Te Puna slip risk grows after Cyclone Vaianu as people ignore barriers

An unstable slip on Plummers Point Rd in Te Puna has significantly worsened since Cyclone Vaianu.

Long‑time resident Alan Whelan, who has lived across the road for 22 years, said the first slip came down during the heavy downpour on March 27.

On that day, according to MetService, Tauranga recorded more than 107mm of rain in just 24 hours.

Since then, Whelan said, repeated bouts of rain - including the recent cyclone - have caused the slip to move even more.

“You’ve got little kids going down there. There’s not even anything across it.

Unstable slip on Plummers Point Rd in Te Puna. Photo / Supplied

“They tried to stop it, they put waratahs across there, but they’re not stopping anyone.”

When he visited the site on Monday morning, he found debris scattered across the road and tree ferns still standing upright in the middle of the tar seal.

He said the damage had clearly worsened since the cyclone.

“It came down again on the night of the cyclone. It’s come down even worse.”

He said another slip has now formed beside it.

Despite the instability, people continue to walk into the area to fish, and cars are still driving through, Whelan said.

The park steps have already been destroyed, and Whelan believes the saturated marine clay beneath the bank remains unstable.

He has contacted the council but feels the issue isn’t being taken seriously.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council reserves and facilities manager Peter Watson said the area was cordoned off with cones and tape after the initial slip on Friday, March 27.

A slip on Plummers Point Rd in Te Puna. Photo / Claire Rogers

A geotechnical engineer assessed the site at the time and determined there was no risk to personal property.

However, Watson said the slip itself remains unsafe, and access to the area was still closed.

He said people have been breaching the barriers.

Nothing that a more robust water‑filled barrier would now be installed to prevent this, he said.

Before the slip, a boat had been illegally dumped at the site.

Watson said they have identified those responsible, and the vessel will be removed once it is safe to do so.

He said clean‑up and remediation of the slip would be carried out as resources allow.

“This work will be prioritised alongside other slips across the district.”

Zoe Blake is a multimedia journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post.