Remutaka Road Action Group
A new modern highway connecting the Wairarapa with Wellington and the World
Lead Statements
Connor Dovah
""The Remutaka Hill Road at its best is a slow, steep, dangerous road, which funnels together almost half the traffic into and out of Wellington, commuters and commercial vehicles all together with entirely too few passing lanes - and those which exist are poorly placed. At its worst, it is closed, forcing all that traffic to a 150km alternate route. And it's at its worst a lot.
I deal with landslips in my job every day, and every time I drive over the Remutaka Hill Road I see more danger of slips. The road is older than some towns in the Wairarapa, and it does.
I moved to Masterton from Waikanae, where I lived when Transmission Gully finally opened. The road by which I used to commute to Wellington was gorgeous, but slow, narrow, and winding. The new road fixed all of that. I want the same thing for the Wairarapa.
Ecological and Tangata Whenua concerns must be balanced with commuter needs. I believe this balance can be struck.""
Connor Dovah
Natural Hazards Insurance Specialist
Connor Dovah
Natural Hazards Insurance Specialist
Annemarie Gibbs
"Working as a midwife in Wairarapa Ata Rauru (Maternity Unit) we have had several times recently when we have needed to get women to Wellington Hospital urgently, with the weather making Chopper/Life Flight not an option, our only option is to take them by road. The regular closures of the Remutaka Hill road negatively impact our ability to provide appropriate (life saving) care to the whanau in the Wairarapa region. Also the current road often closes due to weather, and if the road closes and we can't fly then we are faced with providing care to women who should not be birthing in our unit due to their increased risks (them or their baby), which we aren't equipped to handle appropriately. "
Name Withheld
Midwife Wairarapa Maternity Unit
Name Withheld
Midwife Wairarapa Maternity Unit
Kieran McAnulty
"As a former Minister of Emergency Management, I know firsthand the devastation and isolation that can be caused by a natural disaster. The Nelson Floods, Auckland Floods, Cyclone Hale and Cyclone Gabrielle devastated roads and rail. Ensuring resilience in our transport infrastructure is crucial to ensure we avoid being cut off from essential supplies and support.
That’s why I support the call to look into the resilience of the Remutaka Hill Road and for it to be designated a Road of Regional Significance. Considering whether there is a need for an alternative route is important for effective disaster planning and informed decision-making."
Kieran McAnulty
Member of Parliament, Labour Party
Kieran McAnulty
Member of Parliament, Labour Party
Anna Nielson
"The majority of visitors to the Wairarapa arrive via the Remutaka Hill Road on State Highway 2. On many occasions throughout the year however, the Hill Road is closed. A more reliable transport link between Wellington and Wairarapa is critical if we are to achieve growth in tourism.
From not just a growth perspective, but safety as well – when it comes to natural disasters, it seems very odd that the Remutaka Hill Road is not already on the Government’s list of Roads of Regional Significance.
Destination Wairarapa therefore supports the Remutaka Road Action Group’s objective of having the Remutaka Hill Road added to this list."
Anna Nielson
Chief Executive, Destination Wairarapa
Anna Nielson
Chief Executive, Destination Wairarapa
Robyn Wilson
"I am happy to support the Remutaka Road Action Group and the mahi they are doing to improve access to our region. As someone who recruits staff from around the motu and from overseas, the Remutaka Road (in its current state) can present quite a barrier to recruitment and retention of medical staff. We would support any improvements that would allow us to better service healthcare in our region."
Robyn Wilson
General Manager, Masterton Medical
Robyn Wilson
General Manager, Masterton Medical
Nick Leggett
"The Wairarapa has an opportunity to enhance its economic future by building a faster, safer link to Wellington. A tunnel would be the best bet to ensure you remain connected and have an alternative route to the current Remutaka road. Thinking ahead, being bold and setting yourselves up for the future is a challenge that every resident should get behind"
Nick Legget
Chief Executive Infrastructure NZ
Nick Legget
Chief Executive Infrastructure NZ
David Seymour
"I think the Remutaka Road Action Group are on the money. At the end of the day, nobody cares more about Wairarapa than people from Wairarapa, so the case for a Wairarapa road must come from Wairarapa. With local support, the first hurdle for Government support is cleared, and a better road will become a realistic prospect, then a real project."
David Seymour
Leader, ACT Party
David Seymour
Leader, ACT Party
Craig Bowyer2
"The Wairarapa District AA council recommend to the Minister of Transport that the route between the Wairarapa and Wellington region be promptly added to the list of roads of National Significance. The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) are a package of major transport projects that, once completed, will support economic growth and productivity, reduce congestion, improve safety, support housing development, and provide a more resilient roading network."
Craig Bowyer
National Councilor and Chair, Wairarapa District Automobile Association
Craig Bowyer
National Councilor and Chair, Wairarapa District Automobile Association
Gary Caffell
"Masterton District Council (MDC) wishes to formally express its support for the Remutaka Road Action Group and their campaign to have the Remutaka Hill Road designated as a Road of National Significance. MDC recognises the underlying evidence that highlights the importance of this link between Wairarapa and the rest of the Wellington region:
Increasing Usage and Demand
Council acknowledges that the Remutaka Hill Road has experienced significant growth in usage, with daily traffic nearly doubling from 3,900 vehicles per day in 2003 to approximately 7,000 vehicles per day in 2025. This substantial increase reflects the interdependence between our Wairarapa and Wellington and places mounting pressure on infrastructure.
