List of New Zealand state highways explained

This is a list of highways of the New Zealand state highway network and some touring routes. State highways are administered by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, while all other roads are the responsibility of territorial authorities.

Current

North Island

No.	From	To	Via	Length (km)	Notes
	Cape Reinga	Wellington International Airport	Kaitaia, Whangārei, Auckland, Hamilton, Tīrau, Tokoroa, Taupō, Bulls, Levin, Wellington	1106	SH 1N is used in official documentation, SH 1 is used on maps and signs. The Interislander ferry connects State Highway 1N and State Highway 1S between Wellington and Picton.
	SH 1 at Taupiri	SH 1 at Cambridge	Gordonton	41.9	Forms an eastern bypass of Hamilton. Route currently incomplete due to closure of the Holland Road level crossing in April 2022.^[1]
	SH 1 at Horsham Downs	SH 1 at Tamahere	Hamilton	26	Formerly part of SH 1. SH 1 was rerouted onto the new Hamilton section of the Waikato Expressway in July 2022.^[2]
	SH 1 at Pōkeno (45 km south of Auckland)	SH 1 at Ngauranga (5 km north of Wellington)	Paeroa, Tauranga, Ōpōtiki, Gisborne, Wairoa, Napier, Hastings, Woodville, Masterton, Hutt Valley	968
	SH 1C at Hamilton	SH 2 at Woodville	Te Awamutu, Ōtorohanga, Te Kūiti, New Plymouth, Whanganui, Palmerston North	489.1	6 km of the route through the Manawatū Gorge has been closed since 2017 due to landslips and is temporarily replaced by the route over the Saddle Road. The new highway through the gorge is estimated to open in 2024.^[3]
	SH 3 near Waitara	SH 3 at Inglewood		15.6	Forms an eastern bypass of New Plymouth.
	SH 3 at Eight Mile Junction (11 km south of Te Kūiti)	SH 3 at Whanganui		236.5
	SH 1 at Tīrau	SH 2 at Bay View (10 km north of Napier)	Rotorua, Taupō	247.4
	SH 1 at Pakaraka (14 km north of Kawakawa)		Waipapa, Kaeo, Taipa-Mangonui	103.8
		SH 10 at Puketona Junction	Opua, Paihia	34
	SH 1 at Ōhaeawai (79 km south of Kaitaia)	SH 1 at Brynderwyn (28 km north of Wellsford)	Kaikohe, Ōmāpere, Waipoua Forest, Dargaville	217.8
		SH 12 at Dargaville	Maungatapere	54.6
	SH 1 near Lake Ōmāpere	Marsden Point	Kaikohe, Titoki, Maungatapere	126.5	The Northland Inland Freight Route. Was declared as a State Highway in August 2016 and includes the full section of former SH 15A to Marsden Point. This is the second instance of this highway number being used.
	Ports of Auckland	SH 1 at Wellsford	Northwestern Motorway, Kumeū, Waimauku, Helensville, Kaukapakapa	107.5
			Upper Harbour Motorway	14.0
	SH 1 at Manukau	SH 16 at Waterview	Southwestern Motorway	23.8
	SH 20 south of Walmsley Road interchange	Auckland Airport		5.0	Provides northern access to Auckland Airport.
	SH 20 at Puhinui Road interchange	Auckland Airport		4.0	Provides eastern access to Auckland Airport.
	SH 1 at Tamahere	SH 3 near Hamilton Airport, (5 km south of Hamilton)	Hamilton Airport, Mystery Creek	6.7
	SH 1 at Drury	Pukekohe	Paerata	12.9	The continuation south to SH 23 near Raglan had its State Highway designation revoked and is now known as Highway 22.
	SH 1C at Hamilton	Raglan	Whatawhata	42.7
		SH 29 near Te Poi		13
	SH 2 3 km north of Mangatarata	SH 2 at Waihi	Thames, Coromandel, Whitianga, Tairua, Whangamatā	231
	SH 25 at Kopu (6 km south of Thames)			28.2	Serves as a shortcut across the Coromandel Peninsula via the Kopu-Hikuai hill.
	SH 1 at Ruakura	SH 25 at Kopu, (6 km south of Thames)	Morrinsville, Te Aroha, Paeroa	96.2	Terminus was changed to the Ruakura interchange on the new Hamilton section of the Waikato Expressway in July 2022.
