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A large landslide has closed State Highway 1 south of Kaikoura - Source: Supplied
State Highway 1 south of Kaikoura will remain closed until next week after a major landslip on Friday.
The large landslide has also blocked the railway line, disrupting freight and passenger trains between Christchurch and Blenheim until next week.
Around 15,000 cubic metres of soil fell across the highway and railway lines, causing a 100m long obstruction.
KiwiRail said the TranzCoastal passenger train service is temporarily suspended and a bus replacement will be not provided. However, the TranzAlpine, which runs daily between Christchurch and Greymouth, is unaffected.
A detour is available for light traffic on route 70 - the inland Kaikoura route - but heavy vehicles must use State Highway 63 through Wairau Valley and State Highway 7 through the Lewis Pass.
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) said it will be Monday morning before it is in a position to say when State Highway 1, about 15km south of Kaikoura, will re-open.
The road and rail closure has come at a time when it is important to get supplies to Christchurch following last Saturday's earthquake.
NZTA Canterbury State Highways Operations Manager Peter Connors said he realises the importance of getting the key route open quickly, but it cannot occur until the NZTA is confident there is no risk to road users.
By midnight Saturday, at least five freight trains were affected by the slip, including one north-bound train that had to be returned to Christchurch, and a train that was on the lines at the time and had to be secured near Kaikoura, she said.
Goods have been held in Wellington and Christchurch while alternative transport is organised.
"The focus is on getting freight to Christchurch as quickly as we can," she said.
Police are advising motorists travelling between Christchurch and Picton to allow plenty of time for their trips due to diversions.
Experts had assessed the size of the slip to be the biggest in several years and estimated it would take several days to clear, police said.
The NZTA has not ruled out the possibility that the slip was caused by earthquakes.
