Update: 1:30 pm 22 April

Flood recovery activities are well advanced in the Whakatāne District, with a focus on priority work to ensure that stormwater and roading infrastructure is in the best possible state to withstand future extreme weather events. A more extensive, general tidy-up of flooding and wind-blown debris is also being undertaken, as resources allow.

Skip bins have been placed temporarily in the areas worst affected by flooding – the Douglas Street/Alexander Avenue area in Whakatāne – so that people can get on with the job of clearing damaged property out their homes and sections.

Some 34 homes in Whakatāne and Ōhope have been damaged by flood water. Council staff have inspected those properties, and others with less severe damage, and advised owners on clean-up activities and the process for lodging claims with insurers. These houses will require wall linings to be removed to allow wet framing timber to dry before being relined, as wet framing and wall linings support growth of harmful bacteria that can be a serious problem to the health of occupants.

The Building Act allows damaged wall linings to be replaced with a comparable product without a building consent, but also requires that any building work must comply with the building code.

The Council’s experience indicates that repairs undertaken without a building consent can create problems for homeowners when they wish to sell their property at some stage in the future. This revolves around uncertainty on behalf of prospective purchasers, because no code compliance certificate will have been issued to validate the repair work. A code compliance certificate is only issued when a building consent has been granted for the repair. The Council is offering a free building consent process to assist the owners of flood damaged buildings avoid such issues. 

The Council is recommending a precautionary approach to escarpment stability throughout the District until the rain-sodden soil conditions improve. As far as possible, people living in landslide-prone areas should stay out of the parts of their homes which are nearest to escarpment faces. Residents should also check escarpment faces in their vicinity and if they are at all concerned about stability, contact the Council and self-evacuate to a safe location.

Any silt left after flooding has subsided should be treated as potentially contaminated by sewage overflows, so anyone involved in clean-up activities should exercise care. View What to do in a flood for advice on how to deal with that situation.

Other than Hereperu Road, all roads are now open, although care should still be taken on Hillcrest Road, Valley Road/Taneatua Road and Matahī Valley Road, where conditions may still be difficult. Hereperu Road was closed prior to the weekend’s flooding events due to a major rockfall. The area involved was to be inspected by a geotechnical engineer this morning and provided it is safe to proceed, the slip debris will be cleared as quickly as possible.

The Whakatāne Aquatic Centre was also closed unexpectedly on Saturday, due to the effects of a lightning strike on the complex’s pump and filter systems. The centre reopened as normal on Sunday.

Storm damage to the Whakatāne Museum’s roof is being assessed, as is the condition of the museum collection. Further information will be released once that process has been completed.

Update: 10:30 am 20 April

Flood recovery efforts in the Whakatāne District switch to high-priority clean-up activities today, taking advantage of the fine weather. Whakatāne District Council and contractor teams are continuing to clear silt and debris from the stormwater system to ensure that it is ready for further rain, when it arrives. A more extensive, general tidy-up of flooding and wind-blown debris will begin from tomorrow.

Skip bins are also being placed today in the areas worst affected by flooding – the Douglas Street/Alexander Avenue area in Whakatāne – so that people whose properties have been damaged can get on with clearing out their homes and sections.

Some 23 homes in Whakatāne and Ohope have been damaged by flood water. Council staff have inspected those properties, and some 60 others with less severe damage, and advised owners on clean-up activities and the process for lodging claims with insurers. A significant aspect is to ensure that evidence of property damage is not disposed of before an insurance claim is accepted. Follow-up contact will occur with all of the property owners involved over the next 48 hours.

The Council is still recommending a precautionary approach to escarpment stability throughout the District until the rain-sodden soil conditions improve. People living in landslide-prone areas should stay out of the parts of their homes which are nearest to escarpment faces. Residents should also check escarpment faces and if they are at all concerned about stability, self-evacuate to a safe location.

Any silt or pooled water left after flooding has subsided should be treated as potentially contaminated by sewage overflows, so anyone involved in clean-up activities should exercise care. View What to do in a flood for advice on how to deal with that situation.

Most roads are now open, although care should still be taken, because isolated ponding and debris may still be a factor in some areas. Hillcrest Road has reopened after temporary patching of stormwater damage and Matahī Valley Road access has been restored, but conditions are difficult. Valley Road/Tāneatua Road has reopened, but proceed with caution in this area, as debris may still be encountered.  Reid Road in Rūātoki is also open. Hereperu Road remains closed due to a major rockfall.

