8 April 2:45 pm
Exclusion zone cordon shifted
The exclusion zone cordon has been adjusted to allow some residents of East Bank Road back to their homes.
Whakatāne District Council staff have confirmed water has been reconnected to homes on East Bank Road.
This applies to a total of five residences. The residents will be notified as soon as possible.
The cordon will be further adjusted as soon as safety requirements allow.
There will be no 3pm briefing today. The next media briefing will be at 8am tomorrow, Sunday 9 April.
8 April 11:40 am
Community meetings for Edgecumbe residents
Two community meetings will be held today for residents evacuated from their homes. The first will be held at 4pm at Rautahi marae in Kawerau. The second will be held at 6pm at the Whakatāne War Memorial Hall.
Local representatives, as well as members of the Whakatāne Emergency Response Team, will be there to answer any questions the community may have.
Flood-affected residents whose homes are damaged are being urged to report them to Whakatāne District Council by calling its free phone number, 0800 306 0500.
In Edgecumbe alone, 1600 people have been displaced by the breaching of the floodwall on the Rangitāiki River. The Edgecumbe township remains cordoned off to ensure public safety while flood waters are still being managed and pumped away and to protect people from sanitation risks associated with sewage system failures and surface water contamination.
A breach repair is in place and working well so water is not continuing to flow into Edgecumbe anymore. Water levels continue to drop around the Edgecumbe area; however we still anticipate the area will take 7-10 days to dry.
Residents may be away from their homes for up to 10 days and some Tāneatua residents have also been evacuated due to flooding, which has prompted concerns about pets’ welfare.
Whakatāne Emergency Response Team, with support from the SPCA, has been working together to search for animals in Edgecumbe. Residents in need of animal welfare support should call 0800 306 0500.
Due to the risk of contamination from flood waters a boil water notice remains in effect for Tāneatua residents, alongside Te Teko/Mapou, Edgecumbe, Awakeri, Braemar and the entire Rūātoki and the Rangitāiki Plains areas.
Only authorised people are permitted inside the cordons. Anyone concerned about security and looting should contact Whakatāne District Council on 0800 306 0500 and indicate which place they are concerned with.
Further information
Flows in the Rangitāiki river during its peak on Thursday exceeded 900 cubic metres per second which is estimated to be between a 200-500 year event.
The Rangitāiki and Whakatāne/Tauranga rivers reached the highest peak flows on record.
8 April 9:10 am
Animal welfare teams going door-to-door in Edgecumbe today
Flood affected residents whose homes are damaged are being urged to report them to Whakatāne District Council by calling its free phone number, 0800 306 0500, or Council’s direct line on 07 306 0500.
Whakatāne Emergency Response Team with support from SPCA, the Ministry for Primary Industries and experts from Massey University are on the ground this morning going door-to-door to search for animals in Edgecumbe. Residents in need of animal welfare support should also call 0800 306 0500 or 07 306 0500. Please do not attempt to return to homes at this stage.
The Edgecumbe township remains cordoned off to ensure public safety while flood waters are still being managed and pumped away and to protect people from sanitation risks associated with sewage system failures and surface water contamination.
An Exclusion Zone is in place and only response service personnel are allowed into the cordoned off area.
In Edgecumbe alone, 1600 people have been displaced by the breaching of the floodwall on the Rangitāiki River.
Residents may be away from their homes for up to 10 days and some Tāneatua residents have also been evacuated due to flooding, which has prompted concerns about pets’ welfare.
Edgecumbe residents will not be allowed to return until the flood waters and contamination concerns are controlled and the Medical Officer of Health has cleared the area as safe.
Evacuees should go to friends and family or to the welfare centres at Whakatāne (War Memorial Hall) and Kawerau (Rautahi Marae – Onslow Street). Whakatāne District Council encourages all evacuees to register at the welfare centres.
There are still people isolated in the communities of Minginui, Ruatāhuna, Te Whāiti and Rūātoki. Civil Defence staff have established key contacts in those areas. Emergency supplies are being delivered by air and ground crews are working to restore road access as quickly as possible.
People in those isolated communities have been gathering at their local Kura Kaupapa or other community hubs and are encouraged to contact the Whakatāne District Council on 306 0500 to request further information or welfare support.
More rural landowners in the Rangitāiki drainage area may be affected as floodwaters move down through the catchment. Flood Management teams are monitoring the situation and further evacuations will be notified as required.
Donations for Eastern Bay flood-affected communities
We are aware that people want to kindly donate small goods and food. The relief effort does not require any donated goods. We are only able to manage financial assistance at this stage.
An official Mayoral Fund Give a Little page has been set up for the Edgecumbe and Eastern Bay of Plenty (EBOP) Mayoral Flood Appeal. Money raised through the appeal will be used to fund applications made to the Mayoral Relief Fund to assist people affected by this week’s flooding events.
Offers of assistance should be directed to the Give a Little fund or by calling Whakatāne District Council on 0800 306 0500.
