Editing Heaphy Track (section)

=== Partial track closure in 2022 ===
[[File:Heaphy_Track_markup_showing_section_closed_in_2022.jpg|thumb|Heaphy Track markup showing section closed in 2022]]
In early February 2022, heavy rain in the Buller District caused severe flooding and damage to the track and to three bridges on the final section of the track between James Mackay and Heaphy Huts. The suspension bridge over the [[Gunner River]] was damaged and the Pitt Creek bridge was swept away. The {{cvt|148.8|m|ft|adj=mid|-long}} suspension bridge over the Heaphy River was destroyed.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bohny |first=Skara |date=9 February 2022 |title=Heaphy Track remains closed after bridges wiped out by flooded rivers |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300513982/heaphy-track-remains-closed-after-bridges-wiped-out-by-flooded-rivers |access-date=5 August 2022 |archive-date=7 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307193205/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300513982/heaphy-track-remains-closed-after-bridges-wiped-out-by-flooded-rivers |url-status=live }}</ref> The bridge across the Heaphy was the longest suspended deck bridge in the country when it was built in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 March 2022 |title=Parts of destroyed Heaphy bridge to be salavaged for replacement |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300532835/parts-of-destroyed-heaphy-bridge-to-be-salavaged-for-replacement |access-date=8 August 2022 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en-nz |archive-date=8 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808032850/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300532835/parts-of-destroyed-heaphy-bridge-to-be-salavaged-for-replacement |url-status=live }}</ref> Although the bridge deck was {{cvt|6.5|m}} above normal river level, the bridge was damaged beyond repair in the floods.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 February 2022 |title=Heaphy Bridge on Great Walk irreparable |language=en-nz |work=[[RNZ]] |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/462064/heaphy-bridge-on-great-walk-irreparable |access-date=5 August 2022 |archive-date=22 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722232412/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/462064/heaphy-bridge-on-great-walk-irreparable |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition to the damage to bridges, the severe weather also caused slips and windfall on the track from James Mackay Hut down to the river valley.<ref>{{cite web |date=8 July 2022 |title=Heaphy Track Recovery Updates – Newsletter 7 – Mackay Hill Track |url=https://newsletters.doc.govt.nz/t/i-42ED6AF2ECBEC0132540EF23F30FEDED |access-date=5 August 2022 |publisher=Department of Conservation |archive-date=6 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806083349/https://newsletters.doc.govt.nz/t/i-42ED6AF2ECBEC0132540EF23F30FEDED |url-status=live }}</ref> The section of the track between James Mackay and Heaphy Huts was closed because of the extensive damage, although the rest of the track and huts were re-opened during February for return trips from the two road ends. The rest of the track and all the huts remained open, and the track could be accessed for return trips from either road-end.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bohny |first=Skara |date=10 February 2022 |title=Heaphy Track closure to last 'several months' |language=en |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/nz/300514868/heaphy-track-closure-to-last-several-months |url-status=live |access-date=5 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704010443/https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/nz/300514868/heaphy-track-closure-to-last-several-months |archive-date=4 July 2022}}</ref> A helicopter shuttle service was established as an option to take walkers between Lewis Shelter and Heaphy Hut.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Delden |first=Aaron van |date=20 September 2022 |title=Helicopter shuttle bridges gap on Heaphy Track |url=https://www.wildernessmag.co.nz/helicopter-shuttle-bridges-gap-on-heaphy-track/ |access-date=9 July 2023 |website=Wilderness Magazine |language=en-GB |archive-date=10 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230710001940/https://www.wildernessmag.co.nz/helicopter-shuttle-bridges-gap-on-heaphy-track/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The track re-opened in October 2023, after the replacement of bridges and restoration of tracks damaged in the 2022 floods. Prior to the re-opening, 12,000 people had booked accommodation on the track over the next eight months.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 October 2023 |title=Heaphy Track reopens, thousands already booked in |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/500512/heaphy-track-reopens-thousands-already-booked-in |access-date=18 October 2023 |website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz |archive-date=15 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115185316/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/500512/heaphy-track-reopens-thousands-already-booked-in |url-status=live }}</ref>