Update: 6 pm 19 April

The Whakatāne District Council is urging a precautionary approach to escarpment stability in the District while the current rain-sodden soil conditions prevail. That follows a slip in Ōhope, which saw a large tree slide onto an unoccupied house below it. A dangerous building notice has been issued for the property and the nearest neighbours have self-evacuated to ensure their safety.

The Council recommends that people living in landslide-prone areas stay out of the parts of their homes which are nearest to escarpment faces. Residents should also check escarpment faces and if they are at all concerned about stability, self-evacuate to a safe location.

The intense rainfall experienced since Thursday saw up to 230 mm of rain fall in the wider area and more than a quarter-of-a-metre of rain (266mm) fall in the Wainui Te Whara catchment above Whakatāne. Within those rainfall statistics were intense bursts of rain, with 60 mm falling in one hour, 150 mm-plus recorded over six hours in the Wainui Te Whara catchment, and 178 mm falling over 24 hours in Kopeopeo. The intensity of the falls exceeded the capacity of stormwater systems and caused extensive surface flooding and related damage in many parts of Whakatāne, Ōhope and other parts of the District. Further heavy falls are still possible, although the situation over the next 24 hours looks promising. Council staff will continue to monitor the situation closely over the remainder of the weekend.

Residents are advised to take a cautious approach when travelling, with some road closures still in place. While the weather is fine, take the opportunity to inspect properties and local areas and make sure gutters and stormwater grates are not blocked. People around the area have done a fantastic job clearing silt and debris out of the roadside stormwater system and Council contractors have worked through urban areas, clearing stormwater cesspits and grates.

Some 23 homes in Whakatāne and Ohope have been damaged by flood water. Council staff have inspected those properties and advised owners on the appropriate action with regard to clean-up activities and lodging claims with insurers. A significant aspect is to ensure that evidence of property damage is not disposed of before an insurance claim is accepted. Follow-up contact will occur with all of the property owners involved over the next 48 hours.

Any silt or pooled water left after flooding has subsided should be treated as potentially contaminated by sewage overflows, so anyone involved in clean-up activities should exercise care. View What to do in a flood for advice on how to deal with that situation. Lime to treat contamination will be made available tomorrow (Sunday), with advisory information to be distributed in the worst-affected areas. Skip bins will also be located in those areas on Sunday for waste disposal.

Other key messages to remember are:

• Be cautious on the roads. Some ponding and road damage may be encountered – drive to the conditions and check the MetService forecast before you travel anywhere
• Don’t sightsee in affected areas – these areas need to be kept clear for work teams and residents
• A number of roads are closed by slips or flood damage, including Matahi Valley Road; Hereperu Road; and Reid Road in Rūātoki (detour available via Awahou Road). Hillcrest Road has reopened after temporary repairs and Valley Road was expected to be open by late-afternoon, but proceed with caution in this area as debris is still being carried into the road space.
• Stay clear of rivers and streams – many are in flood and are carrying significant amounts of debris
• An electrical problem which affected the Tāneatua water supply’s pumping capacity has now been resolved and the system is back to normal.
• Every available Council contractor and staff member is out in the community, dealing with priority issues, and that effort will continue tomorrow as the clean-up proceeds.
• Anyone concerned about their safety should ring the emergency services on 111. Other calls can be made to the Council after hours service on 07 306 0500. Provide details of the issue, location and your contact details, and we will respond as quickly as we can
• Anyone whose house has had floodwaters through it, but has not had it inspected by a Building Control Officer, please phone the Council on 07 306 0500 and register your details, and we will arrange a visit.

Update: 2:30 pm 19 April

A slip at West End in Ōhope has highlighted the need for a precautionary approach to escarpment stability in the Whakatāne area while the current rain-sodden soil conditions prevail. This incident saw a large tree slip onto an unoccupied house below it. A dangerous building notice has been issued for the property, and the nearest neighbours have self-evacuated to ensure their safety.

The Whakatāne District Council recommends that people living in landslide-prone areas stay out of the parts of their homes which are nearest to escarpment faces. Residents should also check escarpment faces, and if they are at all concerned about stability, self-evacuate to a safe location.

Tāneatua residents are asked to conserve water until further notice, while the town’s reservoir is refilled. An electrical problem which affected pumping capacity this morning has now been resolved, but storage is still low.

