Key information
- Overnight on Wednesday 21 January/Thursday 22 January, more than two months of rain fell within 12 hours overnight in the Bay of Plenty.
- The event has caused significant traffic and power disruptions in the region.
- The Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Emergency Management GECC has been activated.
- At 12:42pm on Wednesday 21 January, Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Emergency Management (BOPCDEM) received support of the local Mayors to declare a state of local emergency in response.
- While the rain has passed, across the region ground conditions remain saturated and are still very unstable in some areas. Slips are still possible.
Keeping yourself safe
Landslides
- Landslides can happen without warning and are often triggered by heavy rain, so stay alert and look out for the warning signs. You'll need to act quickly if you see them:
- Small slips, rock falls, and sinking land, at the bottom of slopes.
- Sticking doors and window frames, which may mean the land is slowly moving under the building.
- Gaps where window frames are not fitting properly.
- Steps, decks, and verandas, moving or tilting away from the rest of the building.
- New cracks or bulges on the ground, road, footpath, retaining walls and other hard surfaces.
- Tilting trees, retaining walls, or fences.
- Get out of the path of the landslide quickly. Evacuate if the building you are in is in danger.
Strong winds
Strong winds, when combined with unstable ground conditions, mean the possibility of further landslides and fallen trees.
If it is safe to do so:
- Bring inside or tie down anything that can be broken or picked up by strong winds, such as outdoor furniture.
- If you have a trampoline, turn it upside down to minimise the surface area exposed to wind.
- Remove any debris or loose items from around your property. Branches and firewood may become missiles in strong winds.
- Clear debris and leaves from external drains and gutters to prevent overflow or water damage in heavy rain.
- Bring pets indoors. They can be unsettled by storms and it is more comforting and safer for them to be with you.
- Ensure livestock are not gathered under an isolated tree or anything that presents a risk from a lightning strike.
- Moor boats securely or move to a designated safe location.
- Use rope or chain to secure boat trailers. Use tie-downs to anchor a trailer to the ground or to a building.
Flood water advice
- Due to wastewater overflows around the region, it’s important people stay out of the water.
- Do not try to walk, play, swim or drive in floodwater – even water just 15cm deep can often sweep you off your feet, and half a metre of water will carry away most vehicles. It is also likely to be contaminated with farm run-off, animal and human sewage and chemicals.
- Always assume that floodwater is contaminated with farm run-off, animal and human sewage and chemicals. Heavy rain can wash contaminants from urban and rural land into waterways, and it takes time for these contaminants to flush through. For this reason, avoid entering water for 2-3 days, even at sites that usually have good water quality.
- Stay away from damaged or hazardous areas so that any rescue and emergency operations can continue. By doing so, you’ll also avoid further risk to yourself from the residual effects of floods, such as contaminated water, damaged roads, landslides, mudflows, and other hazards.
- Keep pets and other animals away from flood water. It may be contaminated with biological waste and chemicals.
- Do not eat garden produce if the soil has been flooded. Clean up and remove debris and sprinkle gardens with lime.
- Do not collect or eat kaimoana such as shellfish, ungutted fish, puha and watercress from waterways after a flood. There is an increased risk of contamination from stormwater and sewage.
Tsunami safe location
Due to the Mount Maunganui landslide event on Thursday 22 January, Mauao and Mount Drury are closed to the public until further notice. In the event of a tsunami, the tsunami safe location for Mount Maunganui is at Blake Park, between Maunganui Road and Totara Street. An earthquake is the first warning that a tsunami might be on the way. Do not wait for official warnings to evacuate. If an earthquake is long or strong, get gone.
Keep up to date
Council websites
For local information please visit your local council website.
Roading updates
You can find updates about local roads on your local council website at the links above.
For State Highway information, visit the NZ Transport Agency website.
Other useful information
Insurance Recovery Guidance
The following guidance has been provided by the Insurance Council of New Zealand if you have been impacted by the recent weather event and are looking to make a claim.
Exclusion Zone in place around Mauao
Due to the risk of landslip and the associated maritime safety risks around Mauao/Mount Maunganui, a 30 metre exclusion zone has been put in place by the Bay of Plenty Regional Harbourmaster.
Get Ready
Stay Informed
