Wairoa Pharmacy frustrated Napier bridge repair delayed by a month

They need to fix the road asap. It keeps the town vibrant; we rely on the road from Napier

Wairoa Pharmacy has been badly affected by the closure of the bridge to Napier and is disappointed it will take another month to repair.

Two-and-a-half months after Cyclone Gabrielle decimated the northern Hawke’s Bay town, the bridge at Waikare Gorge on State Highway 2 between Wairoa and Napier is still not fixed.

Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency is building a Bailey, or prefabricated bridge, but its completion has been delayed because of poor weather and supply challenges.

The bridge was expected to be operational at the end of April but now looks likely to open by the end of May.

Wairoa Pharmacy pharmacist and owner Alan (Nyasha) Chimwayange says the bridge closure means it takes six hours to get to Napier by road via Taupō rather than 1.5 hours. Some of his customers are postponing hospital appointments in Napier as a result.

As for the pharmacy, stock must come from Auckland rather than Palmerston North. Mr Chimwayange says the wholesalers have been very supportive: “They’ve tried their level best to get stuff to us.”

However, the bridge closure means the pharmacy has to hold more stock than usual. The northern route to Gisborne is also sometimes closed for maintenance. For example, last week it was closed for three days.

“We have to think far ahead and constantly have to check the Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency website for road closures,” says Mr Chimwayange.

It is also challenging when the pharmacy has to supply emergency medicines because doctors sometimes prescribe things it doesn’t stock.

“They need to fix the road asap. It keeps the town vibrant; we rely on the road from Napier,” he says. Before the cyclone, many people travelled between Napier and Gisborne, stopping at Wairoa on the way. Some people commuted, so often popped into the pharmacy and other businesses.

Mr Chimwayange is unsure exactly how his pharmacy’s takings have been impacted because he hasn’t yet had time to sit down and look at it. “We’ve been go, go, go with dispensary work.”

He thinks dispensary revenue may have increased, but retail would’ve suffered: “We had to replace medicines [lost in the flood], but retail sales got hammered.”

Businesses can apply for the Wairoa Mayoral Relief Fund, which is over $1 million. However, Mr Chimwayange is not sure the pharmacy will qualify because earnings may end up being about the same as last year. He won’t see the impact until he looks at the quarter’s finances next month.

“It will be really good when the bridge is fixed, and things are back to normal, says Mr Chimwayange.