State Highway 36 (New Zealand)

State Highway 36 is a New Zealand state highway in the Bay of Plenty region in the North Island. It is one of two state highways that form a north–south connection between the cities of Tauranga and Rotorua, SH 36 being the most westerly of the two. It was identified as a quicker route to access the two cities and extensive work was done to upgrade the rural route to state highway quality.
SH 36 is one of two state highways to be gazetted initially in one location, revoked, then gazetted again in another location. SH 36 used to be located in the Gisborne/Hawkes Bay district, some 200 km south east of where it is now, before being revoked in 1991. SH 36 at its current location became a state highway in 2005.

Route description

SH 36 begins at in Tauranga at a roundabout junction with the toll road Takitimu Drive. SH 36 travels south-east initially before merging with Pyes Pa Road at another roundabout intersection. SH 36 then turns south through Pyes Pa and passes mostly through hillside before terminating with at Ngongotahā, about north of Rotorua.

Route changes

Since being gazetted in 2005, SH 36 has had only one route change. This being at its northern terminus where SH 36 originally travelled up Pyes Pa Road and terminated at the roundabout with Cameron Road in the suburb of Greerton. It recently was shifted west to its current terminus, with the deviation along a newly constructed section of highway.

Former route

Former Provincial State Highway 36 used to run between at Patutahi west of Gisborne and at Frasertown just north of Wairoa, a distance of 83.4 km. It was revoked in 1991.