Residents free to go home

The several dozen people evacuated from Tolaga Bay late yesterday in the wake of the rising Hikuwai River are expected to return to their homes today.

The Hikuwai came close to overflowing its banks, peaking at close to 12 metres last night but had reduced to under 8.45 metres by 7am this morning.

Rivers have receded around the district with less than the expected rainfall received over night. The highest rainfall in the few days since midnight Saturday was received In the Te Puia area where 420mm fell.

At Te Karaka, about 30 people chose to stay away from their homes last night. The Waipaoa River peaked at Kanakanaia at just under 7 metres last night but had receded by this morning to 6.25 metres.

Civil Defence controller Jon Davies said that nearly 300mm of rain had fallen on the Gisborne Flats, and probably more than 260mm in the city since midnight Saturday.

"This is a high total for the city considering which in Cyclone Bola in 1988 received between 300-400mm."

Gisborne District Council chief executive Lindsay McKenzie said this morning that he was generally pleased with the way the city's infrastructure had coped with the rainfall event.

"We don't design for these events. It's not cost effective. What you're seeing is what you would expect to see in such an event. We have had at least 260mm in the city, which I understand from the records is a high total for the city for a relatively short duration."

Residents of Anaura Bay and Nuhiti are expected to remain isolated this morning as a result of floodwaters, and two families at Kaiaua are unable to get out due to a slip.

State Highway 35 remains physically closed due to slips.

Jon Davies praised the good work put in by the Civil Defence teams at Tolaga Bay and Te Karaka particularly, as well as the Police, Fire Service and volunteers.  "Road contractors have also done a tremendous job keeping the highways open.  The region has held up well. But extreme care still needs to be taken on the roads."

Further information on road closures and river levels is available here