	SH 2 at Mangatarata	SH 1 at Tīrau	Waharoa, Matamata	92.4
	SH 1 at Putāruru	SH 29 at the foot of the Kaimai Ranges	Tapapa	20.8
	SH 1 (12 km west of Tīrau)		Tauriko	53.7	Crosses the Kaimai Ranges. Route K (Takitimu Drive) became part of the State Highway network in August 2015 and the highway follows this route terminating at SH 2 in Tauranga.
	SH 29/SH 36 near Tauriko		Maungatapu	13.5	New designation introduced in August 2015. Follows the former eastern section of SH 29.
	SH 3 at Te Kūiti		Benneydale, Mangakino, Whakamaru, Ātiamuri, Rotorua	219	Has the most concurrencies of any State Highway, sharing sections with SH 32, SH 1, SH 5, SH 34, and SH 2.
	SH 5 west of central Rotorua	SH 30 at Te Ngae	Rotorua Central	3.6
	SH 3 at Ōtorohanga	Kawhia		56.4	14 km of the route is a concurrency with SH 39.
	SH 1 at Tokoroa	SH 41 at Kuratau Junction	Whakamaru	95.9	Traverses the western side of Lake Taupō.
	SH 2 at Paengaroa (9 km south-east of Te Puke)	SH 30 at Te Ngae (east of Rotorua)	Okere Falls	35.6
	SH 2 near Edgecumbe	SH 30 west of Kawerau	Kawerau	25.2
	SH 2 at Ōpōtiki	SH 2 near Gisborne	East Cape	334	The longest two-digit State Highway.
		SH 5 at Ngongotahā (10 km north of Rotorua)		48.0	Notable for being the first instance of a highway number being revoked and then re-gazetted in another location.
	SH 3 at Hangatiki	Waitomo Caves		7.3
	SH 5 near Waiotapu		Murupara, Te Urewera National Park, Lake Waikaremoana	120.9	A middle section of 70km between Te Whaiti and Aniwaniwa is not a state highway.
	SH 1C at Te Rapa	SH 3 at Ōtorohanga	Whatawhata, Pirongia	65.3	Forms a western bypass of Hamilton. The last 14 km from the Kawhia turnoff (SH 31) to Ōtorohanga is a joint designation with SH 31.
	SH 4 at Manunui (6 km east of Taumarunui)	SH 1 at Tūrangi	Tokaanu, Kuratau Junction	58.6
	SH 3 at Stratford	SH 4 at Taumarunui	Whangamōmona	148.7	Known as The Forgotten World Highway.
	SH 3 at New Plymouth	Port Taranaki		5.2
	SH 3 at New Plymouth	SH 3 at Hāwera		104.6	Known as The Surf Highway.
	SH 1 at Rangipo	SH 47 near Papakai	Lake Rotoaira	19.1
	SH 4 at National Park	SH 41 3 km north of Tūrangi	Tongariro National Park	46.4
	SH 47 9 km from National Park	Whakapapa Village		6.8	Provides access to Tongariro National Park and Mount Ruapehu.
	SH 4 at Tohunga Junction	SH 1 at Waiouru	Ohakune, Rangataua, Tangiwai	36.2
	Port of Napier	SH 2 near Takapau	Ahuriri, Fernhill, Tikokino	91.5	Alternative inland route through Hawke's Bay instead of using SH 2.
	SH 2 / SH 50 in Napier	Hastings	Clive	21.4	Gazetted in August 2019. Formerly part of the coastal route of SH 2 through Hawke's Bay.^[4]
		Martinborough		17.8	Breaks with the general north-south pattern of the numbering, being some 200 km south of SH 54 and having the southernmost endpoints of any North Island state highway apart from SH 1 and SH 2.
	SH 3 near Palmerston North	SH 1 at Vinegar Hill	Feilding, Cheltenham	56.5
	SH 57 at Makerua	Awapuni, Palmerston North	Opiki, Longburn	22.9	Terminates on Pioneer Highway but used to connect to SH 3 in central Palmerston North.
	SH 1 near Ōhau (2 km south of Levin)	SH 3 at Ashhurst (the western end of the Manawatū Gorge)	Linton Military Camp, Tokomaru, Shannon	63.5
	SH 2 at Haywards	SH 59 at Paremata (near Porirua)	Pāuatahanui	15.3	Connects the Hutt Valley with Porirua via Haywards Hill.
	SH 1 at Mackays Crossing	SH 1 at Linden	Plimmerton, Porirua	26.2	Gazetted in December 2021. Formerly part of SH 1 before the opening of the Transmission Gully Motorway.^[5]

