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Last modified: 20 Mar 2026 3:00pm

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Winter weather brings a unique set of challenges for road maintenance, most noticeably, potholes. Following the heavy flooding in early May, persistent rain and freezing temperatures have prevented the ground from drying out. These conditions increase potholes.

More than just a nuisance, these potholes can pose real safety risks. Waterlogged roads combined with repeated frosts cause the road surface to weaken, crack, and eventually crumble.

“Our teams are out in all-weather prioritising safety and keeping roads in the best condition possible. Winter brings extra challenges, but we’re well prepared,” says Transportation Delivery Manager, Steve Guy.

Better roads, fewer potholes

Thanks to increased investment in our road network through the Long-Term Plan, we are seeing a steady drop in the number of potholes needing repair. That’s a strong sign Selwyn’s roads are improving.

“Each year we are aiming to resurface 80km of our sealed roads and at least 10% of our unsealed roads, which helps prevent potholes” says Guy.

Number of Potholes Fixed (2021-May 2025)

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Why do potholes appear more in winter?

Potholes form when water seeps into small cracks in the road surface. This is increased in winter with the additional wet weather. When vehicles drive over these soft spots, the surface breaks down, eventually forming potholes. The process speeds up with heavy traffic and repeated wet weather.

How we fix potholes

Pothole repairs are a daily priority for our road maintenance teams:

  • On sealed roads, our contractors are required to square off the edges of the hole, remove the damaged material and clean the hole, then fill it with an asphalt product designed to take traffic loading. In some cases, we lay a square patch over the top to lock in the area repaired and prevent it from breaking apart.
  • On unsealed roads, our contractors are required to use an aggregate mix that is designed to lock together to restore the shape and strength of the road surface.

These repairs are effective but are usually only intended to be temporary fixes as winter is not the best time to be making long-term repairs to roads. Instead, we conduct permanent repairs during the warmer, drier months (October to March), when repairs are more likely to last long-term.

Help us keep roads safe

Selwyn has over 2,770km of public roads, and while our teams work hard, we can’t be everywhere at once. You can help by reporting potholes or road damage using the Snap Send Solve app.

The local road network won’t always be free from defects, so please drive to the conditions, as they may vary along a stretch of road. If your vehicle has been damaged, please contact your insurance provider to discuss your options.

Your eyes on the ground makes a difference. Every report we receive helps us respond faster and keeps our roads safer for everyone.