Slips and dropouts: Māhia doing it tough following rain

A huge slip near Black’s Beach in Māhia has created issues on the already compromised main road to the peninsula. Wairoa District Council is calling on landowners with significant landslides on their properties to get in touch. Wairoa District Council picture

Sustained rain in Māhia has left a series of slips in its wake as Wairoa District Council continues the huge job of restoring roading networks.

According to MetService, more than 90 millimetres of rain fell in the area over

June 18 to 19, followed by a further 26mm on June 26.

But issues have compounded for roads already damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle and prior weather events, and the most recent bout of rain has only added to existing problems.

“Access is our priority and we are doing our best to clear slips and get roads open. However, the constant wet weather is causing many delays,” Wairoa District Council chief executive Kitea Tipuna said. “We are slowly making headway, and I would like to thank impacted residents and motorists for their patience while we work through these issues.”

On the main road into Māhia, two slips at Black’s Beach have reduced a section of road to single lane only.

One slip was almost cleared and the council is working with other partners, including KiwiRail, to clear the second.

A back road into Māhia, Tunanui Road, is closed due to a major slip with no timeline given for its reopening.

At Kinikini Rd on the western side of the peninsula, two farms remain isolated due to a significant slip. The road is open for light vehicles to the 10-kilometre mark.

Meanwhile, Māhia East Coast Rd — the main road across Māhia — was hit by a series of slips which reduced traffic to single lane only.

Land has fallen away at the 22km and 30km marks on that road, and work is being undertaken to clear a slip near Oraka.

The council is encouraging landowners who have experienced significant landslides on their properties to get in touch so that information can be gathered on the overall damage to the district.