South Island

No.	From	To	Via	Length (km)	Notes
	Picton ferry terminal	Bluff	Blenheim, Kaikōura, Christchurch, Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, Balclutha, Gore, Invercargill	940.7	SH 1S is used in official documentation, SH 1 on maps and signs. The Interislander ferry connects State Highway 1N and State Highway 1S between Wellington and Picton.
			Havelock, Nelson, Murchison, Greymouth, Hokitika, Haast, Wānaka, Cromwell, Frankton (Queenstown)	1162.2	The longest single-island State Highway.
	SH 6 at Frankton	Queenstown		6.9	Provides a connection between SH 6, Queenstown International Airport and Queenstown central.
	SH 1 at Waipara (60 km north of Christchurch)	SH 6 at Greymouth	Culverden, Lewis Pass, Reefton	272.4
	SH 7 at Waiau Bridge	Hanmer Springs		9.4
	SH 1 at Timaru		Fairlie, Tekapo, Twizel, Lindis Pass, Cromwell, Alexandra	456.7
	SH 8 at Tarras	SH 6 at Luggate		21	Connection to SH 6 north of Lake Dunstan.
	SH 8 at Deadmans Point	SH 6 at Cromwell		2.6	Connection to SH 6 south of Lake Dunstan.
	SH 6 near Richmond	Collingwood	Motueka, Tākaka	116.5
		SH 6 2 km north of Renwick	Rapaura	12.8	Provides a northern bypass of Blenheim and Renwick towards Nelson.
	SH 6 at Renwick	SH 6 at Kawatiri Junction	Wairau Valley, Saint Arnaud	117.3
	SH 7 at Springs Junction	SH 6 11 km west of Murchison	Maruia	71.4
	SH 6 near Westport	4 km east of Summerlea	Westport, Waimangaroa, Granity, Hector	52.3	The road continues for a further 44 km to Karamea, but not as a State Highway.
	SH 67 at Westport	Cape Foulwind		9
	SH 6 at Inangahua Junction	SH 7 at Reefton		33.3
	SH 1 at Kaiapoi			6.4
			West Melton, Darfield, Springfield, Porters Pass, Arthur's Pass	224	Known as the Great Alpine Highway
		Lyttelton	Lyttelton road tunnel	28.8	Known as the Christchurch Northern Motorway until the Queen Elizabeth II Drive interchange and as the Christchurch–Lyttelton Motorway between the Ferry Road roundabout and Lyttelton.
	SH 76 at Brougham St / Garlands / Opawa Rds in Christchurch	SH 74 at Palinurus / Dyers Rds in Christchurch		2.1	Provides a shortcut between SH 76 and SH 74 through Woolston.
	SH 73 / SH 76 interchange near Hillmorton, Christchurch	Akaroa	Hillmorton, Halswell, Tai Tapu, Little River, Duvauchelle / Robinsons Bay	77.3
	SH 74 at the Tunnel Rd / Port Hills Rd interchange in Christchurch	SH 1 near Templeton, Christchurch	Sydenham, Addington, Hillmorton	17.8	Known as the Christchurch Southern Motorway from Sydenham to Templeton.
			Methven, Rakaia Gorge / Mount Hutt, Glentunnel / Coalgate	93.9	Includes part of Inland Scenic Route 72
		Port Loop Road, Port of Timaru		0.9	The shortest State Highway, entirely within the city of Timaru.
	SH 1 at Rangitata			61.1
		Mount Cook Village	Glentanner	54.6
	SH 1 near Hook (Cup and Saucer Junction)			71.1	Runs parallel to SH 83 along the northern bank of the Waitaki River.
	SH 1 at Pukeuri		Duntroon, Kurow, Otematata	109.5	Runs parallel to SH 82 along the southern bank of the Waitaki River.
		Wānaka central		2.6	Originally part of SH 89 (the Crown Range Road).
	SH 1 at Palmerston			164.3
		Dunedin Airport at Momona		5.3
	SH 1 at Mosgiel	SH 85 at Kyeburn	Outram, Middlemarch, Hyde	114.2
	SH 1 at Dunedin	Port Chalmers	Ravensbourne, St Leonards, Roseneath	12.7
		SH 1 at McNab (3 km east of Gore)		59.3
	SH 1 at Clinton	SH 1 at Mataura		43.2	Provides a southern bypass of Gore.
	SH 1 at Gore		Riversdale, Lumsden, Mossburn, Te Anau, Homer Tunnel	254.4	Known as the Milford Road, regarded as the most scenic road in New Zealand.
		Manapouri		20.5	Provides access to Fiordland National Park.
	SH 1 at Mataura		Hedgehope, Browns, Winton, Nightcaps	89.8	Has a short concurrency with SH 6 in Winton. Remainder of route to SH 99 at Clifden is not signed as a state highway.
	SH 6 at Five Rivers			20.6	Provides a shortcut between SH 94 and SH 6.
		SH 1 near Dacre	Rakahouka	21.6	Provides a northern bypass of Invercargill.
	SH 6 at Lorneville	Clifden	Wallacetown, Riverton, Tuatapere	92.5	Remainder of route to SH 96 at Ohai is not signed as a state highway.

