Taranaki Media Logo
Taranaki Media
Home
Stories
Events
Videos
Photos
Search (⌘K)
Light Mode
See & Do
    Eat & Drink
      Stay
        Local Directory

          State Highway 3 Reopens Under Stop-Go Management Following Mt Messenger Slip

          State Highway 3 Reopens Under Stop-Go Management Following Mt Messenger Slip
          Tony Skilling

          Tony Skilling

          5 September 2026

          Roading UpdateRoading Mt Messenger
          State Highway 3 has reopened under stop-go traffic management south of the Mt Messenger Tunnel following a large slip.

          UPDATE: State Highway 3 is now OPEN under STOP/GO traffic management at the site of a slip south of Mt Messenger Tunnel.

          Expect delays over Mt Messenger today as slip cleanup continues. Allow additional time for travel and follow instructions from roading crews on-site.

          --
          Original post:

          State Highway 3 is now CLOSED over Mt Messenger, due to a large slip including boulders and fallen trees south of Mt Messenger Tunnel.

          No immediate detour is available. Delay travel through the Mt Messenger area at this time or consider an alternative route.

          Contractors are currently on-site with machinery en route in order to clear the slip.

          State Highway 3 Mt Messenger Road Slip Traffic Update
          f

          View on Facebook

          See the original post and join the conversation on Facebook.

          Views
          128.8K
          Post clicks
          7.4K
          Reactions
          319
          Comments
          165
          Shares
          102
          View post on Facebook

          Stats updated 16 Sept 2026, 10:43 am

          Community Discussion

          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Christine O'Carroll have you seen this hopefully the have it cleared for you by Sunday afternoon x

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Road north is so unstable and becoming a hazard, be nice if nzta actually recognised this and assisted with more funding to keep it a viable route as there is no alternative

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Lucky they have the crew making the new bypass to help with the cleanup

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Wow take care

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Sharyn Baker hopefully fixed by tomorrow for you.

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Michelle Radford Let Sam and Izzy know

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Bugger

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Bugger! Im in Waikato was hoping to bring dad home today

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Feeling for the traveling public today, especially those traveling North to catch international flights AND the contractors called out at short notice to clean up AGAIN. Kia kaha

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Any word on what it will reopen?

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Got tickets to warriors game Buggar

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Rhiannon another slip and closed again

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Google maps needs to update

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Noooo really? was it raining? 🙄🙄🙄

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Drill a tunnel

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Lucky I cam thru yesterday to catch my flight. Do you think it will be sorted by the 20th, I am returning?

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Ye " again "

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Probably caused buy the earth movers there sounds about right missed a funeral because of this

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Theres a shock

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Just going through forgotten highway and not a lot of traffic at this point , nice day for a scenic detour

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          AGAIN!!!!

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          And it gets worse. 😮‍💨

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          It wasn’t that big and the clean up crew did a great job of cleaning it up!!!!!

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Its open..check the ngamotu advocate page...

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Makes a change- Mt Messenger instead of the Gorge. We can get to Mokau

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Mark Hartmann Are you down in Taranaki?

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Donna Guildford and Maree Reid take care

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Update on website said it was open at 9am

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          The first time in quite a few years - Mt Messenger closed! The only other time I can remember is when they widened the tunnel and there might be one other time when they undercut the cliff too much when they were making the first part of the new bypass . . .

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Ko timata ngaa Kohatu Ki Te Koorero.

          Commented on Facebook
          Taranaki Media5 Sept 2026

          UPDATE: State Highway 3 is now OPEN under STOP/GO traffic management at the site of a slip south of Mt Messenger Tunnel. Expect delays over Mt Messenger today as slip cleanup continues. Allow additional time for travel and follow instructions from roading crews on-site.

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          might have to buy me a model ..T so I can get to town Like my farther once did .....

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          What a joke

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          What a joke. Does anyone know what they are doing up there?

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Never ending they disturbed the gorge now it's slowly tumbling down

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Rick Procter, might need to check up on the status of this if you go up to get Dad tomorrow.

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          Tristan Smyth lucky u got home

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          We travelled north on SH3 today. Two stop and go. The stops weren't too long and managed very well. Thanks to all the work crews on My Messenger and the gorge

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user5 Sept 2026

          AGAIN.........

          Commented on Facebook
          Facebook user7 Sept 2026

          Enough is enough... fix this route north

          Commented on Facebook

          Join the conversation

          More Stories

          Photos: Queen Street Cenotaph pedestrian space complete
          Photos

          Photos: Queen Street Cenotaph pedestrian space complete

          The new pedestrian space around the Queen Street Cenotaph is complete, with seating, planting and safety improvements in place.

          Tony Skilling1 week ago
          Work Begins on SH3 Awakino Gorge Rebuild to Restore Two-Lane Access
          Roading Update

          Work Begins on SH3 Awakino Gorge Rebuild to Restore Two-Lane Access

          Work has started on rebuilding a section of State Highway 3 through the Awakino Gorge, with the goal of restoring two-lane access by mid-December following severe storm damage.

          Tony Skilling1 week ago
          Port Taranaki reports $13.11m profit but warns of future trade drop
          Business News

          Port Taranaki reports $13.11m profit but warns of future trade drop

          Port Taranaki has posted a $13.11 million net profit for the 2025-26 year but warns of a tough future with trade volumes forecast to halve due to shifts in the region's energy sector.

          Tony Skilling2 weeks ago
          Summer roadworks planned for State Highway 43 as storm repairs wrap up
          Roading Update

          Summer roadworks planned for State Highway 43 as storm repairs wrap up

          NZTA Waka Kotahi is shifting its focus to long-term resilience on the Forgotten World Highway, with summer construction planned to target vulnerable sections.

          Tony Skilling2 weeks ago
          Photos: Devon Street reopens near the Clock Tower
          Photos

          Photos: Devon Street reopens near the Clock Tower

          Devon Street near the Clock Tower has reopened to traffic as the West End Crossing project nears completion.

          Tony Skilling2 weeks ago
          Rain postpones planned four-day closure of Awakino Gorge on State Highway 3
          Roading Update

          Rain postpones planned four-day closure of Awakino Gorge on State Highway 3

          NZTA has postponed the upcoming four-day closure of State Highway 3 through the Awakino Gorge due to forecast rain, with the culvert replacement work now rescheduled to start on Saturday 29 August.

          Tony Skilling3 weeks ago
          Feedback sought on controversial Devon Street West cycle separators in New Plymouth
          Council Survey

          Feedback sought on controversial Devon Street West cycle separators in New Plymouth

          New Plymouth District Council has launched a survey seeking final public feedback on the trialled Devon Street West cycle separators before a decision in October.

          Tony Skilling1 month ago
          Police arrest fleeing drivers and impound vehicles in major Taranaki road safety operation
          Police Operation

          Police arrest fleeing drivers and impound vehicles in major Taranaki road safety operation

          A major Taranaki road policing operation over the weekend resulted in dozens of driving infringements, five impounded vehicles, and the arrest of two fleeing drivers.

          Tony Skilling1 month ago
          Drainage Works on State Highway 3 to Cause Delays Between Burgess Hill and Midhirst
          Road Works

          Drainage Works on State Highway 3 to Cause Delays Between Burgess Hill and Midhirst

          NZTA advises motorists to expect delays of 5 to 15 minutes on SH3 between Burgess Hill and Midhirst from 18 August due to essential drainage maintenance.

          Tony Skilling1 month ago
          View All Stories