Storm battered the Far North
Northern News
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Northern News
The weekend weather bomb, forecast to be one of the worst weather events in 10 years, left the Far North relatively unscathed compared to last year.
The eye of the storm battered the northernmost part of the district, Hokianga and the Bay of Islands, from the early hours of Saturday morning.
A river burst its banks at Panguru where up to 35 people left their homes for the safety of the Waipuna marae.
Far North District Council district facilities manager Alastair Wells says council advice to the community had been to stay at home or move to the marae until the flood risk receded.
Top Energy responded to power outages at Russell through to Karetu, Waiomio through to Motutau, Kawakawa – including the Bay of Islands Hospital which was satisfactorily powered by generator, Ohaeawai through to Ngawha, Waimate North, eastern Kawakawa, Taumarere, Lemmons Hill, Opua, English Bay, Waipapa township, State Highway 10 to Puketotara Rd including parts of Kerikeri, Matauri Bay, Wainui, Te Ngaere, china clay works, Otoroa, Kapiro, Skudders Beach, Landing Rd, Rangitane, Purerua, Opito Bay, Doves Bay, Te Tii, Tapuatahi, Herekino, Ahipara end of Sandhills Rd, Ohaeawai, Ngawha Springs, Ngawha, Pakaraka to Te Ahu Ahu, Waimate North, Mangoui, Karikari Peninsula and Hihi.
Power downtime ranged between three and four hours across the district. There were road closures at SH1 following a slip at Mangamuka gorge. State Highway One at Rangiahua bridge was closed and motorists advised to detour through SH10 although surface flooding made travel hazardous. Ngapipito, Omanu and Sawyers Rds were closed for a time. There was surface flooding on SH10 at Bulls Gorge and Coopers Beach, SH12 at Ngawha, and SH1 at Te Ahu.
Power outages affected wastewater treatment plants on the east coast, Ahipara and Kerikeri with minor sewage spills in some places. Council staff used generators and sucker trucks to deal with the problems.
At the Stone Store basin, water levels remained below the bridge but council contractors remained on standby to remove the bridge if water levels rose to threaten the historic buildings.
A fallen redwood tree threatening a house in Kerikeri was removed by contractors.