Red Cross is also fundraising.
7 April 6:00 pm
Donations for Eastern Bay flood-affected communities
We are aware that people want to kindly donate small goods and food. Welfare and evacuation centres do not require any donated goods. We are only able to manage financial assistance at this stage.
An official Mayoral Fund Give a Little page has been set up for the Edgecumbe and Eastern Bay of Plenty (EBOP) Mayoral Flood Appeal. Money raised through the appeal will be used to fund applications made to the Mayoral Relief Fund to assist people affected by this week’s flooding events.
Offers of assistance should be directed to the Give a Little fund or by calling Whakatāne District Council on 0800 306 0500.
7 April 4:35 pm
Flood control teams are working to repair the College Road stop bank breach in Edgecumbe today and manage high water levels as floodwaters continue to move down the catchment. Trustpower has lowered Matahina Dam outflows to the absolute minimum so that the breach repair work can be done.
In the meantime the Edgecumbe township remains cordoned off to ensure public safety while flood waters are still being managed and pumped away and to protect people from sanitation risks associated with sewage system failures and surface water contamination.
An Exclusion Zone is in place and only response service personnel are allowed into the area.
Edgecumbe residents will not be allowed to return until the flood waters and contamination concerns are controlled and the Medical Officer of Health has cleared the area as safe. It may be up to 72 hours before people will be able to return to their homes.
Evacuees should go to friends and family or to the welfare centres at Whakatāne (War Memorial Hall) and Kawerau (Rautahi Marae – Onslow Street). Other requests for welfare services can be made by calling 0800 306 0500.
7 April 3:35 pm
The Matahina dam is structurally sound. The rumours that it failed are untrue.
The Rangitāiki river has been at elevated levels for a substantial period of time, and Trustpower has lowered outflows to the absolute minimum. Mid-afternoon should see levels down to reasonably safe levels in Edgecumbe, at which time the College Road breach will be closed off.
Floodwaters have spread to South Edgecumbe, and the levels have now been stabilised in this area. The Omeheu Canal floodgates opened around 10 am and are flat out discharging floodwaters from the breach to the Tarawera River.
Water and sanitation
Due to the risk of contamination from flood waters, a boil water notice is now in effect for the entirety of Rūātoki and the Rangitāiki Plains areas.
This means that people in these areas should bring water to a rapid boil for at least one minute to make it safe to drink.
Affected areas include:
- Te Teko/Mapou
- Edgecumbe
- Awakeri
- Braemar
Evacuations and welfare
Edgecumbe township remains cordoned off to ensure public safety while flood waters are still being managed and pumped away.
Otakiri stormwater system is running but is of course completely inundated, and the total sewerage system is ineffective.
Given the current situation with sewerage system, the surface water in Edgecumbe is likely to be contaminated. Clearance must be provided by the Ministry of Health before people can be allowed back in.
After the water recedes, the water will contain silt that will need to be removed.
All available resources have been deployed to reopen roads and provide any assistance residents in affected areas may require.
People are still isolated in the communities of Minginui, Ruatāhuna, Te Whāiti and Rūātoki.
Key contacts have been established, and we’re working to get accurate numbers. Emergency supplies are being delivered by air to those areas, and ground crews are working to restore road access as quickly as possible.
People in those isolated communities have been gathering at their local Kura Kaupapa or other community hubs and are encouraged to contact the Whakatāne District Council on 07 306 0500 to request further information or welfare support.
An official Mayoral Fund Give a Little page has been set up for the Edgecumbe & Eastern Bay of Plenty (EBOP) Mayoral Flood Appeal. Money raised through the appeal will be used to fund applications made to the Mayoral Relief Fund. A link is available at the bottom of this page.
7 April 1:35 pm
Residents on the Plains Water Scheme are asked to immediately begin conserving water.
Filtration issues have required us to shut off the water pump station at Tahuna Road. Water can be supplied if we bypass filters, but it will be discoloured — in any event, a boil water notice remains in effect for this water supply.
Reservoir levels are currently at 23% and falling, necessitating water conservation efforts in the area.
7 April 1 pm
Our phone service has been restored.
7 April 12:20 pm
Tāneatua residents may now flush their toilets.
7 April 11:50 am
Our phones are currently down. We are working to restore them as soon as possible. In the meantime, please direct enquiries to info@whakatane.govt.nz if possible.
7 April 11:10 am
A new boil water notice has been issued for all residents of the Rangitāiki Plains, including Te Teko. The boil water notice for Rūātoki that was issued last night remains in place.
This means that people in these areas should bring water to a rapid boil for at least one minute to make it safe to drink.
The notice is being issued due to the risk of floodwater seeping into the water supply system.
7 April 10:55 am
Rumours of dam failure are untrue. Operators at the Matahina Dam have confirmed there is no issue with the dam.
