Tonnes of debris falling from a hillside and blocking a road meant an unscheduled overnight stay in Levin and an early morning walk across farmland to get home for one Horowhenua man.

Tony Morgan found his way home was blocked after mud and rocks fell on Gladstone Rd at the foot of the Tararua Ranges on Tuesday evening.

‘‘It happened about 7.30 and we tried to get through at about 9pm which was impossible so I had to go and stay in town for the night.’’

Mr Morgan said it took an hour and a half of tramping across neighbouring farmland to get back to their property and he hoped to be back at work in Foxton tomorrow.

Horowhenua District Council’s emergency operations centre has been activated and civil defence controller Tony Thomas said  engineers were warning it could take up to four days to clear the road. He said the council had contacted most of the residents affected to see if they needed any help.

‘‘We have our welfare officers phoning to see if anyone needs food or medication.’’

The Trig Track, used to maintain powerlines along the range, has been opened for emergency access but it was really only suitable for four wheel drive vehicles Mr Morgan said.

‘‘Which is fine for me but it would be hard for anyone who doesn’t have a four wheel drive as it’s pretty steep.’’

Mr Thomas said the track was for residents only and that people looking to sightsee should stay away.

‘‘We have a security guard up there. It’s not an easy track to negotiate and we want as few people using it as possible.’’

He said it would be closed at night as it would be too dangerous to negotiate in the dark.

Mr Morgan said a lot of shingle, dirt and several rocks had blocked the road and while smaller slips had happened in the past this was the first time he could remember one had completely blocked the road.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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