A small East Cape community cut off by a slip for almost a month is now reconnected to the rest of New Zealand.
State Highway 35 between Gisborne and Tokomaru Bay was rendered unstable by a large landslide in June.
Locals in Tokomaru Bay are happy to be hearing traffic passing through again after being isolated for nearly a month.
"It's been really quiet. We've been waiting for the tumble weeds to go along. It's that deserted, we've got no truck drivers, we've had no customers. When we ran out of petrol it was just so sad," says Tracy Pearce, Mayfair store owner.
State Highway 35 between Tokomaru and Gisborne was opened just this week.
It was closed in June when the hill slipped, making the road unstable. Road workers say it could be at least a month before it is fully repaired.
But shop owners in Tokomaru Bay are just grateful vehicles can make it through.
"We have definitely suffered quite a bit. Having being closed we have had to shut down ourselves for a few days as we have had no stock to run," says Mark Muller, fish and chip shop owner.
East Coast logging contractors have lost thousands of dollars, the stretch of road affected being a financial lifeline.
"It has a major impact because we still have our overheads and...we have to pay our workers. It puts you back about a month," says Paul smith of Ian Smith Transport.
The Gisborne District Council is now calling on the government to better resource the East Coast roads.
"It has to be addressed now. This has really brought to the for the urgent need that something be done seriously about the coast road," says Bill Burdett, Gisborne District Councillor.