7 April 10:40 am
Edgecumbe Flooding update
The evacuation of Gow Road is progressing well. We have had to evacuate the area due to water levels rising as a result of ponding moving through the catchment. Evacuees should go to friends and family or to the welfare centre at Whakatāne War Memorial Hall.
Power has now been restored to pumps that are pumping excess water away and Awaiti canal has been opened to reduce pressure. Matahina dam flows are being temporarily reduced to allow breach repair works later this afternoon.
Police are reminding people to respect the Edgecumbe evacuation cordon and road closures. Once residents leave their homes they are not able to return until they officially notified. Crews are working hard to reduce water levels in the area and make it safe for people to return. They will be re-assessing the situation at midday and providing further advice then.
Welfare and evacuation centres do not require any donated goods. Offers of food, clothing and other items can be made by calling the Council on 07 306 0500. They will take details and connect donations with people if required.
The Te Teko/Otakiri Road intersection is flooded and impassable. Police have installed a new cordon on the corner of Powell and Te Teko Roads to prevent traffic from entering Edgecumbe from the south and are asking people to avoid travelling into Edgecumbe from any direction.
Other flood-related impacts
- The Whakatāne and Rangitaiki Rivers have experienced unprecedented 1:500 year flood events. That has seen breaches of stopbanks on both rivers. The Whakatāne River level is continuing to subside. The Rangitāiki River flow is now falling, but significant flows will continue today.
- A rural area on the western side of the Whakatane River has also been evacuated.
- Emergency Civil Defence Centres have been set up in Whakatāne (War Memorial Hall) and Kawerau (Rautahi Marae – Onslow Street) to accommodate displaced residents. It may be up to 72 hours before people will be able to return to their homes to assess the damage.
- Tāneatua’s water supply reservoir is low and residents have been asked to conserve water wherever possible until water treatment operations resume.
- A boil water notice is in force for Rūātoki residents.
- All available resources have been deployed to reopen roads and provide any assistance residents in affected areas may require
7 April 9:30 am
Gow Road residents should evacuate immediately to the Whakatāne War Memorial Hall.
7 April 8:35 am
State of Emergency remains in force
A breach of the Rangitāiki River stopbank at Edgecumbe resulted in the declaration of a State of Emergency in the Whakatāne District and an order to evacuate the town. That evacuation affected some 580 households and a population of approximately 1600 people.
The Rangitaiki River flow has reduced to 420 cu.m a second, down from 700+ cumecs yesterday. Regional Council teams are carrying out visual inspections of stopbanks this morning and we anticipate having information on when access may be restored to parts of Edgecumbe that have not been flooded by early afternoon.
Temporary repairs to Thornton stopbank have held overnight and there are no additional concerns with this at present. Again, this area will be inspected this morning and we expect to have further information by early afternoon.
Teams are working on the roading network and we anticipate a number of roads will be opening as the day goes on. Advisories will be sent out as information comes to hand.
State Highway 30 west to Rotorua is now open. Slips are being cleared through the Waimana Gorge. We expect to have further information regarding road access to Taneatua and Ruatoki by mid-morning.
Edgecumbe community: a security cordon was in place over night and Police report that there were no significant issues.
Te Whaiti and Ruatahuna are still isolated and there is major damage to Ruatāhuna Road, so access may not be restored for some time; we are working to get food and medical supplies through to those areas as soon as possible.
Teams will be out in the community today to start an initial needs assessment process. Residents are asked to help with that process and be patient – we all want this situation to be dealt with as quickly as possible, but the reality is that resources are limited.
Damage to flooded homes will need to be assessed to determine whether homes are safe to inhabit. In many instances, it is likely that it could be up to 72 hours before that is possible, and where damage is significant, it could be longer. Everything that can be done to get people back into their homes will be done.
Other flood-related impacts
- The Whakatāne and Rangitaiki Rivers have experienced unprecedented 1:500 year flood events. That has seen breaches of stopbanks on both rivers. The Whakatāne River level is continuing to subside. The Rangitāiki River flow is now falling, but significant flows will continue today.
- A rural area on the western side of the Whakatane River has also been evacuated.
- Emergency Civil Defence Centres have been set up in Whakatāne (War Memorial Hall) and Kawerau (Rautahi Marae – Onslow Street) to accommodate displaced residents. It may be up to 72 hours before people will be able to return to their homes to assess the damage.
- Tāneatua’s water supply reservoir is low and residents have been asked to conserve water wherever possible until water treatment operations resume.
- A boil water notice is in force for Rūātoki residents.
- All available resources have been deployed to reopen roads and provide any assistance residents in affected areas may require.
7 April 8:10 am
Update for evacuees: The evacuation centre in Kawerau has now been relocated to Rautahi Marae in Onslow Street. Firmin Lodge is no longer the evacuation centre in Kawerau.
7 April 7:05 am
Whakatāne and Ōhope residents are asked to conserve water. The treatment plant is struggling to deal with the muddy water in the river. The water in your taps is safe, but it may not taste great due to turbidity. So please conserve water until further notice.