Whananaki Marae surrounded by floodwaters. Photo / Ck Waetford
The Northland Civil Defence chairman has praised coastal communities northeast of Whangārei for their resilience in the weekend’s weather bomb and urged people to prepare before further potential heavy rain.
Toss Kitchen said it was clear local communities were well prepared and helping each other out.
Whangaruru South Ratepayers Association chairperson John Hewinson said 340mm of rain had fallen in the five hours between 2-7am on Sunday morning.
The rainfall hit the eastern hills north of Whangārei with Helena Bay, Ōakura, Punaruku and Whangaruru in particular affected. Ngunguru was also affected.
Kitchen said community-led Civil Defence centres had been set up and worked well.
About 200 people went to the community-led Civil Defence centres set up at marae in Tuparehuia (Bland Bay) which has solar power installed after Cyclone Gabrielle specifically for Civil Defence use, Ōtetao Reti Marae (Punaruku), Ōakura Marae, Mokau Marae and Whananaki Marae.
Some of the marae are still open, currently hosting around 30 whānau while others have been stood down from that role.
The central east coast was also affected, with Ngunguru impacted by the heavy rainfall.
Kitchen said local resilience showed the benefit of Civil Defence-linked community response groups and wider community mahi preparing for times of emergency such as had happened over the weekend.
Kitchen said communication between groups had been great.
He also praised councils and emergency services, and said all were working well together with the community.
Localised heavy rain and flooding has been identified by Civil Defence as the region’s top hazard overall.
Flooding has also been identified as the main local hazard by two Civil Defence-linked community groups northeast of Whangārei where the weather bomb hit – Bland Bay (Whangaruru North) and Ōakura (Whangaruru South).
Northland Civil Defence deputy chair Kelly Stratford said impacted communities were shocked with the suddenness of the intense rainfall.
They were saddened by losing belongings from their flooded homes.
But she said people were heartened too, by the generosity and awhi (support) shown by those around them.
Stratford said people were feeling apprehensive about how long it would take to repair the bridge on Rāwhiti Rd between Elliot Bay of Ngaiotonga.
She said moving around was difficult with the large number of slips and rough road surfaces.
“There’s a chunk of Rāwhiti Rd seal in the paddock next to the road now,” Stratford said.
Waikare Rd was damaged too.
The main district access route through these areas has been cut at Rāwhiti Rd bridge (on the old Russell Rd route between Elliot Bay and Ngaiotonga).
Stratford said that situation added extra challenges for whānau trying to prepare for the next weather event later this week.
Ōakura bach owner of 25 years and Northland Regional Council politician Geoff Crawford said the weather bomb had the worst rainfall he’d seen in that time.
“The rain was falling at intensities of 60-70ml, if not 100ml an hour,” Crawford said.
“It was worse than Cyclone Gabrielle.
“I’ve never seen anything like it here ever.
“The rain was absolutely deafening.”
Former local government leader and Ōakura bach owner of 50 years John Bain likened the weekend’s rain and flooding in severity to Cyclone Bola.
Cyclone Bola had hit the community from the coast with sea coming up onto properties.
The weekend rain had instead seen water hit the community from the surrounding hills as the huge rainfall raced to the sea.
Ōakura bach owner and visitor of 40 years Hewinson said the event was notable for its huge quantities of rain.
“It’s a lot more water than I have ever seen before,” Hewinson said.
“The whole place is a shambles.”
Forty tonnes of clay and vegetation had crashed into the recently renovated Ōakura Hall.
Slips had gone through the back wall of four houses, he said.
Houses had what was like an orange clay soup around them, even if it hadn’t been through the house.
There were more than a dozen slips around the settlement.
MetService has issued a heavy rain watch for Northland from 6pm tonight until noon tomorrow.
Northland Civil Defence says further heavy rain is also forecast for Wednesday with the potential for additional watches or warnings.
Stratford said people should be preparing for the further weather.
They should be stocking up on kai, checking on medicine supplies, making sure they had torches and that their devices were charged.
Pets should be considered. People needed to make sure to have a getaway bag containing essential valuables in readiness in case they needed to evacuate.
Drains and gutters should be cleared. Outdoor furniture and loose items secured.
Stock should be relocated from low-lying land.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.