Northland's newest state highway has opened with a Māori blessing.
NZTA staff, council officials and local kaumātua mark the opening of the new state highway. Photo: RNZ / Lois Williams
Mangakahia Road, from Kaikohe to Whangarei, is now State Highway 15 - along with the smaller roads that connect it to SH1.
The New Zealand Transport Agency took over the roads in August and said improving their condition would give Northland a safer and more reliable inland freight route.
The southern end of the route, through Otaika Valley and Loop Road, has been notorious for log truck truck crashes.
The Transport Agency planned to rebuild the hazardous Loop Road intersection with SH1.
Director Ernst Zӧllner said Mangakahia Road was historically important to Māori, and the agency's work with hapū had resulted in new road signs to identify communities along the route.
