Haast at standstill after huge slip

The major slip on State Highway 6 between Haast and Makarora. Photo / NZTA

Things are coming to a standstill in the Haast township after a massive landslip in the Haast Pass cut off access to the area.

Nicola Johnston of the Haast Beach General Store said things were relatively quiet, with a few tourists waiting for the state highway to reopen.

"We had a few yesterday, trying to get through to Queenstown. There's the odd bus. I think most of them tried to stay overnight.''

She said the area was busier yesterday as people decided what to do. Today, it was quieter as people settled in and waited for the next update from the New Zealand Transport Agency.

"It's not serious yet. It'll just depend on how long it's out for in terms of deliveries and supplies,'' Mrs Johnston said.

Overall, the situation was not as bad as the Wanganui River bridge washout at Hari Hari, which happened at peak tourist season in January.

"It's whitebait season, but they're down fishing, not trying to get from A to B.''

The DOC Haast Visitor Centre had a number of travellers come through asking for information, but staff members could only tell them what the NZTA had already announced.

Some local businesses expected things to be slow for several weeks as media coverage of the slip discouraged travellers from attempting the journey.

Fantail Cafe manager Aly Brown said things were dead at the cafe this morning.

"Most of them are away, heading back up the coast.''

He was considering closing up for the rest of the day: "There's no sense being here if no one is around.''

A few travellers had been unaware of the slip and were forced to turn back.

"Yesterday, an elderly couple came in who needed to go to Cromwell, and they could only drive in short bursts. When we told them they would have to go right back around, they were just devastated.''

Mr Brown said he drove up to the pass to look at the slip yesterday.

"It's horrendous; very, very scary. Good luck to the guys who will do the job (clearing it), because it's very dangerous.''