Chopper evacuations at Cape

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Recent storm damage to the closed East Cape Road cut off five households and isolated people were to be choppered out of the area today.

Gisborne District Council reported that 13 people had been isolated — the five affected households all located near the East Cape Lighthouse. They remain cut off from road access.

Civil Defence Emergency Manager Ben Green said eight of them had been visiting the area when the slips occurred.

“They are expected to be evacuated to Te Araroa by helicopter today.”