Industry News Update October 2025

It’s that time of year where we bring you our seasonal roundup of the Industry News that affects our Hawke’s Bay community and the industries in which we work.

This Winter has been a busy time for roading in Hawke’s Bay and we’ve got lots of news to share about improvements to the roading network in our region.

While this round of Industry News doesn’t have a lot of machinery updates, we’re expecting more news to share for our next edition in March. Make sure you sign up to our email newsletter to receive updates direct to your inbox.

The final and largest phase of Cyclone Gabrielle recovery efforts in Tairāwhiti

In August this year the Gisborne Herald reported on the beginning of a $50m TREC project that aims to realign, repair and rebuild SH35 at Mangahauini gorge. This project includes undertaking work to reposition the riverbed.

Read about it here.

Hawke’s Bay Expressway gets $600m: Four-lanes for ‘busiest’ stretch, ‘fewer deaths’ and flood protection

Investment continues to flow into the Hawke’s Bay Expressway, a vital arterial route in Hawke’s Bay. This August article in Hawke’s Bay Today outlined the scale of the investment, including: “7km of four-laning between the Links Rd and Pākōwhai Rd intersection and Taradale Rd, two two-lane overpasses at Meeanee Rd and Kennedy Rd, a two-lane bridge over the Tutaekuri River, and a four-lane grade-separated interchange at the Links Rd and Pākōwhai Rd intersection.”

Our featured image shows a glimpse of the new northbound bridge over the Tutaekuri River, as shown in the fly-through video released by NZTA in June.

Read about the full project and expected timelines for completion here.

Get ongoing progress updates from NZTA here.

The latest update from the Hawke’s Bay TREC Roading Recovery in Hawke’s Bay

The latest edition of the TREC Roading Recovery Update was issued at the start of September. This edition includes: upcoming works on State Highway 5 (SH5), strengthening efforts at Rail Bridge 217, a retaining wall going up at Devil’s Corner on State Highway 2 (SH2), and what makes a good or bad stone for a rail track bed.

Read the full update here.

Hawke’s Bay Councillors give their take on building consent reform

Earlier this year the National Government announced their plans to streamline the Building Consent process with a Regional Building Consent Authority. This article in Bay Buzz canvassed feedback from local councillors on how this would impact Hawke’s Bay.

Read the article here.

Fulton Hogan are now underway on the Rissington Bridge rebuild

A concept image of the Rissington Bridge replacement which is now underway. Photo / Hastings District Council

The Rissington Bridge was one of 19 large bridges and culverts that were destroyed during Cyclone Gabrielle. In September Hawke’s Bay Today announced that work was due to begin on rebuilding the Rissington Bridge, with Fulton Hogan confirmed as the contractor to do the job. Work is expected to be completed by September 2026.

Read the full article here.