A fresh slip south of Kaikōura is complicating efforts to reopen State Highway 1, which remains closed after this week’s severe flooding.

The rock and vegetation slip came down from an adjacent hillside on Friday morning, inside the closed-off section of the highway.

An NZTA spokesperson said the slip landed at a site where high river levels and flooding had already eaten away chunks of the highway.

“Rock is being brought in to build up those affected sections of the road,” the spokesperson said.

The slip area was isolated on Friday morning ahead of geotechnical engineers assessing whether there was a risk of further slips at the site.

“The slip material will then be cleared off the road when it is safe to do so,” the spokesperson said.

State Highway 1 remains closed from Cheviot in North Canterbury to Kaikōura, while Inland Route 70, also known as Inland Kaikōura Road, to the west of Kaikōura is also still closed.

A detour route via State Highways 7, 65, 6 and 63 remains available.

NZTA and its contractor will continue working with local councils and civil defence officials around access for emergency vehicles and critical services.

Work is continuing to repair the road to a point where the highway can reopen. The expectation remains for a reopening early next week, likely Tuesday 14 July at the earliest.