Cyclone Gabrielle’s impact on Tararua is yet to be fully understood, with repair on the district’s devastated road network estimated to be days, weeks, and – in some cases – years away.
The district remained under the national state of emergency yesterday, with Tararua District Council [TDC] announcing a mammoth effort was underway to reach isolated communities.
Tararua District Mayor Tracey Collis said rivers across the region were still swollen and admitted a feeling of dread in the air.
“That feeling doesn’t go away. There is more rain forecast, and it has a cumulative effect. It does make the clean-up challenging.”
She said multiple bridges were submerged or had suffered damage, with repairs in the foreseeable future unlikely.
“It will be years. They need an assessment. And this is not just in the Tararua district. The pressure on resources as the nation responds to this is enormous.”
Collis said convoys had been deployed yesterday to Akitio and Herbertville communities, which had been cut off and without power since Tuesday.
“The convoys have highly skilled drivers in 4×4 vehicles going out. There is a nurse on board, emergency radios, food, and generators.”
She said planning for convoys to reach Te Uri and Pongaroa communities today was in progress.
The mission for staff from the Ministry of Social Development, Ngati Kahungunu ki Tamaki nui-a-Rua, Rangitane o Tamaki nui-a-Rua, Fire and Emergency and the council, would be to assess immediate needs and survey all flood-affected buildings.
Collis said the convoy was a “heart-warming example of community spirit and cooperation”, and said the effort made by roading staff to “punch a hole through” to isolated communities, despite many slips and obstacles, was enormous and thanked the public for donating generators for delivery.
On Wednesday, helicopters carried out reconnaissance flights over the isolated coastal communities and Pongaroa to assess flood damage.
A generator and veterinary supplies were also delivered by helicopters and four-wheel drive vehicles to isolated Owahanaga Station residents.
Collis said despite the “massive effort” by roading contractors, many roads were still closed or only accessible to emergency services.
Waka Kotahi NZTA announced that Saddle Rd had been reopened on Wednesday afternoon after a brief closure.
However, close to 50 roads in the Tararua district remained closed or reduced to single lanes yesterday.
The council was again urging residents to remain at home unless it was absolutely necessary to travel, despite the weather effects of the cyclone weakening over the past 24 hours.
“While some roads appear to be clear, they are only suitable for emergency access.
“For the safety of yourself, and our staff, please refrain from non-urgent travel, especially in the Northeast of the district.”
Precautionary boil water notices have been issued in Akitio and Pongaroa, with water staff unable to service the treatment plant near Akitio due to extensive slips caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.
The council was also urging residents across the district to conserve water as drinking source water from the Tamaki River became too turbid to treat.
“We are solely relying on the impounded water supply. The water supply is of sufficient volume to meet our immediate needs.
“However, we cannot be sure how long we will be reliant on [it].”
