Closure worry for A & P Show

Far North residents have failed to put the brakes on major roadworks along State Highway 1 through Mangamuka gorge due to a clash with the Kaitaia A & P Show.

New Zealand Transport Agency plans to close the stretch of road between Mangamuka and Kaitaia for resurfacing for nine days. Work is set to start on February 17 to 19 from 7am to 6pm each day. Two further three-day closures are planned for the following weekends where a detour will be in place via SH 10 between Awanui and Pakaraka.

But residents say the roadworks will mean much longer detours than the 10km delay advised by NZTA and that could put people off attending the Kaitaia Show on February 23 and 24.

Kaitaia resident Justine Gamble says she phoned NZTA with her concerns about the clash, asking for the dates to be changed.

‘‘I have explained how difficult detours are up here. It’s quite a significant detour. It’s important local dates be investigated first before setting maintenance detours. It just requires forethought and consideration.’’

Bruce Jones, co-owner of Caro’s Crazy Critters Petting Farm, says the detour will add another 30km on to their trip. They will be towing a float with about a dozen ponies, calves, sheep and goats, along with rabbits, chickens and guinea pigs from Umawera.

‘‘They haven’t considered what’s on in Kaitaia, it’s their busiest day. We have to detour through Herekino or through Kerikeri and across.

‘‘Not to mention the fact Herekino Rd is rubbish; we’ve got livestock on board they’ll be bouncing around.’’

An NZTA spokesperson says the weather will be the determinant on closing the gorge route for road works. A decision about the February 23-25 works would be made the week before, he says.

Kaitaia Show president Jim Burroughs says the road works were ‘‘a worry’’ for the show, which began in 1888 and now attracts about 2000 people every year.

The detour would add ‘‘another 30 per cent to the trip’’, he says. ‘‘Quite a few judges and competitors come up from Whangarei and you’ve got people from Umawera that come too. It’s going to inconvenience a lot of people.’’