Snow shuts Desert Road as heavy ice hits SH2

Heavy ice has closed State Highway 2 between Ōpōtiki and Gisborne to trucks on Wednesday morning, as temperatures fall towards freezing in parts of the country.

Limited run of high-performance four-wheel-drive will be created.

NZTA says the road has reopened between Rangipo and Waiouru but motorists should take care due to wintry conditions.

Home / New ZealandUpdatedHerald ReportersNZ Herald·16 Aug, 2026 06:12 PM3 mins to read‌A bitterly cold air mass driving up from the south will deliver a frigid and frosty start to the working week. Video / MetServiceSnow has closed the North Island’s Desert Rd as a bitterly cold air mass drives up from the south. The c