Evacuations are underway in Gisborne after a state of emergency was declared following torrential rainfall over the past 24 hours.
The state of emergency was declared at 2pm by Civil Defence, the agency said in a statement on Thursday, after some areas received more than 200mm of rain in the past 24 hours.
"Civil Defence has declared a state of emergency across the whole Tairāwhiti district as persistent rain lashes our district.
"Surface flooding around the district has closed several roads and some residents around Pouawa and Loisels have self-evacuated."
Tairāwhiti Civil Defence group controller Dave Wilson is urging people to stay home and is warning residents to “treat all surface water as contaminated.”
“There is a problem with rubberneckers, particularly around Sponge Bay and we really ask that everyone restrict their travel,” Wilson says.
Parts of Kaiti and Fergusson Drive are under water, with sandbagging underway in low-lying areas while residents along the Taruheru River are being asked to prepare to evacuate as the tide rises.
There are also slips on East Cape Road and Makarori Hill but both still have a single lane open for traffic but Anaura Bay is completely cut off.
Civil Defence has been inundated with inquiries from worried residents, with the customer service centre taking more than 600 calls since 8am on Thursday.
Police are asking people to take care on the roads as water remains high.
“There is a lot of surface water out there and people need to drive to the conditions,” says Inspector Sam Aberahama. “If everyone slows down, we will all get to where we want to get to safely.”
Three welfare centres have been established at Wainui School Hall, the Salvation Army and the House of Breakthrough, with Te Poho o Rawiri Marae on standby.
The Gisborne DIstrict council says, “anyone needing help shouldn’t hesitate to call us and we can link them with the appropriate services.”
