Ōakura Community Hall was badly damaged by a slip in the storm. Photo / Denise Piper
Ōakura Community Hall was badly damaged by a slip in the storm. Photo / Denise Piper
Whangārei’s storm-hit Whangaruru coast will remain in a state of emergency for the next seven days.
Whangārei Mayor Ken Couper said the localised state of emergency will remain for his council’s Hikurangi-Coastal general ward, until 4pm on Tuesday, February 3. The ward encompasses the weather-hit area.
Couper said the stateof emergency for the wider Whangārei district will be lifted at 4pm today.
The state of emergency was brought in for seven days on January 20.
Extending the state of emergency beyond that was not a decision made lightly.
It was being done because the localised weather-bomb hit area was still in the midst of its busy civil defence response.
“While the wider Whangārei district is returning to business as usual, we remain firmly in the response phase of our civil defence activation in the Whangaruru area.”
He said extending the state of emergency allowed Civil Defence to access additional support quickly, should it be required.
“The key factors informing this decision are the significant challenges around roading access into and out of the area, as well as meeting the welfare needs of the affected community.”
The slip on Helena Bay Hill.
Photo / Denise Piper
He said Kaiikanui Rd, the sole access into the southern end of the affected area, was currently open but was extremely narrow in several places and required drivers to take great care.
Couper said the council’s latest information indicated that clearing the Helena Bay slip will take some time.
“We also have residents who continue to face very difficult circumstances,” Couper said.
“There are currently 90 people displaced from their homes and staying in emergency accommodation at local marae.”
Whangārei Deputy Mayor Scott McKenzie, left, Mayor Ken Couper and acting Northland group recovery manager Richard Ball at Ōakura. Photo / Denise Piper
Couper said civil defence teams were still carrying out welfare checks in the most isolated parts of Whangaruru to build a full picture of the issues facing locals.
Latest Whangārei civil defence updates:
A community hui is to be held at Mōkau Marae on Wednesday from 5pm to 7pm for affected communities to hear the latest on the civil defence response and hear from affected whānau.
Pop-up recovery hubs - with on-site support from a range of agency specialists - will offer help with navigating financial assistance, accommodation, insurance information, wellbeing support and general recovery information. They will be available later this week; Thursday January 29; Ngaiotonga Marae at Whangaruru 9am-noon; Tuparehuia Marae at Bland Bay 1pm-4pm. Friday January 30; Mōkau Marae 9am-noon and Otetao Marae at Punaruku 1pm-4pm. Saturday January 31; Ōakura sports complex 10am-1pm and Whananaki Marae 2pm-4pm.
Five homes have been red stickered, meaning their owners can’t enter the properties. Ten have been yellow stickered, meaning very restricted access.
The major southern Russell Rd access into the impacted area is blocked with a huge slip at Helena Bay hill. Repairs could now take 14 weeks.
90 people have been housed across Ngātiwai marae - Mōkau, Ngaiotonga, Otetao, and Tuparehuia along with Ōakura Marae (bush hut), which has now gone onto standby mode. Many others are also receiving welfare support.
The volunteer New Zealand Rapid Response team from Auckland has been in touch with 776 properties in affected rural communities.
Kaiikanui Road detour is open but restricted to light vehicles only. Heavy vehicle traffic on this road is being prioritised for supplies and essential services only.
Significant slips and road damage continue to affect Whangaruru/Ōakura access. 62 road faults have now been cleared. Mimiwhangata Road remains closed while slip clearance continues.
Ōakura wastewater treatment plant is now operating normally.
Swimming and shellfish gathering bans are still in place after wastewater spills caused by flooding. People should not collect shellfish for at least 28 days after the last heavy rainfall in the affected area – until about February 19.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
