Road Seal Downgrading Continues
Road Seal Downgrading Continues:
I've been fielding a number of queries about recent road resealing work around the area. A number of roads have been downgraded from smooth-seal (hotmix) to chip-seal without prior warning. You can see in the attached example letter, that while residents were told that their road would be resealed, they were not told that it would be changed to chip-seal. And because Auckland Transport use a smaller, poorer grade of stone than North Shore City used to use for chip-seal, the stones travel a long way, go up driveways, damage cars, etc. I went to see the new road seal at the end of Chelsea View Drive today, and saw that the stones have travelled right back to Mokoia Road. In some parts of Kaipatiki, the new chip-seal has required multiple "sweeps" to remove the excess stones, sometimes for up to a year afterwards.
So why is this happening? Unfortunately in the drive to lower costs, since 2014/2015, Auckland Transport has been downgrading all roads that carry less than 10,000 vehicles a day to chip-seal, which is virtually all suburban roads. If you aren't on a main road, and you still have smooth-seal, it will likley be changed when it is next due to be resealed.
This was AT's statement to me back in 2015 and nothing has changed:
"It is Auckland Transport’s Policy that Chip seal surfacing must be used for resealing, except for roads which satisfy specific criteria, in which case asphaltic concrete surfacing must be used. For example asphaltic concrete surfacing must be used for resealing roads where the volume of traffic exceeds 10,000 vehicles per day, that are subject to high wear and tear (such as most cul-de-sac heads, roundabouts, sharp bends with severe flushing, stripping or skid resistance, aprons/main road intersections), in industrial/commercial areas where there is a high concentration of truck traffic, or that are subject to high usage by pedestrians, such as town centres, hospitals, shopping centres and schools.
All other road surfaces should be resealed with chip seal. In practise, this means that a low vehicle volume residential street that was previously sealed with asphaltic concrete (perhaps at the time of development) may be resealed with chip seal in accordance with the above criteria.
Once resealed, a chip surface is generally swept 3 days after and then again 2 weeks later. The sites are also monitored and extra sweeps can be programmed if required. Roads that have been chip resealed are expected to have some additional loose chip while the new surface settles and programmed sweeping will reduce the amount of the loose chip. The cooler months will also help the new surface to bed in and will result less loose chip."
Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
🎉 2026 is almost here!
We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?
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10.2% Yes! New Year, New Me
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20% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
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69.8% Nah - not for me
Witnesses sought in relation to mass disorder on K-Road Auckland
Police are appealing to the public for any footage they may have of the mass disorder that occurred on Karangahape Road in Auckland in the early hours of Sunday 28 December.
Emergency services were called to the disorder around 3.41am where it is estimated around over 50 people were present.
A Police investigation is underway after there were three serious assaults on and around Karangahape Road during the mass disorder.
A portal has been set up to allow the public to upload any footage they have of the disorder and the serious assaults.
The portal is https://dahr.nc3.govt.nz/
Police have arrested one person but are asking for help to identify and locate others involved.
• Around 4:15am there was a serious assault outside the Crown Bar on Queen Street.
A 33-year-old man received serious injuries and was hospitalised.
The offender is still unknown, and the Police file number is 251228/4647.
• Around 4:30am there was another serious assault on a Cobden Steet just off Karangahape Road.
A 27-year-old man received serious injuries and was hospitalised.
The offender is still unknown, and the Police file number is 251228/4462.
• Around 5am there was third serious assault at the Mobil Service Station on the corner or Karangahape Road and Ponsonby Road.
A 46-year-old man received serious injuries and was hospitalised.
A 21-year-old man has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He has been bailed to appear in court again on 16 January 2026.
The Police file number is 251228/4774.
Police would like to speak to anyone who has witnessed or filmed the assaults.
Witnesses can call Police directly on 105.
Please quote one of the above file numbers.
Scam Alert: Fake information regarding December Bonuses from MSD
The Ministry of Social Development is reporting that fake information is circulating about new ‘December bonuses’ or ‘benefit increases’
If you get suspicious communication, please contact Netsafe.
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