Media Release

11 July 2007 5.30pm

Civil defence update

A severe weather system has brought torrential rain and gale force winds to the Northland, Auckland, and Coromandel regions. As at the time of this report, the weather system causing this event has decreased in intensity and is moving out to sea. Widespread flooding, slips, wind damage, and road closures have resulted throughout Northland, Auckland, and the Coromandel.

The Director of the Ministry of Civil Defence and emergency management, John Hamilton, said that any people requiring welfare assistance (e.g. accommodation, non-emergency medical issues, food etc.) should telephone 0800 779 997. This number does not replace the 111 emergency number.

Northland

Northland Regional Council is warning Dargaville residents to prepare for the possibility of the Northern Wairoa River flooding the town.

The severe weather has now passed in the Northland region although intermittent showers and occasional gusts of up to 120km/h were forecast for today.

A large number of areas are without electricity in both the Far North and Whangarei Districts.

A large number of small rural communities are isolated due to road closures throughout upper Northland and the east coast north of Whangarei. Rain and high winds have caused slips, surface flooding, power outages and telephone failures across the region.

Greatest impacts to date have been experienced in Kaitaia with around 160 people displaced and the Whangaroa area, including Kaeo, where to date 270mm of rain has fallen. That equates to a 1 in 150 year event.

Kaeo is still isolated and there is currently no power, water or sewage services.

Although most rivers are receding rapidly the peak flow from the Mangakahia catchments has yet to reach the lower catchments where extensive flooding of areas around Tangiteroria is expected this afternoon. Far North District declared a state of local emergency at 4.15pm on 10 July 2007. This is still in force.

No casualties were reported. Auckland

Heavy rain and strong winds were forecast for northern Auckland today.

Severe winds up to 140km/hr have damaged a number of buildings particularly in Mt Eden, Symonds Street, Auckland University, and surrounding districts last night.

Up to 90,000 homes in the Auckland Region were without power over night, but most appear to have been restored. Problems are still experienced in particularly Rodney District where 40,000 homes are still out without power.

50 people were evacuated from an apartment building due to a roof being blown off but no welfare assistance was required.

Crews are dealing with removing tree damage across roads, footpaths, power lines etc, and also glass debris.

No injuries reported at present.

Great Barrier Island appears not to have sustained major damage.

Call outs for emergency services have diminished – there have been sufficient resources to cope with known incidents.

Coromandel

The weather is improving, and not expected to get any worse.

Powerco staff are working to find faults and fix them. They are asking people who notice trees on lines, or lines down to call 0800 27 27 27.

Power is now on in Thames and being restored around the peninsula in stages over the next 24 hours. Tairua/Pauanui may have power later this evening. Power in Whangamata has not been affected. Reconnections in the rural and more remote areas in the North of Coromandel and Coromandel township will be later. By 2pm tomorrow the whole peninsula should have power again.

Almost all roads are open again. There is still a lot of debris on the roads, however, so people should drive with extreme care.

The State Highway loop of the peninsula is open, as is the road to Coromandel from Thames. Local roads are also open again including Tapu to Coroglen and roads to Port Charles and Port Jackson. Crews worked hard to clear debris today and get the roads open.

Water supply and wastewater systems are operating adequately using generators and mobile crews but are under pressure. As power is restored, systems should become fully operational.

ENDS

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