Shereen Parker says the closure of State Highway 39 is “worse than Covid” for her business The Hive in Pirongia.
BREAKING NEWS
A temporary bridge is expected to be in place on State Highway 39 by mid‑March, reconnecting the community south of Pirongia after the Mangati Bridge was destroyed in heavy floods, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says.
Mangati Bridge damage
“Since the floods on 13 February, NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) , its contractors and consultants have moved at pace to restore access for south of Pirongia.
“A plan is now in place to install a 40‑metre steel‑framed temporary bridge slightly upstream of the existing two‑lane bridge. The bridge will have a 50‑tonne weight limit, with traffic managed by temporary traffic lights.
“Crews have already cleared tonnes of debris from the site, allowing specialist teams to begin work on both the temporary bridge and the permanent replacement. Council partners and landowners have recognised the urgency of this work and supported it every step of the way.
“We expect the Acrow (Bailey‑style) temporary bridge to be operational by mid‑March, subject to fine weather. The approaches are currently under construction, and assembly of the bridge on site is expected to take around four days.
“Work is also underway on accelerated design and procurement so construction of the new permanent two‑lane bridge can begin later this year.
“Restoring access safely and as quickly as possible is the priority, and I want to thank everyone involved for the extraordinary effort to reconnect this community.”
Mangati Bridge damage
26 February 5am
Shereen Parker closed the doors of her Pirongia business last week after takings plummeted.
CFE Organics owner Jo Whittaker took her business online after taking just $17 one day last week. Photo: Chris Gardner
“It was worse than Covid,” said the owner of The Hive handcraft store in Franklin Street. “There was just no one around. It was like a ghost town.”
Buses and trucks stopped visiting the township when the state highway was closed in the wake of the St Valentine’s Day floods.
Mangati Bridge on SH39 between Pirongia and Ōtorohanga was severely damaged by the flooded Ngakoaohia Stream which flows from Mount Pirongia into the Waipā River.
Te Awamutu News 26 February 2026
A push by Waipā mayor Mike Pettit for district residents to take a special trip to the township on Saturday saw Parker re-open.
“Our takings are down by 80 per cent, if not more.”
She had heard it could be three or four weeks before NZTA opens a single lane bridge for light traffic on the highway and hoped it would be much quicker.
“The locals can only do so much,” she said. “It’s a bit depressing.”
“We’ve had a few more people today,” she said on Saturday after Pettit had extended the state of emergency for a second week.
“A lot of people are saying they have heard about the campaign which is good.”
Parker also appreciated a visit from a Waipā District Council staff member who did a welfare check on her.
Across the road, at the newly built Country Bakery Café, the cabinets are full of cakes, pies and sandwiches.
“It’s very quiet,” said owner Pheap Keat. “We are 65 per cent down.”
“Buses and trucks buy more than the locals.”
“Pirongia is open for business,” says Mountain Folk Café Retreat owner Michelle Richardson. Photo: Chris Gardner
Keat and his small team moved down the road to the new premises he built in July after a substantial investment.
The neighbouring CFE Organics owner Jo Whittaker took her business online and replaced staff with herself after taking just $17 last Tuesday.
The business, which opened in November, usually sells hundreds of dollars’ worth of organic food and drink each day.
“It’s been a difficult week, but we have stayed open,” she said.
“I have just cut my staff hours and doing what we can and pushing my online store.”
Regulars come from all over the district and neighbouring Ōtorohanga district, and Whittaker appreciates the extra effort some of her clients are making to get to her.
Takings are down two thirds at Country Bakery Café in Pirongia. Photo: Chris Gardner
Mountain Folk Café Retreat owner Michelle Richardson said her takings were down by about two thirds.
“We did our first Saturday night dinner last week, a lot of locals were coming, and some couldn’t get here,” she said.
However, Sunday turned out to be one of her businesses biggest trading days.
“Pirongia is open for business and definitely welcoming people,” she said.
“We are taking it one day at a time.”
Shereen Parker says the closure of State Highway 39 is “worse than Covid” for her business The Hive in Pirongia. Photo: Chris Gardner
