Source: Radio New Zealand
Flooding at Ōtorohanga Museum. Supplied / Amanda Kiddie
Ōtorohanga is under a State of Emergency after it was hit by widespread flooding and heavy rain.
Mayor Rodney Dow made the declaration at 12:57am on Saturday. It expires in seven days.
He said there had been reports of flooding, slips and inundation.
“The situation in Ōtorohanga is serious, and with nightfall upon us, it’s important we are prepared and have the right controls in place to provide help and support, including required evacuations if needed.”
Heavy rain warnings and watches are in place for much of the North Island, with downpours likely to continue throughout the day.
Orange heavy rain warnings are in place for Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne. Gisborne/Tai Rāwhiti, in particular, is expected to see a more sustained period of heavy rain.
There are also a heavy rain watches for Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Hawke’s Bay.
Multiple roads remain closed after significant flooding and slips.
Flooding in Waikato has closed State Highway 39 between Pirongia and Ōtorohanga. A detour is available via State Highway 3.
Whirinaki Valley Road in Horohoro is open under stop/go traffic management following a slip, but the Transport Agency warns the State Highway 30 road could close at short notice if weather conditions changed.
Towards Tai Rāwhiti, other roads remained closed following earlier storms.
State Highway 2 Waioweka Gorge is closed between Ōpōtiki to Mātāwai because of slips and flooding.
State Highway 35 is shut between Pōtaka and Te Araroa while it’s being repaired, while the stretch between Whakaangiangi Road and Te Araroa is also closed for the weekend, because of the adverse weather forecast.
See our live blog above for the latest updates.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
