The reopening of a critical cyclone-damaged state highway means students can be reunited with their families and school sports teams are back in the national game.
Basically all traffic is now able to drive the Napier-Taupō Road, between 7am and 7pm.
There are still more than 30 spots along State Highway 5 that need work and full repairs could take a year.
Meanwhile State Highway 2, the route north between Napier to Gisborne remains impassable in places.
Chair of Hawke's Bay Secondary School Principals' Association and Napier Girls' High Principal Dawn Ackroyd talks to Lisa Owen.