The intense rainfall experienced over the 24 hours till late this morning has caused extensive surface flooding and related damage in many parts of Whakatāne, Ōhope and other parts of the District. The MetService has just issued a new thunderstorm watch advisory, and Council staff will monitor the situation closely over the remainder of the weekend and take action as required to deal with any further issues.

Residents are advised to take a cautious approach to travelling on the road, and while the weather is fine take the opportunity to inspect their properties and local areas and make sure gutters and stormwater grates are not blocked. Residents around the area have done a fantastic job clearing silt and debris out of the roadside stormwater system, and Council contractors are also working through urban areas, clearing stormwater cesspits and grates.

Approximately 30 homes in Whakatāne and Ohope have been affected by flood waters. Council staff are inspecting those properties and will advise owners on the appropriate action to take on clean-up activities and contact with insurers. Any silt or pooled water left after flooding has subsided should be treated as potentially contaminated by sewage overflows, so anyone involved in clean-up activities should exercise care. View What to do in a flood for advice on how to deal with that situation.

Other key messages to remember are:

• Be cautious on the roads. Some ponding and road damage may be encountered – drive to the conditions and be safe. Check the MetService forecast before you travel anywhere
• Don’t sightsee in affected areas – these areas need to be kept clear for work teams and residents
• A number of roads are closed by slips or flood damage, including Hillcrest Road (patching work will be undertaken with the aim of reopening the road this afternoon), Matahi Valley Road, Hereperu Road, Valley Road, and Reid Road in Rūātoki (detour available via Awahou Road)
• Stay clear of rivers and streams – many are in flood and are carrying significant amounts of debris
• Every available Council contractor and staff member is out in the community, dealing with priority issues. If you are concerned about your safety or property, ring the emergency services on 111. Other calls can be made to the Council after hours service on 07 306 0500. Provide details of the issue, location and your contact details, and we will respond as quickly as we can.

The next update will be issued at 6:00 pm.

Update: 10:30 am 19 April

Escarpment stability issues have been highlighted by a slip at West End in Ōhope, which has seen a large tree land on the unoccupied house below it. A dangerous building notice has been issued for the property and the nearest neighbours have self-evacuated to ensure their safety.

The Whakatāne District Council recommends that people living in landslide-prone areas stay out of the parts of their homes which are nearest to escarpment faces. Residents should also check the escarpment face and if they are at all concerned about stability, self-evacuate to a safe location.

Tāneatua residents are urged not to use their reticulated water supply unless absolutely necessary. A problem with the supply has seen reservoir storage fall to just 25%, and urgent conservation is required to ensure that enough storage is kept to deal with emergency situations. Council staff are working on the problem, but until further notice, anyone drawing water from the Tāneatua supply should avoid any unnecessary usage.

The next update will be issued at 12:30 pm, with further updates to follow during the afternoon.

Intense periods of rainfall over the past 24 hours have caused extensive surface flooding and related damage in many parts of Whakatāne, Ōhope and other parts of the Whakatāne District.

Weather forecasts predict further periods of heavy rain this afternoon and through the weekend, and residents are advised to:

• Stay close to home
• Check on neighbours and family to ensure they are coping
• Inspect local areas
• Make sure gutters and stormwater cesspits are not blocked

Any stormwater grates that are blocked by leaves should be cleared to ensure that the drainage system can handle the next period of rain.

A number of homes and properties have been affected by flood waters. Any silt or pooled water left after the flooding has subsided should be treated as potentially contaminated by sewage overflows, so anyone involved in clearing that material away should exercise care. For advice on how to deal with that situation, view What to do in a flood.

People living in landslide-prone areas are also urged to stay away from the parts of their homes which are nearest to escarpment faces. Residents should also check the escarpment face, and if they are at all concerned about stability, self-evacuate to a safe location. There has been at least one slip at West End in Ōhope, and more are likely if the predicted heavy rain eventuates.

Key messages to remember are:

• Stay off roads if at all possible
• Don’t sightsee in affected areas – these areas need to be kept clear for work teams and residents to work on, and vehicles driving through the flood waters only aggravates the situation
• A number of roads are closed by slips or flood damage, including Hillcrest Road, Matahi Valley Road, Hereperu Road, and Valley Road (the latter is expected to be open by 10 am).
• Every available Council contractor and staff member is out in the community, dealing with priority issues. If you are concerned about your safety, ring the emergency services on 111. Other calls can be made to the Council after hours service on 07 306 0500. Provide details of the issue, location and your contact details, and we will respond as quickly as we can.

Further updates will be issued later this morning and into the afternoon.