There has been another major slip from a cliff in the Manawatu Gorge.
Continuous slips and the threat of rockfalls have closed State Highway Three through the gorge since August.
The Transport Agency says heavy rain at the weekend loosened more material on the same cliff sending about 20,000 cubic metres of new debris onto the road on Monday.
NZTA says the area needs to be stabilised before the site can be cleared again.
Palmerston North Mayor Jono Naylor says a second slip was expected.
While the slip was bigger than expected, he says it is good that it is out of the way.
Manawatu District Mayor Ian McKelvie says that despite recent events the road has a good track recordfree.
Apart from the 2004 flood, he says these are the only slips to have occurred in recent times.
He says people in the surrounding towns are now used to taking detour roads and are coping well.
However, a fish and chip shop in Woodville has lost about 35% of its customers due to the road being closed.
FishSpot owner John Gooding says he doesn't know when it will end.
