Weather: Widespread damage across Northland after torrential rain leaves region flooded
Houses evacuated due to landslides
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Civil Defence Northland said it had heard three houses were evacuated because of landslides. Occupants had safely relocated to local marae.
Heavy rain warning lifted, but wet days ahead
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Whangārei District Council said MetService has now lifted the heavy rain warning that was in place this morning, though rainfall is expected to continue for several days.
"Through Civil Defence Northland, Whangarei District Council is working closely with Far North District Council, Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ), Northpower and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to coordinate the response and restore access to affected communities."
The council is updating a list of road closures and other impacts as information comes to hand:
https://www.wdc.govt.nz/Community/Civil-Defence/Latest-updates
Civil Defence Centres activated
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Civil Defence Centres have been activated at marae in Tuparehuia (Bland Bay), Ngaotonga (Punaruku), Oteto and Mokau as the Northland region deals with significant and widespread flooding.
In an update at 11.30am, Whangārei District Council said crews have now reached the most serious slips affecting access to North-East communities, but road access will take some time to restore.
Heavy rainfall has affected vehicle access to the Whangaruru Peninsula, Bland Bay, Punaruku, Ōakura, and Helena Bay.
Separately, Ngunguru Road is also cut off by flooding.
"Please do not attempt to access these areas until flooding and land-slips have been cleared."
Northpower is reporting power outages for Helena Bay, Oakura, Punaruku and the Whangaruru Peninsula.
Ferry service suspended due to wild weather
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Northland Ferries has suspended the passenger ferry service between Russell and Paihia until further notice because of today's severe weather.
A scheduled bus service will run instead between the two locations with times available on the Northland Ferries website.
Campers in Russell freed by outgoing tide
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Campers at a campground near Russell were earlier trapped because of slips at both exits of the site.
Elliot Bay Campground manager Ursula Lambert told the Herald that the tide, which was previously blocking Rawhiti Rd, has since gone out, allowing campers to leave.
"There's about seven slips on the way into Russell, and lots of debris, but they can get past."
Most of the 30-40 campers have now left. Families whose tents got destroyed in the wild weather had taken shelter in the woolshed.
It rained heavily from about 3am-8.30am, but it has now reduced to a drizzle, although the wind is still "quite strong", Lambert said.
Heavy rain headed for Coromandel, Great Barrier Island
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Rain radar as of 10.35am.
The heavy rain is headed towards Coromandel and Great Barrier Island, where a heavy rain watch is in place until 2pm.
Evacuated campers shelter at marae, others remain trapped by slip
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At Whangaruru, a coastal harbour area about 70kms by road north-east of Whangārei, around 50–60 people are sheltering at Tuparehuia Marae, which has solar power installed after Cyclone Gabrielle specifically for civil defence use.
The system has been used a couple of times since, but this is the biggest weather event yet to put it to the test.
A local resident said up to 100 people were staying across two campgrounds when heavy rain began about 2am — an iwi‑owned campground near the marae and a DOC site at the end of the peninsula, which remains isolated.
Only four carloads made it out of the DOC site before a slip blocked the road.
One camper managed to get through by negotiating the slip on a motorbike, but for others the only remaining safe exit appears to be on foot via a farm track.
Local operators and volunteers have opened the campground shop to provide food, hot showers and hot drinks for those still in the area.
Civil Defence is expected to outline a response plan after discussions with iwi leaders and local representatives later this morning.
Far North suffers widespread damage
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Far North District councillor Kelly Stratford said the overnight rain had caused power outages, fallen trees, slips, and damage across parts of the eastern road network.
"Crews and contractors are responding, but with multiple blockages across the district it will take time to get there."
Stratford reminded people that Northland was under an orange weather warning, so to take care.
"With more unsettled weather forecast through the week and into the month, it’s also a timely nudge to check a few basics at home - drainage, loose items, and having torches and devices charged."
Slip cutting off Teal Bay
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Ōakura badly flooded
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Floodwaters in Ōakura Bay Rd have risen to the height of letterboxes.
Helena Bay cut off after torrential rain overnight
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Hundreds remain without power
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Power is still out to 750 Northpower customers in Ōakura, Punaruku and Whangaruru.
Updated list of blocked or closed roads in Whangārei
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Vinegar Hill Rd – tree down blocking both lanes
- Russell Rd just north of Helena Bay Gallery - significant slip with multiple trees. Council says it will take some time to arrange access and clearing.
- Ohawini Rd (Oakura Township) – slip blocking both lanes
- Whangaruru North Rd – multiple slips blocking both lanes
- Whangaruru Wharf Rd – multiple slips blocking both lanes
- Taraunui Rd - land slip. Excavator crews on their way
- Russell Rd – minor slip blocking lane - passable.
- Old Russell Rd – flooding, impassable.
The Ngaiotonga Bridge has also been washed out on Rawhiti Rd, just south of Whangaruru North Rd, and will be closed for some time. While this is in the Far North District, it is often used to access Whangaruru.