Past

The following state highways have been decommissioned. After revocation these routes have reverted to their original names (e.g. Crown Range Road), are referred to by their old route number (e.g. Route 72), or have been given white shields.

No.	From	To	Via	Length (km)	Notes
1A		Orewa		6	The Auckland Northern Motorway section between Silverdale and Orewa now designated as SH 1, remainder of the route was revoked in 2009 due to further extension of the motorway to Puhoi.
1F	SH 1 and SH 10 at Awanui	Cape Reinga		103	Became part of an extended SH 1.
2A	SH 2 at Tauranga	SH 29A at Maungatapu		3.8	Revoked in August 2015^[6]
2B	SH 2 at Hawke's Bay Airport	SH 50 at Taradale		4.1	Northern part of Hawke's Bay Expressway. Renumbered as SH 2 in August 2019.
15		Port of Whangārei		4	Revoked in 2003 when the Port was moved to Marsden Point. SH 15 was later re gazetted in 2016 as part of the newly established Northland Inland Freight Route.
15A	SH 1 at Ruakākā	Marsden Point		8.5	Now part of State Highway 15 and the Northland Inland Freight Route.^[7]
17		SH 1 at Puhoi	Orewa	32.9	Formerly part of SH 1, was bypassed in 1999 (south of Silverdale) and 2009 (north of Silverdale). Revoked in 2012 due to the opening of the Northern Gateway Toll Road, which extended SH 1 north to Puhoi. Now known as the Dairy Flat Highway.^[8]
36	SH 2 at Patutahi	SH 38 at Frasertown	Tiniroto	83.4	Was revoked in 1990–91, but re-gazetted at its current location in 2004–2005.^[9] ^[10] ^[11]
40	SH 3 at Ahititi	SH 4 at Maungatupoto	Ōhura	90	Was revoked in 1991–92.^[12]
47A	SH 1 at Rangipo	SH 47 near Papakai		19	Now part of SH 46.
49A	SH 49 at Ohakune	SH 4 at Raetihi		9	Was revoked in 1991–92.
50A	SH 50 10 km from Napier		Flaxmere	16.6	Formed the southern part of the Hawke's Bay Expressway. Renumbered as SH 2 in August 2019.
52	SH 2 at Waipukurau	SH 2 at Masterton	Pongaroa	215	Was revoked in 1990–91, now signed with a white shield as Route 52.
57A	SH 57 near Massey University, Palmerston North	SH 3 at the western entrance of the Manawatū Gorge		18.3	Now forms part of SH 57, which originally ran into central Palmerston North.
61	SH 60 at Motueka	SH 6 at Kohatu Junction	Motueka Valley	58	Was revoked in 1990–91.
70	SH 1 4 km south of Kaikōura	SH 7 at Red Post Junction (2 km north of Culverden)	Waiau	97	SH 70 north of Waiau was revoked in 1990–91. The remainder of the route was revoked in 2004 after the commencement of the tourist route Alpine Pacific Triangle. Now signed with a white shield as Inland Route 70.
