Receding flood waters reveal damage to homes

An Incident Management Team has been set up in Whirinaki after reports of damage to multiple houses in the Hokianga following heavy rainfall overnight compounding the impact of severe weather last week.

Focus areas for the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), based at council headquarters in Kaikohe, are communities in Mitimiti, Pawarenga, Panguru, Whirinaki, Kaitāia and Takahue.

The EOC is responding to welfare concerns, supporting displaced people and delivering water, food, blankets, face masks and gloves to remote Far North areas.

New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has dropped bottled water to Hokianga Hospital to be distributed to local residents in need. NZDF and council staff continue to carry out rapid assessments in the west of the district.

A Red Rain Warning – the highest warning level – was issued by the MetService on Wednesday 25 March. A local State of Emergency was declared the next day by Kahika Moko Tepania and Far North Civil Defence Controller Alastair Wells, and remains in place.

As flood waters recede it is emerging today (Monday 30 March) that the severe weather has had a significant impact across the entire Far North.

Saturated ground and ongoing risks such as slips continue to be a concern. All Far North residents should avoid areas of known landslides and stay away from steep slopes.

Of the properties evacuated late on Thursday (26 March) in Kaitāia, all but one household has returned home. Seven of the properties had water damage but are now habitable.

Council teams are on call 24/7. Residents are encouraged to report issues to our contact centre on 0800 920 029.

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Main photo - aerial view of flooding in Kaitāia on Friday 27 March.