Ongoing Safety Concerns
We note Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency's identification of the Remutaka Hill Road as one of New Zealand's most dangerous stretches of highway. The record of 387 reported crashes between 2012 and 2022, resulting in 32 fatalities or serious injuries, represents a risk to our communities that should be considered when assessing the costs and benefits of further work and development on the road.
Essential Regional Lifeline
This Council recognises that the Wellington Lifelines Project has formally identified the Remutaka Hill Road as a key lifeline for the Wellington Region. This designation highlights the road's critical role in regional resilience, particularly during emergencies when alternative routes may be compromised.
Economic Development Links
The Wairarapa Economic Development Strategy explicitly identifies infrastructure improvement as a priority for regional growth. This Council acknowledges that the Remutaka Hill Road represents crucial infrastructure that, if improved, would remove a constraint on economic development, tourism potential, and residential growth in our region.
MDC supports the Remutaka Road Action Group's campaign to have this vital connection receive appropriate national attention through inclusion in the Roads of National Significance program. We believe this designation would appropriately recognise the road's importance in supporting economic growth and productivity, improving safety, and providing a more resilient roading network for our communities.
While this Council is not advocating for any specific solution or design proposal, we strongly support the addition of the route between the Wairarapa and Wellington region to the list of Roads of National Significance.
Yours sincerely
Mayor Gary Caffell"
Gary Caffell
Mayor, Masterton District Council
Increasing Usage and Demand
Council acknowledges that the Remutaka Hill Road has experienced significant growth in usage, with daily traffic nearly doubling from 3,900 vehicles per day in 2003 to approximately 7,000 vehicles per day in 2025. This substantial increase reflects the interdependence between our Wairarapa and Wellington and places mounting pressure on infrastructure.
Ongoing Safety Concerns
We note Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency's identification of the Remutaka Hill Road as one of New Zealand's most dangerous stretches of highway. The record of 387 reported crashes between 2012 and 2022, resulting in 32 fatalities or serious injuries, represents a risk to our communities that should be considered when assessing the costs and benefits of further work and development on the road.
Essential Regional Lifeline
This Council recognises that the Wellington Lifelines Project has formally identified the Remutaka Hill Road as a key lifeline for the Wellington Region. This designation highlights the road's critical role in regional resilience, particularly during emergencies when alternative routes may be compromised.
Economic Development Links
The Wairarapa Economic Development Strategy explicitly identifies infrastructure improvement as a priority for regional growth. This Council acknowledges that the Remutaka Hill Road represents crucial infrastructure that, if improved, would remove a constraint on economic development, tourism potential, and residential growth in our region.
MDC supports the Remutaka Road Action Group's campaign to have this vital connection receive appropriate national attention through inclusion in the Roads of National Significance program. We believe this designation would appropriately recognise the road's importance in supporting economic growth and productivity, improving safety, and providing a more resilient roading network for our communities.
While this Council is not advocating for any specific solution or design proposal, we strongly support the addition of the route between the Wairarapa and Wellington region to the list of Roads of National Significance.
Yours sincerely
Mayor Gary Caffell"
Gary Caffell
Mayor, Masterton District Council
Anita Baker
"To Hon Chris Bishop, Minister of Transport
Via email: c.bishop@ministers.govt.nz
cc: NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Chief Executive, Brett Gliddon
Via email: Brett.Gliddon@nzta.govt.nz
Kia ora Minister Bishop
UNLOCKING THE WAIRARAPA’S POTENTIAL
Perhaps it is unconventional, but we are not writing to demand or request anything of you. Rather, we wish to start a conversation.
The conversation is about the long term economic development of the Wairarapa. The Wairarapa communities have invested in an Economic Development Strategy, and are in the process of attempting to deliver on the initatives identified therein.
Through this work, it has become obvious to the region’s Mayors that that one of the main constraints on the Wairarapa’s development has been its poor connectivity to the remainder of the region, and to metropolitan Wellington in particular. The Remutaka Hill Road was completed in 1856. While it has been improved since then, it remains a twisting, one-lane, nausea-inducing, sometimes terrifying and time-consuming physical barrier to economic growth.
The Wairarapa communities are looking at the west of the island and reflecting on the significant opportunities presented by the investment in State Highway 1, and how that has catalysed growth and vibrancy in Porirua, on the Kāpiti Coast, Horowhenua and beyond.
We wish to start a conversaton about a new connection from metropolitan Wellington to the Wairarapa. We’re not talking about minor safety improvements, but a bold plan to construct a quicker, safer route through or over the ranges, that looks and feels like a modern connection for the efficient movement of freight and people.
We fully appreciate that this is not currently on the table, and that your Government’s major capital investment focus is the Roads of National Significance pipeline.
