Surf Shack Eatery owners Joanne and Pip Coombes, with Victoria Lemon (right), the owner of Victoria Lemon Transform Today gym, outside their flooded businesses. Photo / Victoria Lemon
The owners of two Waihī Beach businesses expect to be closed for several months after floodwaters from a major storm caused “devastating” damage.
The storm swept through the Western Bay of Plenty and Tauranga on Wednesday and Thursday, causing landslides that killed two people in Welcome Bay Rd and six, police believe, at a Mount Maunganui campsite.
Flooding and slips forced dozens of people to evacuate their homes and cut off rural communities and neighbourhoods in the Western Bay as highways and local roads closed.
Pip and Joanne Coombes own Surf Shack Eatery in Emerton Rd, Waihī Beach. Pip Coombes said they had suffered “horrendous” losses after floodwaters swept through their café on Thursday morning.
“Everything at knee-level was destroyed, including 11 or 12 fridge–freezers and all their contents.
“I’ve already taken about 940kg of food waste to the dump. It couldn’t even be given to the pigs.”
The pair were waiting for their insurance assessor to determine the full extent of the damage.
While their carpark flooded in 2023, Pip Coombes said they had “never experienced anything like this”.
“This is unprecedented, and it’s been a huge shock.”
She said it was already clear they would need to “start again”.
“That includes replacing the kitchen, the flooring, a new toilet, and all our whiteware and everything else water-damaged ... We expect to be closed for several months.”
Pip Coombes said they had owned the café for 10 years.
“But it is what it is. What’s happened to us pales in comparison to what people in Pāpāmoa and Mount Maunganui are going through. Our thoughts are with all those devastated families.”
Despite the damages, she said the support from the community had been “wonderful”.
Among those who stepped in to help were volunteers from Predator-Free Waihī Beach.
Next door to Surf Shack, the Victoria Lemon Transform Today gym was also severely damaged.
Owner Victoria Lemon said her business sustained flood damage in 2023 after a tsunami warning and a king tide, but this was far worse.
She said at 7am on Thursday, she received a text and a photograph from a client that showed the inside of her gym was submerged in waist-deep water.
“Because of the ferocity of the storm overnight, everything electric-driven will need to be replaced.”
That included the stereo system, treadmills, cable machines, elliptical cross-trainer, office computer, and printer. All paper-based records – including clients’ files – were also destroyed.
Lemon, who rents the building, met with her insurance representative on Friday and expected it would take time before the full scope of the losses was known.
“But it’s clear everything will have to be ripped out and replaced. It’s going to be several months before I can reopen.”
She said the financial hit was only part of the blow.
“We’re a community-focused gym. We run classes six days a week for clients in their 60s and over. There’s a big social aspect to these classes, as well as the fitness and mental well-being benefits.”
Lemon said many of her clients were also regulars at the Surf Shack Eatery.
Having to rebuild her business again was “devastating”, she said.
“This time, I’ll be starting at less than ground zero. I’m in deficit.”
She said she had been overwhelmed by offers of help from the local community and nearby businesses.
Among them were the owners of Litore Fit Studios, who offered the use of their studio space if needed.
Metservice meteorologist Braydon White said Waihī Beach had 340mm of rain on Wednesday, an “absurd amount”.
Western Bay of Plenty District Mayor James Denyer said about 80 people self‑evacuated to community‑led hubs in Waihī Beach and Te Puke as the weather bore down on Wednesday night, including evacuees from affected campgrounds.
The Waihī Beach RSA supported 73 campground evacuees and the rest were at the Settler’s Lounge in the Te Puke War Memorial Hall.
“Forty‑nine people remained in hubs overnight on Thursday, and 31 evacuees were billeted with local families, reflecting the strong community spirit that continues to shine through during difficult times,” Denyer said.
“People opened their homes at short notice, and neighbours checked on neighbours. This is who we are as the Western Bay. Once again, our community has shown extraordinary support.”
He said slips continued to affect access in multiple locations, and the council was taking a cautious, “safety‑first” approach to assessments and site visits.
“Five rapid‑assessment teams are in the field, split between flood‑related building assessments in Waihī Beach and Athenree, and geotechnical assessments in slip‑affected areas."
Denyer said on behalf of the council and communities, he wanted to extend his deepest sympathy to whānau, friends and loved ones of those who lost their lives in rural Pāpāmoa and Mount Maunganui.
“Right across our rohe and our neighbouring city of Tauranga, people have been deeply affected.
“What has unfolded at Mauao and Welcome Bay Rd is devastating. Our communities are hurting, and our hearts are with everyone waiting for news or supporting loved ones.
“This is an unimaginable loss, and our thoughts are with everyone affected,” he said.
Reopened:
Restricted access (residents only):
Crews will continue working Sunday and Monday. Some routes will require ongoing work into next week.
Highways
Parks
Sources: Western Bay of Plenty District Council, NZTA
Sandra Conchie is a senior journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post who has been a journalist for 25 years. She mainly covers police, court and other justice stories, as well as general news. She has been a Canon Media Awards regional/community reporter of the year.