Road Photos & Information: New Zealand
State Highway 4
Statistics:
- Length:
- 236 km
- Termini:
- Northern: SH3, Te Māpara
- Southern: SH3 and Wikitoria Rd, Pūtiki
- Miscellaneous:
- Route includes: Hakiara St, Main South Hwy, Totara St, Parapara Rd, Anzac Pde and Putiki Dr
- Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:
- Pūtiki, Durie Hill, Whanganui East, Aramoho, Ūpokongaro, Pārikino, Ōtoko, Kākatahi, Parapara, Raetihi, Tohunga Junction, Horopito, Eura, Waimarino, Ōwhango, Piriaka, Manunui, Taumaranui, Ōkahukura, Ongarue, Tangitu, Māpiu, Te Kūiti and Te Māpara
Route Numbering:
- Current: 4
- Multiplexed with:
General Information:
State Highway 4 is located on New Zealand's North Island, and is a two-lane single carriageway, with at-grade intersections and property accesses, both in rural and urban areas.
SH4 passes through the Ōhura and Ongarue River valleys before reaching Taumarunui. From there it follows the Whanganui River valley, then along the edge of the Volcanic Plateau, with views of the volcanoes, especially Ruapehu. Near Horopito it follows the Mangawhero River river valley before cutting through the hills to follow the Whanganui River.
Multiplexes along the route include:
- Thermal Explorer Highway, for 24 km, between Horsham Downs and Tamahere.
- Volcanic Loop Highway, for 66 km, between Waimarino and Ongarue.
History:
- June 2015: Major flooding in and around Whanganui caused substantial damage to parts of SH4 Parapara Road. 1
- September 2016: Work commenced on shoulder widening along SH4 between Whanganui River Rd to Ūpokongaro to provide room for the continuation of the Mountain to Sea cycle trail. 2
- October 2019: A large landslip closed SH4 to through traffic between Raetihi and Whanganui. 3
- April 2022: Resurfacing of the overbridge near Paraone Street (SH4 Railway overbridge) at Taumarunui. 4
- November 2022: Heavy rainfall caused a culvert to flood and collapse, creating a large hole in the northbound lane on SH4 between the intersection of SH43 and Ōkahukura Bridge Road. 5
- 2023: The Auraki Stream road retreat project commenced. This involved the relocation of SH4 away from where Mangawhero River slip occurred in June 2015. 1
- February 2023: Construction of new retaining walls and the drilling and construction of two new dewatering wells, south of Raetihi, due to a major landslip in October 2019. 6
- June 2023: Early works of the The Auraki Stream road retreat project opened to traffic. The new stretch of SH4 is around 400 m long, about the same as the previous route. 1
- July 2023: Work commences on rock wall construction near Hawken Road due to an earlier landslip. 7
- June 2024: SH4 reverts back to two-lane operation after repairs to a damaged culvert between SH43 and Ōkahukura Bridge Rd are completed. 5
- November 2024: Work commences on road rebuild near Paroparowhero Stream due to earlier flood damage. 8
- December 2024: Road resealing works between Raetihi to Ūpokongaro. 9
- August 2025: Drainage improvement work commenced between Māpara North and Kopaki roads north of Taumarunui. Work included installation of 5 large drains, designed to take water from the hillside, directing it away from the road to improve stability. 10
Click or tap the map to enable panning and zooming
Whanganui to Te Māpara
Confirmation Direction Sign:
Distance sign at Kākatahi, March 2025.
Image © Krysten Pratt
Intersection Direction Sign:
ID sign at the entrance to Raukawa Falls Lookout at Kākatahi, March 2025.
Image © Krysten Pratt
Confirmation Direction Sign:
Distance sign at Raetihi, March 2025.
Image © Krysten Pratt
Advance Direction Sign:
AD sign approaching Tohunga Rd (SH49), Tohunga Junction, March 2025.
Image © Krysten Pratt
Confirmation Direction Sign:
Distance sign, Tohunga Junction, March 2025.
Image © Krysten Pratt
Advance Direction Sign:
AD sign at Waimarino, approaching Waimarino-Tokaanu Rd (SH47), March 2025.
Image © Krysten Pratt
Ōmaki Road:
ID sign at the junction with Ōmaki Rd, Ōwhango, March 2025.
Image © Krysten Pratt
Advance Direction Sign:
AD sign approaching Waitea Branch Rd, Kākahi, March 2025.
Image © Krysten Pratt
Advance Direction Sign:
AD sign approaching Kururau Rd (SH43), Taumarunui, March 2025.
Image © Krysten Pratt
Kururau Road:
ID sign at the junction with Kururau Rd (SH43), Taumarunui, March 2025. SH4 turns right at this location.
Image © Krysten Pratt
Advance Direction Sign:
AD sign at Ongarue, approaching Ongarue-Waimiha Rd, March 2025.
Image © Krysten Pratt
Confirmation Direction Sign:
Distance sign at Ongarue, March 2025.
Image © Krysten Pratt
Ramaroa Road:
ID sign at the junction with Ramaroa Rd, Aria, March 2025.
Image © Krysten Pratt
End State Highway 4:
ID sign facing SH4 at the junction with SH3, Te Māpara, March 2025. This is the northern terminus of SH4.
Image © Krysten Pratt
1 NZ Government, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Media Releases, Road switch ahead for new section of SH4 Parapara Road, 30 May 2023.
2 NZ Government, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Horizons Regional Transport Committee Report, Raewyn Bleakley, 01 December 2015.
3 NZ Government, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Media Releases, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is starting work this week to build a temporary road to reconnect State Highway 4 between Raetihi and Whanganui, 08 November 2019.
4 NZ Government, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Media Releases, Road repair and resurfacing works will take place at two locations on State Highway 4 in Taumarunui later this month, 12 April 2022.
5 NZ Government, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Media Releases, Work to install a new 3.5 x 4m culvert on State Highway 4 north of Taumarunui is almost complete, 04 June 2024.
6 NZ Government, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Media Releases, Te Oreore Slip replacement.
7 NZ Government, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Media Releases, Slip repair to begin on State Highway 4 near Hawken Road, 06 July 2023.
8 NZ Government, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Media Releases, SH4 to get rebuilt at Paroparowhero Stream, 07 November 2024.
9 NZ Government, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Media Releases, Plan ahead for delays during SH4 resealing work next week, 05 December 2024.
10 NZ Government, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Media Releases, Drainage improvements on the way for stretch of SH4, 08 August 2025.
2 NZ Government, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Horizons Regional Transport Committee Report, Raewyn Bleakley, 01 December 2015.
3 NZ Government, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Media Releases, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is starting work this week to build a temporary road to reconnect State Highway 4 between Raetihi and Whanganui, 08 November 2019.
4 NZ Government, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Media Releases, Road repair and resurfacing works will take place at two locations on State Highway 4 in Taumarunui later this month, 12 April 2022.
5 NZ Government, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Media Releases, Work to install a new 3.5 x 4m culvert on State Highway 4 north of Taumarunui is almost complete, 04 June 2024.
6 NZ Government, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Media Releases, Te Oreore Slip replacement.
7 NZ Government, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Media Releases, Slip repair to begin on State Highway 4 near Hawken Road, 06 July 2023.
8 NZ Government, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Media Releases, SH4 to get rebuilt at Paroparowhero Stream, 07 November 2024.
9 NZ Government, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Media Releases, Plan ahead for delays during SH4 resealing work next week, 05 December 2024.
10 NZ Government, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Media Releases, Drainage improvements on the way for stretch of SH4, 08 August 2025.