

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