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Opening of the last section of the Haast Road 1965
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DescriptionOpening of the last section of the Haast Road 1965.
Date of Photo1965Map[1]
Date of Photo1965Map[1]
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Location (city or town)HaastEventOpening of the last section of the Haast Road 1965
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Category TagRoads
From Facebook
CommentsRobin Spillane
made our trips home to Tapanui so much shorter.
Sarah Murray
Robin Spillane I live in Tapanui!
Anje Kremer
still the same bend but more trees on both sides now.
Gail Callaghan
Looks like that bend has slip potential
John Sweeney
I believe Knight Point was named after the surveyors dog.
David Cook
John Sweeney Yes it was. A black Lab
PaulAnthony Teens
Driving that Rd now u cannot see the Tasman for toot and gorse
Rose Nolan
PaulAnthony Teens possibly the only thing preventing slips
Russell Murphy
My uncle was one of the workers on this. Born in the Wiaitaha Valley a true south Westlander.
Rex Bourke
I was there in this (( I belive it opened in the school holidays - Anyways we had anew Zephyr mk 3 the mud was orange I recall and the traffic was backed up
Margaret Standen
My Mum and Dad were there. Dad and mates cut the line threw for the power.
Liz Stewart
Yep was an exciting day for our families in Haast!!! Sir Keith Holyoake attended to do the deed by declaring it open. We all take this road for granted now!! What an asset to this area.
Kate Adams
My husband worked on this and we were there that day
Kate Adams
Barry Louis Rochford oh a little fellow
Chris Windley
Barry Louis Rochford Haven't changed!
Dorothy Wills
Awesome look at the lineup of vehicles
Mike Mora
Ryan Brothers built that Road.
Donald Pearson
Just another highway now,how things have changed.
Vern Pattinson
We drove over that section of road early last month
Christine Hoets
That was a exciting day for Us South Westlanders to see that ribbon cut and all the vehicles all driving past,but oh my god ,did it rain later in the day ,and we couldn’t drive back home from Haast ,as the road was closed by slips ,we had to sleep in our vehicles,as there was no accommodation ,Or food to be bought ,A great day ended in a nightmare ,But today it’s a fantastic road ,it has made life in South Westland a breeze over the years ,
Barry Louis Rochford
Very little
Joye Hanrahan
What a wet day and the road only open for about four hours closed again because of slips
Jean Southward
Frank Simpson took photos of Haast bridge for Greymouth evening star.
Ann Christie
Brings back great memories of my time in Haast
Jill Margaret
I was there that day too!
Cheryl Johnston
I was there in the back of a land rover..
Kevin Voigt
Cheryl Johnston i was in fox pub
Lynda Horne
Me too, can't remember what vehicle we were in.
Helen Nolan
Yip I was there can barely remember this four but I do recall it being a huge deal
Karen Burrows
We were there
Gerry McCarthy and stranded, but lucky for us Robbie Nolan family found us some floor space. Must have been a family day out for many of us.
Neroli Nolan
Karen Burrows there was a fair old crowd at home that night - all the Condons were sleeping in my bedroom
Karen Burrows
Neroli Nolan sure was and am sure adults had a great time.
· Reply · 16h
Neroli Nolan
Karen Burrows enjoyed catching up the other day - call in next time you're down.
David Osborne
I remember being at the opening quite a bit damper than this photo yellow raincoats everywhere and not a road cone in site . We went in the 53 Chev which we still have
Suzanne Hall
Very Cool!
Bill Arlidge
We as a family went through in Jan of 59 towing a caravan. This must have been the Offical Opening.
Heather Newby
Author
Admin
what a monumental effort to build that road!
Vern Pattinson
Nice Mark 2
8h
Vic Ollerenshaw
A great day I was there and up to Fox for a few beers
Kevin O'Regan
Official opening
Mike Stevens
Did Ryan bros do that bit
Kevin O'Regan
Mike Stevensno.Roadways NZ last section. Ryan Bros around Lake Paringa section
David Osborne
I remember being at the opening quite a bit damper than this photo yellow raincoats everywhere and not a road cone in site . We went in the 53 Chev which we still have
Neil Burrell
When was the road fully tar sealed?
