Civil Defence: Goose Bay residents cannot return home yet

Aerial photo of the dam threatening Goose Bay following last month's 7.8 magnitude earthquake near Kaikoura. Photo / GNS.

It is disappointing news for residents of Goose Bay near Kaikoura.

In a meeting with residents last night, Civil Defence staff confirmed two thirds of the village can't return to their homes just yet.

Occupants of 35 homes in the small community were frustrated when they had to evacuate last Wednesday because a dam, caused by an earthquake landslide, was on the brink of giving way.

Most have been living in a nearby campground since.

Farmer Paul Keung said only a small number can get back to normal.

"Residents in the high level areas are allowed to return back to their properties but the majority of residents are going to be still refrained from entering their properties."

Evacuated residents were told by Civil Defence last week to be prepared to be gone from their homes for at least 10 days.

Aerial photo of the dam threatening Goose Bay following last month's 7.8 magnitude earthquake near Kaikoura. Photo / GNS.