Tairāwhiti residents told ‘do not wait’ for official evacuation if concerned with rising waters

Gisborne is certain to receive a year’s worth of rain in just six months, with a heavy rain warning remaining for the region until Sunday.

MetService says the heaviest rain has eased off for Tairāwhiti “for now” but the region remains under a local state of emergency. Friday evening saw the rain ramp up again.

The state of emergency gives Tairāwhiti Civil Defence emergency powers for the coordination of the emergency response.

Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty flew into Gisborne on Friday night to support the region and is being shown around by Mayor Rehette Stoltz.

READ MORE:
* State of emergency declared in Tairāwhiti as wet weather set to continue
* Gisborne’s Te Karaka residents told to ‘evacuate now’ as heavy rain batters North Island areas
* Heavy rain on the way, Coromandel, BOP and Tairāwhiti to be hardest hit

Residents on hilly sections are urged to check their land and contact the council if they notice any cracks, creaking noises, doors sticking or retaining walls leaning.

River levels are being closely monitored and are updated every half an hour on the council’s website.

Those who live close to a river should not wait for an official evacuation notice if they are concerned with rising waters.

Fire and Emergency NZ has mobilised a taskforce team to assist and support.

Assistant National Commander Steve Turek says a four-member crew left from Hawke’s Bay to Gisborne and an Auckland crew of four flew to Gisborne, landing on Friday evening.

“The flooding currently being experienced, while significant, is not beyond the capability of local multi-agency resources,” he said.

“This includes water rescue, if required, being carried out by Surf Lifesaving crews. This is standard practice in Tairāwhiti, and we have utmost confidence in the arrangement in place to meet the potential needs of the local communities.”

The most recent event comes after Cyclone Gabrielle caused significant damage to Gisborne and the East Cape earlier this year.

The MetService’s Gisborne Airport weather station has received 990.7mm so far this year, just 9.1mm less than their average annual rainfall of 999.8mm.

With an additional burst of heavy rain on the way, it’s a near certainty that Gisborne will have had a year’s worth of rain within the first half of 2023.

“We’re just shy of six months into 2023 and already several of our weather stations have recorded their annual average rainfall,” says MetService meteorologist Andrew James.

Auckland Airport ticked over 1193mm this morning, 3mm beyond its annual norm, and Whenuapai has had 1270mm against an annual average of 1231mm.

Napier Airport has seen 930mm so far in 2023, considerably more than the 789mm it would see in a typical year. Hawke’s Bay remains under an orange rain warning until 9pm on Saturday.

“These sodden soils in the northeast North Island mean the current rain is particularly problematic,” says James.

The state of emergency has already seen road closures, landslips, rivers rising to warning level and surface flooding disrupting travel through Tairawhiti.

State Highway 50 between Ongaonga and Tikokino is closed due to surface flooding.

Evacuations have occurred already near rivers that are dangerously high.

Gisborne residents are being asked to reduce water use as the wastewater system is at capacity for the city.

Tairāwhiti Civil Defence Controller David Wilson says pipes are overwhelmed with the volume of water and this has coincided with high tide in the region.

“To avoid overflow of sewage into private properties please do not flush toilets or do any loads of washing until later today.”

Rain overnight has also created slips and sewage issues around the city with SH2 north closed due to severe cracking on Otoko Hill.

Wilson says SH2 north is closed between Whatatutu Road and Matawai with all planned convoys through this section of road cancelled for Saturday.

MetService said it was monitoring the situation overnight Friday and through the weekend, keeping the regional council and public informed of any updates.

Hawke’s Bay’s soil is equally saturated and under an orange warning. The prolonged heavy rain is likely to disrupt travel, making some roads impassable and possibly isolating communities.

Along with the Tairāwhiti red warning, orange heavy rain warnings are in place for southern Hawke’s Bay, southern Marlborough, and the ranges of Tasman, with yellow watches for Coromandel and the remainder of Hawke’s Bay.

People are advised not to travel unless necessary.

Advice from the Minstry of Health on how to make a temporary toilet is available on Council’s website.

• Check Tairāwhiti Civil Defence Facebook page for updates.
• People wishing to sign up to receive flood alerts can do so through the council website.
• Please report any damage by filing a request for service by using the GDC FIX app on any smartphone, calling on 0800 653 800, email [email protected] or via the eFix service on the council’s website.
• Check local roads on the council’s website.
• Check Waka Kotahi for State Highway updates.