The RoNS programme connects and improves communities in Hawkes Bay, Wellington City and the Manawatū-Whanganui, and we understand the drivers for those priorities. The Wairarapa is sandwiched by those regions, and without investment could become something of an inland island. We feel that it is time to start thinking about how to avoid that while taking the real growth opportunities that are currently latent.
The Regional Land Transport Plan is the orthodox path to pursue roading improvements. However for such a serious investment for an initiative we regard as a road of national significance we felt it would be helpful to discuss this prior to any further work. We realise these strategic ideas take time and painstaking work on evidence and business case development including cost benefit analysis. The starting point, however, is a discussion with you.
There is a standing invitation for you to visit our Regional Mayoral Forum or the Wairarapa. Alternatively we request a meeting with you to explore this idea.
Please let me know if you are available to meet.
Yours sincerely
Anita Baker
Chair, Wellington Regional Mayoral Forum"
Anita Baker
Chair, Wellington Mayoral Forum
Via email: c.bishop@ministers.govt.nz
cc: NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Chief Executive, Brett Gliddon
Via email: Brett.Gliddon@nzta.govt.nz
Kia ora Minister Bishop
UNLOCKING THE WAIRARAPA’S POTENTIAL
Perhaps it is unconventional, but we are not writing to demand or request anything of you. Rather, we wish to start a conversation.
The conversation is about the long term economic development of the Wairarapa. The Wairarapa communities have invested in an Economic Development Strategy, and are in the process of attempting to deliver on the initatives identified therein.
Through this work, it has become obvious to the region’s Mayors that that one of the main constraints on the Wairarapa’s development has been its poor connectivity to the remainder of the region, and to metropolitan Wellington in particular. The Remutaka Hill Road was completed in 1856. While it has been improved since then, it remains a twisting, one-lane, nausea-inducing, sometimes terrifying and time-consuming physical barrier to economic growth.
The Wairarapa communities are looking at the west of the island and reflecting on the significant opportunities presented by the investment in State Highway 1, and how that has catalysed growth and vibrancy in Porirua, on the Kāpiti Coast, Horowhenua and beyond.
We wish to start a conversaton about a new connection from metropolitan Wellington to the Wairarapa. We’re not talking about minor safety improvements, but a bold plan to construct a quicker, safer route through or over the ranges, that looks and feels like a modern connection for the efficient movement of freight and people.
We fully appreciate that this is not currently on the table, and that your Government’s major capital investment focus is the Roads of National Significance pipeline.
The RoNS programme connects and improves communities in Hawkes Bay, Wellington City and the Manawatū-Whanganui, and we understand the drivers for those priorities. The Wairarapa is sandwiched by those regions, and without investment could become something of an inland island. We feel that it is time to start thinking about how to avoid that while taking the real growth opportunities that are currently latent.
The Regional Land Transport Plan is the orthodox path to pursue roading improvements. However for such a serious investment for an initiative we regard as a road of national significance we felt it would be helpful to discuss this prior to any further work. We realise these strategic ideas take time and painstaking work on evidence and business case development including cost benefit analysis. The starting point, however, is a discussion with you.
There is a standing invitation for you to visit our Regional Mayoral Forum or the Wairarapa. Alternatively we request a meeting with you to explore this idea.
Please let me know if you are available to meet.
Yours sincerely
Anita Baker
Chair, Wellington Regional Mayoral Forum"
Anita Baker
Chair, Wellington Mayoral Forum
Jo Hayes
"This is about the resilience of access for Wellington and Wairarapa whanau, traveling both ways for work, industry, and leisure. Many have emphasized the Wellington side of the Remutaka only, which I believe is shortsighted. Wairarapa is part of the Wellington region, and I think it deserves to be treated equitably in all transport matters. I must remind many that during the pandemic, the Wairarapa was one of the top economic performers, as attested by national GDP numbers at that time. In other words, Wairarapa is a big player economically in the Wellington region and needs reliable roading and rail to keep this end of the country moving! I'm not opposed to tolling the road as long as it is not so expensive to all users that many won't use it; say $2 - $2.50 each way, a total of $4 - $5 return trip as a proposed toll for starters.."
Jo Hayes
Co Chair, Rangitane o Wairarapa
Jo Hayes
Co Chair, Rangitane o Wairarapa
Jorge Sandoval MNZM
"As an organizer of international sporting events in the Wairarapa region, I fully support any investigation into replacing the State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill Road with a new, safer route. This change is long overdue. A safer alternative would not only enhance the accessibility of our region but also encourage greater participation in the sporting and cultural events held in the Wairarapa.
Currently, many people are deterred from attending due to concerns over potential closures or the perceived risks associated with navigating this challenging road. A new road would make Wairarapa more accessible and inviting for all."
Jorge Sandoval MNZM
Director Sandoval Promotions Ltd
Currently, many people are deterred from attending due to concerns over potential closures or the perceived risks associated with navigating this challenging road. A new road would make Wairarapa more accessible and inviting for all."
Jorge Sandoval MNZM
Director Sandoval Promotions Ltd
© Remutaka Road Action Group