Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency is calling for the public to respect roading crews and equipment, following incidents of vandalism in Tairāwhiti.
A multitude of worksites are now spread across the region’s state highway network, but crews are having their jobs made harder through damage to vital equipment.
A set of traffic lights was damaged at Otoko on State Highway 2 early on Wednesday morning.
Waka Kotahi National Journey Manager Helen Harris says it’s disappointing when crews are working so hard to repair the roads.
“Our teams have a huge task ahead of them to restore the state highway network in Tairāwhiti, and having to face this sort of vandalism doesn’t help. Equipment like this is vital to getting the job done safely and efficiently, and given the scale of cyclone damage around the country, it’s not always quick to replace.”
“We’re asking people to respect our teams and our worksites, so that we can focus on reconnecting our communities and getting the region moving again.”
