HEAVY RAINFALL IMPACT SIGNIFICANT

Two heavy rainfall events in November have battered the Wairoa district.
Early in November, heavy rainfall caused significant damage in
the Whakaki, Nuhaka and Mahia areas and on the weekend, further substantial rain caused flooding, saw over 20 local roads closed, around 30 people isolated and caused significant rural slipping.
Nineteen properties sustained damage and received Rapid Building Assessment placards in the early November event. The recent event saw two yellow restricted entry placards, and assessments were still being carried out.
As a result of the early November event, at Mahia, a permanent
home and a temporary residence were red stickered - prohibiting entry, and a neighbouring property yellow stickered - restricted entry. At Nuhaka, six residences and the Nuhaka School, Kahungunu Marae and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints were all yellow stickered and three were white stickered (minimal damage). In Whakaki, two houses were yellow stickered; on Frasertown Road, near
the Awatere Stream one home was yellow stickered and a shed was white stickered.
Wairoa Mayor Craig Little said it is heartbreaking to have added new stickered properties to the extensive list from the Cyclone Gabrielle event.
“I am particularly concerned about the Nuhaka School and its students. The school was relocated to the LDS Chapel at Nuhaka after flooding following Cyclone Gabrielle. This heavy rain event flooded the chapel, causing the school to be displaced again. This is very disruptive for
the students and whānau. The school has now been relocated to Tanenuiarangi Marae at Nuhaka.”
Wairoa Civil Defence Controller Juanita Savage said the heavy rainfall events have had a significant impact. “Thank you to the local emergency responders, welfare support and Civil Defence response during these incidents. This was locals helping impacted locals,
we are grateful for the support we received and are proud of our community.”
The early November event also caused slipping and damage to the
Mahia East Coast Road at the 5.4km mark. Geotechnical engineers have been on site to assess the situation, and drivers are urged to please drive to the conditions and observe any temporary speed limits.
There was significant slipping and ground slumpage at Mahia along the East Coast Road and Brown’s Rise. This affected land remains unstable, and extreme caution is advised.
Residents throughout the district, particularly Mahia, who live near cliffs and steep slopes, should be alert for any signs of instability, particularly after heavy rain. This includes movements of trees or the slope, cracks in the earth, ground slumpage, or loose dislodged
rocks and boulders suspended in vegetation on the escarpment face.
Wairoa District Council also reminds people who live or work near cliffs and steep slopes (escarpments) of the need to take a precautionary approach to landslide risks.
If your home has been impacted by the heavy rain events, please contact the Wairoa District Council on 06 838 7309 to arrange an assessment. 

21 October 2024

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