North Island floods: Clearer picture of damage

Authorities are getting a clearer picture of just how much damage occurred in flood-hit areas of the lower North Island, as the rivers recede and water is pumped away.

The state of emergency has remained in place for Whanganui and Taranaki three days after devastating flooding caused evacuations, slips, road closures and power cuts.

Soldiers manning a cordon on Anzac Parade in Whanganui. Photo / Mark Mitchell

It was the worst flood on record for Whanganui - even more serious than the 2004 flooding that led to more than $140 million insurance claim payouts.

About 400 people in Whanganui had not been able to return to their homes last night.

Horizons Regional civil defence controller Craig Grant said all communities isolated by slips and blocked roads had now been identified.

The majority of cut-off residents were in rural parts of the district, he said.

"Authorities are working to make contact with any residents who they have not yet been able to reach and provide food parcels and medication by helicopter where required," he said.

Building inspectors were using a coloured sticker system to categorise the extent of damage in flooded properties.

The council was continuing to asses the region's flood protection network and networking with faming authorities to provide advice to affected farmers, Mr Grant said.

"Welfare of people and stock is top priority," he said.

The state of emergency in Taranaki will remain in place at least until Minister of Civil Defence Nikki Kaye visits the region tomorrow, Taranaki Civil Defence controller David Lean said.

She would be flown up the Waitotara Valley to Pipiriki on the Whanganui River about 10.30am, he said.

Civil Defence would also be appointing a regional recovery manager to start working with the team.

"Seeing is believing," Mr Lean said.

"The moment we lift the declaration it doesn't just stop, you need to get to the recovery phase. We're looking at the long term solution rather than just the immediate day-to-day stuff."

Minister of Civil Defence Nikki Kaye and Minister of Primary Industries Nathan Guy were expected to visit the region today.

The Manawatu Wanganui Regional Disaster Relief Fund Trust and Wanganui District Council Mayoral Fund had been activated for people wanting to make donations.

Prime Minister John Key said yesterday Cabinet had agreed to put an initial $250,000 towards a taskforce to provide urgent assistance to areas hit by record flooding over the weekend.

More than 400 people were evacuated from flood-hit homes in lower North Island towns across Taranaki, Horowhenua, Manawatu, Rangitikei and Whanganui.

Image 1 of 18: Roger Low and Ian Glenny help out at the flooding of the Wanganui Hockey Club. Photo / Bevan Conley

Taranaki's state of emergency was largely still in place because of the township of Waitotara where 60 homes were evacuated.

The flooding was described as a one in 85-year event for the central regions and the clean-up operation could take up to a month.

Three helicopters have been deployed in Taranaki to assess bridges, check on isolated residents and drop in supplies.

Two families have been airlifted from their cut-off homes in Waitotara for medical reasons, Taranaki Civil Defence controller David Lean said.

"We're only offering that when there is a real medical need. A lot of people would like to be airlifted out but it's a matter of priority.

"We're in now for the long haul. The pressure goes on and the fuse is starting to get a bit shorter too," he said.

He said the majority of residents who had been evacuated from their homes had returned but a small number had not been ticked off by the health authorities.

The main residents affected were in Waitotara where several houses and the school were not able to be occupied.

Assessments were taking place on the properties now and Civil Defence were reliant on the health advice, Mr Lean said.

"The water's not the problem, the problem is the physical damage that occurred in the highest flood that we've seen for some time. As with anything like this in rural areas when you get 50 or 60 slips on a road of 15 or 20km that'll take weeks.

"Those people are pretty resilient up there [in Waitotara]. Sometimes they don't even like anybody coming and invading their space, they're used to being self-sustaining."

He said more information, including details about donating to flood relief funds, would be available after midday.

An estimated 100 households are still cut-off in Taranaki due to slips and road closures.

Four helicopters flew over isolated pockets of eastern Taranaki until about 5.15pm yesterday, Taranaki Civil Defence said in a statement.

While most people "seemed to be coping" about six families had urgent needs for food, water, medication and other necessities, civil defence said.

Many local roads were still impassable and some areas were without power.

No Waitotara homes remain underwater and health officers were assessing houses and testing water supplies, civil defence said.

The streets were passable and an information centre for residents remains open at the Waitotara Hotel.

Portable flood pumps are helping to clear remaining flood water across Whanganui, Horizons regional controller Craig Grant said.

Assessing ponding areas and assigning flood pumps to key areas was a priority, he said.

Teams were starting preliminary assessment of flood protection schemes and were flying over the Rangitikei, Pohangina-Oroua and Turakina areas this afternoon.

Donate to:

• Manawatu Wanganui Regional Disaster Relief Fund Trust: 03-0728-0411355-00

• Wanganui District Council Mayoral Fund: 03-0791-0355050-04

People are being asked to leave their contact details and name as the reference details if they wish.