Lu Tyree
Neil Burrell 1993
made our trips home to Tapanui so much shorter.
Sarah Murray
Robin Spillane I live in Tapanui!
Anje Kremer
still the same bend but more trees on both sides now.
Gail Callaghan
Looks like that bend has slip potential
John Sweeney
I believe Knight Point was named after the surveyors dog.
David Cook
John Sweeney Yes it was. A black Lab
PaulAnthony Teens
Driving that Rd now u cannot see the Tasman for toot and gorse
Rose Nolan
PaulAnthony Teens possibly the only thing preventing slips
Russell Murphy
My uncle was one of the workers on this. Born in the Wiaitaha Valley a true south Westlander.
Rex Bourke
I was there in this (( I belive it opened in the school holidays - Anyways we had anew Zephyr mk 3 the mud was orange I recall and the traffic was backed up
Margaret Standen
My Mum and Dad were there. Dad and mates cut the line threw for the power.
Liz Stewart
Yep was an exciting day for our families in Haast!!! Sir Keith Holyoake attended to do the deed by declaring it open. We all take this road for granted now!! What an asset to this area.
Kate Adams
My husband worked on this and we were there that day
Kate Adams
Barry Louis Rochford oh a little fellow
Chris Windley
Barry Louis Rochford Haven't changed!
Dorothy Wills
Awesome look at the lineup of vehicles
Mike Mora
Ryan Brothers built that Road.
Donald Pearson
Just another highway now,how things have changed.
Vern Pattinson
We drove over that section of road early last month
Christine Hoets
That was a exciting day for Us South Westlanders to see that ribbon cut and all the vehicles all driving past,but oh my god ,did it rain later in the day ,and we couldn’t drive back home from Haast ,as the road was closed by slips ,we had to sleep in our vehicles,as there was no accommodation ,Or food to be bought ,A great day ended in a nightmare ,But today it’s a fantastic road ,it has made life in South Westland a breeze over the years ,
Barry Louis Rochford
Very little
Joye Hanrahan
What a wet day and the road only open for about four hours closed again because of slips
Jean Southward
Frank Simpson took photos of Haast bridge for Greymouth evening star.
Ann Christie
Brings back great memories of my time in Haast
Jill Margaret
I was there that day too!
Cheryl Johnston
I was there in the back of a land rover..
Kevin Voigt
Cheryl Johnston i was in fox pub
Lynda Horne
Me too, can't remember what vehicle we were in.
Helen Nolan
Yip I was there can barely remember this four but I do recall it being a huge deal
Karen Burrows
We were there
Gerry McCarthy and stranded, but lucky for us Robbie Nolan family found us some floor space. Must have been a family day out for many of us.
Neroli Nolan
Karen Burrows there was a fair old crowd at home that night - all the Condons were sleeping in my bedroom
Karen Burrows
Neroli Nolan sure was and am sure adults had a great time.
· Reply · 16h
Neroli Nolan
Karen Burrows enjoyed catching up the other day - call in next time you're down.
David Osborne
I remember being at the opening quite a bit damper than this photo yellow raincoats everywhere and not a road cone in site . We went in the 53 Chev which we still have
Suzanne Hall
Very Cool!
Bill Arlidge
We as a family went through in Jan of 59 towing a caravan. This must have been the Offical Opening.
Heather Newby
Author
Admin
what a monumental effort to build that road!
Vern Pattinson
Nice Mark 2
8h
Vic Ollerenshaw
A great day I was there and up to Fox for a few beers
Kevin O'Regan
Official opening
Mike Stevens
Did Ryan bros do that bit
Kevin O'Regan
Mike Stevensno.Roadways NZ last section. Ryan Bros around Lake Paringa section
David Osborne
I remember being at the opening quite a bit damper than this photo yellow raincoats everywhere and not a road cone in site . We went in the 53 Chev which we still have
Neil Burrell
When was the road fully tar sealed?
Lu Tyree
Neil Burrell 1993
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West Coast New Zealand History (20th Mar 2025). Opening of the last section of the Haast Road 1965. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 11th Apr 2026 04:41, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/29221