SH1 north of Mangamuka township, prior to the scheduled reopening on 19 December 2024.
Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf

A road in the Far North that recently reopened last Christmas after a two-year closure has suffered another setback.

The Mangamuka Gorge on SH1 from Kaitaia to Okaihau closed Sunday after debris came down onto the road.

A detour was in place.

The road had only been open for four months, after a storm in August 2022 triggered dozens of damaging slips, closing the gorge until the end of last year.

Flooding made driving conditions in Northland difficult in many areas on Sunday.

A heavy rain watch was in force for Northland and Auckland including Great Barrier Island.

On Sunday morning, a short-lived thunderstorm warning was issued for Northland, when thunderstorms were detected.

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