8 August 2016 – 4.15pm

Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence and Emergency Management Media Release

Power-affected hill country farmers coping well

A visit to the hill country north of Napier today has reassured the Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Group that people who have been without power since Saturday morning are coping well.

A team, including staff from the Hastings District Council, spent the day visiting hill country farms to assess the situation and what assistance may be required. There are around 400 properties in the Hawke’s Bay and Taupo regions who could be without power for at least a week.

Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Controller Ian Macdonald says staff reported while there is a lot of snow around the affected people are well prepared for such an event, supporting each other and coping well.

He says if anyone is in need of assistance they should call the Hastings District Council on 06 871 5000. If they have power concerns they should contact 0800 2 UNISON (0800 286 476). Assistance and support is also available for farmers from the East Coast Rural Support Trust.

Mr Macdonald says some families have chosen to self-evacuate for the night, but generally people are staying put and staying warm.

He says Hawke’s Bay CDEM Group is aware people could be without power for at least a week and is putting plans in place for people who may need assistance in the coming days.

“Hawke’s Bay CDEM and Hastings District Council staff will be visiting the Puketitiri areatomorrow to see how farmers are coping with their stock in the heavy snowfall. We will return to the Napier Hill country later in the week to check on those without power,” says Mr Macdonald.

Road Update

State Highway 5 - Napier-Taupo Road will be closed until at least 10am tomorrow.

The Napier-Taihape Road will not be open until at least tomorrow morning.

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