Bay of Plenty locals are racing to rescue a group suspected to number at least 70 who have been trapped amid flooding in the Te Urewera forest.
The Herald understands the group, which had travelled to the Hanamahihi area in the forest, had become trapped following the intense rainfall that
has shifted down the country in recent days.
The group was attending a hui held at Hanamahihi by Tuhoe Te Uru Taumatua - the Tuhoe Iwi Authority, to tell anyone who could get up there by horseback, about what they plan to do in the future about Te Urewera huts.
Tuhoe Te Uru Taumatua has recently come under fire for the taking down of the DOC Te Urewera huts and there is a court order in place to prevent further huts from being dismantled.
Several videos have been posted on social media, showing people launching boats into a river to join the rescue effort. The videos show the boats fighting hard against a strong current.
