Roading

Did you know

• Most roads in New Zealand are constructed as thin surface flexible pavements.
• This means they consist of a basecourse (crushed rock) pavement that provides the strength.
• This pavement is protected by a surface layer of either chipseal or asphalt that provides waterproofing.

• Potholes appear when water gets under the surface of the road through small cracks, or from water coming in from the soil underneath.
• This weakens the surface of the road and as the weight of the vehicles drive over it, pieces of the road weaken and break down from the weight, creating a pothole.
• Water makes the risk of potholes forming worse, and they can appear within just a few hours of heavy rain.
• Because a lot of the damage is caused by water, potholes and other faults occur more often during winter and spring.
• They can also start to suddenly occur with the volume and type of traffic using a road.

• All reports of potholes are assessed by our Roading team and then sent straight to our contractor who respond as soon as possible.

• In mid-2025, we appointed a new contractor to conduct our general road maintenance activity. Their start date is 1 October 2025 and their initial focus will be to work through the backlog of repair work after a particularly wet winter.

• Generally, the road needs to be dug up so the damaged material can be removed and replaced before the waterproof surface is patched.
• Each road has an estimated lifespan, and we fix potholes to help the road last until it is scheduled for a full road reseal. 
• We have a programme of work in place to repair Fergusson Drive over the next five years. You can read more about that below.
• As a temporary measure, potholes can be patched until a permanent repair can be made.