Winter 2025: Keep Your Inner Olympian In Check As Colder Weather Arrives

Press Release – NZTA
Colder temperatures are already being felt across the South Island, increasing the chance of weather conditions impacting the state highway network, explains Mark Pinner, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) System Manager.
While professional athletes are in training across the world ahead of the next Winter Olympics, to be held in Italy during early 2026, New Zealand drivers are being reminded not to race on the roads this winter.
Colder temperatures are already being felt across the South Island, increasing the chance of weather conditions impacting the state highway network, explains Mark Pinner, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) System Manager.
'Large parts of the state highway network across the central and lower South Island are at high elevations, which means they're the first to get frosts, snow or ice. While our contractors are constantly monitoring weather forecasts and patrolling the network, it'ss crucial that everyone plays their part. We saw snow on the Lindis Pass a few weeks ago, and we had a light snowfall around Burke's Pass and Tekapo this week.
'Inland areas across the region will also experience frosts and icy roads when temperatures drop in the winter months. By reducing your speed and increasing your following distance you will significantly reduce the likelihood of a crash occurring. Use your headlights to be seen and avoid sudden braking or turning to reduce the risk of losing control.'
NZTA, along with our maintenance contractors, works closely with MetService, who provide a specialised forecasting to predict and monitor road conditions. This includes a network of weather stations that provide critical data such as temperature, wind speed, rainfall, and road surface temperatures to inform both immediate responses and long-term planning.
Where possible, contractors will proactively apply grit or Calcium Magnesium Acetate (a de-icer) to reduce the impact of snow and ice. However, it pays for drivers to take extra care in winter, as conditions can change rapidly.
'When following a grit truck it's important to remember that the road ahead won't be gritted, and may well be slippery. Drivers should also watch out for shaded areas – these take longer to warm up and dry out, so could still be slippery even hours after the rest of the road is fine.
'At times roads may need to be closed, to keep both road users and roadworkers safe. We may look to close the road as poor conditions are coming in, to ensure that people don't get caught out. If you're travelling over the winter months it pays to be prepared – packing warm clothes, snacks and water will ensure you have provisions should the weather turn.'
Road users travelling across the country can find the latest information about the state highway network on the NZTA Journey Planner.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Otago Daily Times

a day ago

• Otago Daily Times

Motorists urged to be cautious

New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is urging motorists to slow down and take extreme care as icy conditions are expected to persist this week on state highways in the South Island's Mackenzie Basin. A combination of freezing temperatures, fog, hoar frosts and black ice means challenging conditions for travel on State Highways 8 and 80 over the next few days, the biggest concern being drivers not adapting to the conditions. In a statement, NZTA system manager Mark Pinner said "On SH8 in particular, there are many sheltered areas where build-up of ice is a major concern." Mr Pinner said bridge surfaces could cool quickly, and re-freezing could even occur in the late morning. "We've already had reports of people driving too fast for the conditions and truck and trailer units fishtailing. We also know it's going to get busier later in the week, as we get closer to the long holiday weekend for Matariki. Reducing speed is the biggest thing drivers can do to keep themselves safe and to help keep the highways open." "One of the measures we are employing to slow traffic down are temporary speed limits which can be employed on parts of the highway network that are most at risk." The temporary speed limit of 50kmh had been put into effect on State Highway 8 at sites like each side of Lake Tekapo township, and near the Tekapo Military Camp, the Tekapo Flyover (over the Tekapo Canal) and Simons Pass. Mr Pinner said "This is not our usual approach, but the nature of the conditions forecast for this week means we need to use every tool we can to keep people safe on the roads." "Our typical de-icing agents are at the extreme range of where they aren't as effective, and while we are gritting the roads, driving to conditions is a key part of keeping road access safe also." "If the conditions warrant it, we will close the highway, most likely overnight and through the high-risk early morning period. People need to plan ahead if they are travelling in the area — keep an eye on our Journey Planner site." These precautions came after last week's closures of State Highway 8 in the Mackenzie Basin. He said at the time: "With the snow continuing to fall and roads becoming extremely icy at nights, our teams made good calls to do some overnight closures between Fairlie and Twizel in recent days." Mr Pinner said, "While we know these closures can be disruptive for some, I have no doubt that those decisions helped to prevent accidents and stranding of vehicles that could have led to much longer closures and even greater disruption. We know this because we have already had to deal with stranded and crashed vehicles in the last week, as people were caught out by the weather and road conditions." He said: "Preventing travel when the risk is at its highest also means less risk posed to emergency services that get called in to help when something goes wrong." "Closing down the highway overnight enabled our crews to work around the clock safely, to remove snow and de-ice, grit the roads, and then to lead vehicle convoys at controlled speeds through the affected stretch of highway to allow reopening." "Our crews have done some outstanding work on SH8 and other South Island highways over the last week to minimise the impacts on motorists and residents." Key considerations for winter driving include adjusting speeds to suit the conditions, being visible, increasing following distances on slippery roads and avoiding sudden braking or turning movements. "Winter has only just begun and we know there will be plenty more weather events to deal with. If everyone plays their part, then it makes life easier for all of us." More winter driving advice could be accessed at — APL

Scoop

2 days ago

• Scoop

Reminder Of Upcoming Lane Closure - SH1 Otaika Road, Whangārei

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is reminding people travelling around Whangārei that on Sunday 29 June the northbound lane on SH1 Otaika Road between Rewa Rewa Road and Maunu Road will be closed for essential power pole maintenance. The northbound detour will be in place between 7am and 4pm, with more information here. People can also contact Northpower directly on 0800 10 40 40. People are asked to follow the marked detour routes and expect delays during this time. Detour route for SH1 northbound: 1. Turn right into Rewa Rewa Road/Kioreroa Road 2. Turn left onto Port Road/Okara Drive 3. Turn left onto Porowini Avenue 4. Turn left onto Maunu Road before joining SH1 Otaika Road. The detour route will add approximately eight minutes to peoples' journey. Important note for Heavy Vehicles (HPMV) The detour route is not approved for HPMV. HPMV will be parked and grouped together, and escorted through the closure approximately every 20 minutes, as required. Please take care when travelling through the site and watch out for crews working. Reduce your speed, adhere to the temporary speed limits and follow the directions of traffic management staff and signs. People are urged to plan ahead and use the NZTA Journey Planner for real time traffic information.

Otago Daily Times

2 days ago

• Otago Daily Times

Bids sought for work on key SH6 bridge to Haast

The Gates of Haast bridge. Photo: file Bids will be sought from contractors in preparation for works around a crucial West Coast highway and bridge as riverbank degradation continues. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi has opened the bidding for a project to improve the resilience of the Haast bridge on State Highway 6. The bridge connects a 140km journey between Haast and Wānaka, and it is a critical tourism link to the glaciers on the West Coast from Queenstown. Much of the work set to take place will be around the rock and concrete river protection at the toe of the slope, which has been in place since 1980. It has been repaired and replaced several times due to weather events including Cyclone Fehi in 2018 which resulted in significant degradation of the rock and concrete erosion protection immediately upstream of the Gates of Haast bridge. An NZTA spokesperson said several sections of the riverbank continued to fall into the river, making improvements necessary to enhance the resilience of the Haast bridge pier and abutment, the support structure at the end of the bridge. The improvements would be focused on scour protection, which refers to measures put in place to protect against the erosion of soil around underwater structures such as bridges. The work would include deconstructing existing protection, new rock work, and several other structural elements. Notice of the detailed work was published last month and NZTA has now opened the bidding for potential contractors. There is no timeline for the proposed works. However, the agency is looking to start construction later this year.