Northland weather: Prime Minister’s flying Northland visit chance to ‘feel, smell, taste’ reality

PM Christopher Luxon chats with Mokau locals Tai Iorangi and Vania Haika. Photo / Denise Piper

Storm-affected Northlanders say a flying visit by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon gave him a chance to experience their everyday reality.

Whangārei district remains under a state of emergency after torrential rain on Sunday, followed by a storm on Wednesday, caused slips and flooding on the northeast coast.

The settlements of Ōakura, Mokau, Helena Bay and Teal Bay were some of the worst affected by the two storms, with the area cut off by a huge slip on Helena Bay hill on Russell Rd and a washout at Ngaiotonga Bridge on Rawhiti Rd.

The sole access - a narrow and storm-impacted track through Kaiikanui Rd - is restricted to fulltime residents with appropriate vehicles.

Whangārei District Council said late on Friday the Helena Bay hill slip would take approximately eight to 12 weeks to fix, with up to 100,000cu m of material to clear, extending a significant way up the slope.

While the news on Friday was not good, the community was buoyed by a brief visit from Luxon in an Air Force helicopter.

The PM, Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell and Northland MP Grant McCallum visited Mokau Marae, where locals spoke of their harrowing stories escaping the sudden flooding on Sunday morning.

McCallum said the visit was a chance to meet with locals, see what the issues are and to thank the likes of Ngātiwai for the welfare support provided.

“There’s nothing like seeing for yourself to actually understand the challenges and get a sense of the isolation - which, sadly in Northland, is not unusual,” he said.

The visit included a walk through the cabins of Pattinson Wetere, who had to save his family from near-certain drowning on Sunday.

The catch-up included, from left, Northland MP Grant McCallum, Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell, Mokau local Pattison Wetere, PM Christopher Luxon, Mokau local Max Thompson and Northland Regional Council chairman Pita Tipene. Photo / Denise Piper

Many people like Wetere had lost cabins, water tanks, water pumps and septic systems, and many were unable to afford insurance.

Ngātiwai Trust Board chief executive Simon Mitchell, when asked what was needed, told the PM more housing was needed for those who have lost everything and Unimogs to help get through the flooding.

Max Thompson, a Mokau local whose house now sits on the precipice of a slip, was thankful for Luxon’s visit.

“Thank you for coming - for feeling, smelling and tasting our reality,” he said.

The Prime Minister used an Air Force helicopter, which had to land in a paddock in Mokau. Photo / Denise Piper

Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.