Motorists forced to turn around due to deep floodwaters
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Motorists are reporting having to turn around while trying to drive from Tutukākā to Whangārei via Hikurangi because of deep floodwaters near Marua Rd.
Bland Bay campsite flooded
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Heavy rain watch in force until midday
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MetService meteorologist Devlin Lynden told NZME some areas of Northland have recorded over 100mm of rain in the past six hours.
“Many places up there are certainly getting large amounts of precipitation, definitely enough to cause the surface flooding that people have been seeing up there.”
Lynden said the heavy rain will move eastward away from the coastal areas from about midday.
“I think it’ll continue raining for a wee while this morning but gradually move off.
“It’s looking like this afternoon there’ll still be showers about, but the intensity will be significantly less than it has been this morning.”
'The east coast has taken a hit' - Civil Defence
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Civil Defence Northland says the roads to Punaruku, Ōakura and Ngunguru have been closed because of extensive flooding and land slips.
"The east coast has taken a hit from the edge of the current cell moving through."
Tuparehuia Marae, Ngaiotongo Marae, Otetao Marae and Mokau Marae are open to those needing to evacuate to safer ground.
"Camp grounds are also open, but are supporting tourist and local whānau in the immediate area," Civil Defence Northland said.
Official advice to keep safe included:
• Take shelter, preferably indoors away from windows;
• Avoid sheltering under trees, if outside;
• Get back to land, if outdoors on the water;
• Move cars under cover or away from trees;
• Secure any loose objects around your property;
• Check that drains and gutters are clear;
• Be ready to slow down or stop, if driving.
• During and after the storm, you should also:
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines;
• Avoid streams and drains as you may be swept away in flash flooding.
'If your property is affected, move to higher ground'
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Fire and Emergency NZ says there is widespread flooding around Whangaruru Harbour in the Far North.
"If your property is affected, move to higher ground."
Fire and Emergency warned motorists should not attempt to drive through floodwaters.
Any non-essential travel should be avoided.
"Call 111 if your life or safety is at risk and you can’t evacuate safely."
'Become one with the creek'
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Liv Patu said there had been torrential rain most of the night in Helena Bay.
"There’s about 14 of us out here this weekend [and] everyone was up around 5.30am moving cars and valuables to higher ground," she said.
Patu believed two cars may have had water fill the footwells.
"The whole bay had become one with the creek."
Tūparehuia Marae opened for those needing shelter
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The Whangaruru North Residents and Ratepayers Association said Tūparehuia Marae has been opened for people needing shelter.
"There is no power at camp and some homes have flooded."
They encourage residents, whose homes are unaffected, to stay home and avoid travel.
'Not going anywhere today'
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Whangārei Heads resident Kathy Wallace said the floodwaters covering her Ross Rd driveway in Parua Bay were worse this morning than when Cyclone Gabrielle hit.
“The neighbour’s dog kennel has bent the bridge railing,” she said.
“We’re not going anywhere today.”
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Blocked and closed roads in Whangārei
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Vinegar Hill Rd – tree down blocking both lanes
- Russell Rd just north of Helena Bay Gallery - significant slip with multiple trees. Crews plan to cut through the downed trees to create a lane that will provide access to the rest of the coast.
- Ohawini Rd (Ōakura Township) – slip blocking both lanes
- Whangaruru North Rd – multiple slips blocking both lanes
- Whangaruru Wharf Rd – multiple slips blocking both lanes
- Russell Rd – minor slip blocking lane - passable.
- Old Russell Rd – flooding, impassable
Road 'dangerous' at Scows Landing
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Motorist Amy Tipene said floodwaters were rising at Scows Landing on Ngunguru Rd, with the river breaking its bank. Tipene described the portion of road as “dangerous”.
Hundreds without power
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Homes across the region are without power thanks to a lightning strike around 5.15am.
Northpower said 225 homes in Whangaruru have no power, along with 525 customers in Ōakura, Punaruku and Whangaruru. Field staff are investigating both outages.
Top Energy is reporting a separate power outage impacting 85 customers on Ahitapu Rd and Rawhiti Rd.
Campers stranded
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Elliot Bay Campground in Rawhiti posted online saying campers were stranded as slips and flooding blocked Rawhiti Rd in both directions.
Motorists warned of flooding and slips
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Police are advising motorists to take extra care and avoid travel due to flooding and slips between Whangaruru and Helena Bay.
Police have received multiple calls this morning reporting intense flooding and slips in the Whangaruru, Oakua, and Helena Bay areas, especially on Russell Road.
"Thankfully, at this stage there are no reported injuries. Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions and delay travel where possible."
Coastal settlements cut off
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The Whangārei District Council confirmed Ngunguru, Helena Bay, Ōakura, Punaruku and Whangaruru have been cut off by flooding.
“Please do not attempt to travel in or out of these areas until rain and flooding clears.”
Worst flooding in 60 years
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A Helena Bay farmer, who asked not to be named, said it was the worst flooding he had seen in 60 years and the first time floodwaters had come over the road by his house. His cattle had got out due to the fences being down.
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