Weather-hit Ōakura coast in Northland closed to non-residents

A massive slip, including a boulder covering two-thirds of the road, is blocking Russell Rd at Helena Bay. Photo / Denise Piper

Whangārei Mayor Ken Couper is urging people to stay off the only access into Ōakura unless they are a fulltime resident.

Communities in Ōakura, Teal Bay, Helena Bay, Whangaruru and Ngaiotonga are cut off by a huge slip on Helena Bay hill to the south, and damage to the bridge on Rawhiti Rd at Ngaiotonga to the north.

The only access in or out is a windy, unsealed, storm-impacted track through Kaiikanui Rd and Whananaki North Rd. A Kaiikanui Rd checkpoint will screen motorists and only let locals in.

Couper said the route has been established as an essential lifeline, but it is fragile and must be preserved for essential traffic only.

Only fulltime residents or essential workers, in suitable four-wheel-drives, will be allowed through.

“A checkpoint at Kaiikanui Rd will be stopping traffic to enforce this,” he said.

Couper urged holiday home-owners who want to check their baches to have patience.

“We understand that people who own holiday homes will be keen to visit and assess them, but at this stage we must ask for your patience - only fulltime residents will be allowed through.”

Couper said while the clean-up on the northeast coast continues, the rest of Whangārei district is now accessible and welcoming visitors for a busy long weekend, with Auckland and Northland Anniversary day on Monday.

Couper said the Helena Bay hill slip is “significant” and will require a complex geotechnical assessment before clearance can begin.

Whangārei Mayor Ken Couper visited Ōakura after flooding on Sunday but is now urging all non-residents to stay away. Photo / WDC

Rapid building assessments in the storm-affected area continue, with officials expected in the area around midday Friday.

Whangārei District Council roading contractors are clearing fallen trees and slips, assessing fragile sites and restoring access where it is safe to do so.

The council is warning the saturated ground may cause further slips and wind can take trees down more easily than usual.

People should also not collect shellfish for at least 28 days and not swim until water testing shows it is safe.

A state of emergency remains in place across Whangārei.

Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.