The weather-battered northeast district of Whangārei is hanging by a thread, Whangārei Mayor Ken Couper says.
His comments come as an already soaked Northland braces itself for category 3 Cyclone Vaianu, expected to make landfall this weekend.
As of yesterday, MetService said the cyclone is forecast to weaken before reaching New Zealand but could still bring gale-force winds and rainfall of more than 100mm in some areas.
Eastern and northeastern catchments in Northland may bear the brunt, however, with the cyclone still days away, predictions could change.
Couper worried about Whangārei’s northeast, as the area was already recovering from two storms and yesterday’s rain.
“ ... We’ve got to be saying to ourselves that the northeast region is hanging by a thread, isn’t it?”
Couper said a concern was the impact another significant weather event would have on Kaiikanui Rd, which is the only detour available linking Whangārei to Whangaruru’s coastal communities cut off by the Helena Bay landslip.
“They’re starting to feel the strain and are concerned about what’s coming,” Couper said.
Flooding from yesterday’s heavy rain closed Kaiikanui Rd and halted work on the slip that still blocks Russell Rd.
Those coastal communities weren’t the only ones playing on the mayor’s mind.
Couper felt for farmers at Hikurangi as well, whose land has been underwater twice this year in separate weather events.
“ ... It’s not been an easy life for some people, not an easy summer.”
Whangārei District Council was keeping a close eye on weather reports about Cyclone Vaianu.
Couper said it was too early to say what they would do and when, but the council wanted to be prepared.
South Hokianga residents still mopping up from the March 26 deluge were anxious about what was to come.
Whirinaki in South Hokianga was among the Far North communities badly hit, with at least half a metre of floodwater covering the valley floor.
Nine families’ homes were flooded and could not be lived in, with the area recording 303.5mm of rain in 48 hours, on March 25 and 26.
Less than 10km away to the east, Ōmania locals had been “hugely affected” by flooding too, Te Piiti Marae trustee Poppet King said.
She recalled how floodwaters had cut access to the marae during the March storm.
Though water didn’t get to the wharenui or wharekai, it flooded out the extended whare manaaki, and the shed storing mowers and tables.
“...That [water] was halfway up the wall,” she said.
A resident’s home reportedly had 15cm of water above the floor.
Another person’s caravan floated in the floodwaters, and the force of the flood moved some baches.
“It’s never happened before, it was a very, very freaky type of experience really,” King said.
Almost two weeks have passed, with a family still staying at the marae and another five being supported with food and showers.
King said people had recovered from the shock but were now very anxious and unsure about the forecast cyclone.
“ ... We’ve sort of got our little strategy together because our marae won’t be a safe place if it gets out of hand again.”
MetService meteorologist John Law said the cyclone could potentially bring severe weather to parts of New Zealand by the end of this week.
“The exact path and intensity of the storm as it heads towards us in New Zealand is yet to be determined, however, it does look like we will be seeing some impacts from this system during the weekend.”
Yesterday, Northland was placed under a heavy rain and strong wind watch.
Some areas received up to 24mm of rain in less than an hour, while others were soaked in more than 100mm in 24 hours.
The river at Kāeo flooded State Highway 10, and other surface flooding was reported across roads in the Far North, including at Taupō Bay Rd, where a farm dam burst its banks.
As of last night, six roads in the Far North were closed because of the weather. They were: Oruaiti Rd at Mangōnui, Taupō Bay Rd, Trigg Rd, Waikare Rd, Waimate North Rd and Waiotemarama Gorge Rd.
Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.