December 14, 2017
Kaikoura lifeline reopened
State Highway 1 into Kaikoura reopens this afternoon, 13 months after a devastating earthquake cut off the town.
A million cubic metres of material has been removed from 1500 damaged sites along 194 kilometres of road north and south of the town.
There was a service north of the town early this morning and a shared breakfast with many of the road workers.
Christchurch-based National list MP Nuk Korako from Ngai Tahu says Whale Watch Kaikoura and other Maori tourism businesses are counting on the huge injection of visitors the road will bring over the summer.
"They’ve been struggling quite a bit with tourism numbers but this is an opening of a lifeline so this will be really good for tourism businesses. It will be really good for whanau as well because the Takahanga Marae, it's easier to get up there. There are other organisations, Maori tourism as well, so everyone is really looking forward to this weekend," he says.
Sections of the road will only be open during daylight hours and there are areas that are unsealed or with temporary seal, so travellers are being warned the route could still take more than five hours to cover.
Copyright © 2017, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com