The Far North faces another summer without its vital lifeline, State Highway One through the Mangamuka Gorge to Kaitaia.
The gorge has been closed on and off for three years due to extreme weather causing cracks and slips.
That means for the past sixteen months visitors and residents have been forced to take the long way around; detouring onto state highway ten via Kerikeri and Kaeo to Awanui and then on to state highway one to Kaitaia.
Due to ongoing land movement and yet more slips, Waka Kotahi recently revised the reopening date to late 2024.
Andrea Panther from the Kaitaia Business Association speaks to Lisa Owen.
