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The Government says around 98 percent of potholes on state highways are now being repaired within 24 hours of being identified each month.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop says the result shows progress in efforts to improve road maintenance and safety.
“When New Zealanders made it clear they were frustrated with unprecedented numbers of potholes appearing across the country, we introduced new requirements for NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) contractors,” Bishop said.
Under the targets introduced in July 2024:
- 95 percent of potholes on main state highways must be repaired within 24 hours
- 85 percent on regional state highways must be repaired within 24 hours
Bishop said NZTA has met the targets every month since they were introduced.
The Government created a $3.9 billion Pothole Prevention Activity Class over three years to fund resealing, rehabilitation and drainage maintenance.
The funding includes:
- $2 billion for state highways
- $1.9 billion for local roads
NZTA has been carrying out a large programme of road rehabilitation, which rebuilds full road sections rather than relying only on resealing.
Over summer, the fund is supporting 290 lane kilometres of rehabilitation work, similar to the level completed last year.
“Keeping rehabilitation levels this high will significantly reduce the likelihood of potholes forming,” Bishop said.
Bishop said improvements have been supported by smarter repair techniques designed to make temporary fixes last longer until permanent work can be completed.
“Meeting these targets month after month shows how far we’ve come in addressing the pothole problem,” he said.
Potholes tend to form more frequently in wet winter conditions, which is why higher numbers of repairs are typically needed during colder months.
Motorists are encouraged to report potholes on the state highway network by calling 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49).
The current summer maintenance programme began in October 2025 and is due to finish in March 2026.