72	SH 1 at Woodend	SH 1 near Temuka		194	Was revoked in 1991–92. Now forms part of Inland Scenic Route, signed with a white shield as Route 72.
73A	SH 1 at Carmen/Main South Rds, Christchurch	SH 73 at Blenheim/Curtletts Rds, Christchurch		3.6	Originally formed part of SH 1, and then SH 73 until gazetted as SH 73A in January 2004. Was revoked in 2014 after completion of the first stage of the Christchurch Southern Motorway (SH 76).
89	SH 6 near Wānaka	SH 6 near Arrowtown	Cardrona	53	Was revoked in 1990–91. Now signed as the Crown Range Road and SH 84.
91	SH 1 at Balclutha	Kaitangata		13	Became part of SH 92 and then was revoked in 1990–91.
92	SH 1 at Balclutha	SH 1 at Invercargill	Owaka	176	Was revoked in 1990–91. Now forms The Catlins Route, part of the Southern Scenic Route.

Unused numbers

The following numbers have never been used:

• North Island: SH 13, SH 19, SH 42, SH 55
• South Island: SH 9, SH 64, SH 66, SH 68, SH 81

See also

• List of roads and highways, for notable or famous roads worldwide

Notes and References

1. Web site: SH1B Telephone Road closure extended . NZ Transport Agency . 27 April 2022 . 14 January 2023.
2. Book: Hamilton section project update - July 2022 . NZ Transport Agency . 14 July 2022 . 14 July 2022.
3. Web site: 2021-02-26. Manawatū Gorge replacement highway takes shape. 2022-01-15. Stuff. en.
4. Web site: Hawke's Bay's state highways to be renumbered in August . NZ Transport Agency . 18 July 2019 . 18 July 2019.
5. State Highway 59 switch confirmed for December . New Zealand Transport Agency . 18 November 2021 . 6 December 2021.
6. Web site: Revoking State Highway and Declaring Sections of State Highway—State Highways 2A and 29, Tauranga . NZ Gazette . 18 June 2015 . 10 December 2017.
7. Web site: Renumbering a State Highway and Declaring a State Highway—State Highways 15A and 15, Northland . NZ Gazette . 28 July 2016 . 28 July 2016.
8. Web site: Big changes to Auckland's roading network. 1 October 2012. NZTA. 29 April 2013.
9. Web site: Traffic Volumes . 0112-3165 . 1990 . Transit New Zealand . 2 January 2012.
10. Web site: Traffic Volumes . 0112-3165 . 1991 . Transit New Zealand . 2 January 2012.
11. Web site: State Highway Traffic Data Booklet 2002–2006 . Transit New Zealand . 3 January 2012.
12. Web site: Traffic Volumes . 0112-3165 . 1992 . Transit New Zealand . 2 January 2012.