Far North Incident Management Team helping after storm

Far North District Council’s Incident Management Team is out and about working through requests or help for people impacted by last week’s stormy weather

With thousands of people impacted by last week’s storms, Far North District Council’s Incident Management Team is now working through requests for assistance resulting from the weather event that hit the district.

Three Rapid Response Teams have been out in the field focused on the key locations of Whirinaki, Wainui Valley and Waikare Valley. This follows assessments made by five teams in heavily affected areas around Rāwhiti and Waikare, along the east coast up to Whangaroa, and north and south Hokianga to Waimamaku.

Teams visited marae that opened during the event to provide support to communities and whānau. Civil Defence Emergency Management worked with those marae to provide support. Its teams are also visiting affected dwellings with building inspectors to make sure that homes are safe and sanitary for residents.

Emergency food supplies were provided to an elderly couple today in Wainui Valley, north of Matauri Bay. The couple had no way to access shops and had immediate food needs. All other homes along Wainui Valley Road were assessed but did not require storm-related assistance.

Ngaiotonga Bridge, on Rawhiti Rd, was just part of the Far North infrastructure damaged in last week’s storm

A home on Waikare Valley Rd was flooded during the storm, forcing the family to take refuge at a local marae. Inspectors also assessed all other homes in the valley. To report slips, flooding or hazards please call the council’s 24-hour call centre on 0800 920 029.

Ngaiotonga Bridge, on Rawhiti Rd, was just part of the Far North infrastructure damaged in last week’s storm

The storm and associated heavy rain and strong winds caused widespread damages and up to nine deaths across the country, with parts of Northland getting a month’s worth of rain in a few days.

While the damage in Northland was largely to property and infrastructure, the weather led to six people trapped under a massive slip at a Mount Maunganui campground landslide. The body of a 47-year-old man - believed to be from Kiribati - swept away in a river near Warkworth on Wednesday, has been recovered.

As well, two people who died in Welcome Bay Rd, Tauranga, following a slip on January 22 were a grandmother and her grandson.