Old data on government websites

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Geektastic

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#284156 4-Apr-2021 10:33

I was looking for information on possible closure of the Remutaka Hill road due to wind today.

The NZTA website offered me a report from September 2016 as the third ranked Google result. This seems a trifle out of date and surely shouldn’t be coming up at all? Or at least on page 10 rather than page 1.

Is it just because they don’t keep the NZTA website properly updated or is it a Google thing?

floydbloke

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#2686261 4-Apr-2021 10:47

Must be a google thing.

journeys.nzta.govt.nz has near real-time updates. These are done by TOC (Traffic Operations Centre) staff I believe, i.e. the folks who watch the cameras, control the message signs, temporary speed limits, etc.

Current status of the Remutaka Hill Rd. is open but a strong wind warning is in place.

Sometimes I use big words I don't always fully understand in an effort to make myself sound more photosynthesis.

SomeoneSomewhere

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#2686303 4-Apr-2021 13:14

That's a google thing.

If they're not already, NZTA could do something like automatically put up a banner noting that this news item is old like some news sites do, but their only other option would be to make it 404 which is not great, particularly if you're trying to find historical pages.