Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

Tolaga Bay family grateful to be safe after flooding

MEDIA RELEASE

Date/Time: Update 3

4 June 2018, 10am

Tolaga Bay family grateful to be safe after flooding

The family airlifted to safety at Tolaga Bay this morning are extremely grateful to be alive after a traumatic ordeal in which they “lost everything” to flooding. They had spent four hours on the roof of their home in the Mangatokerau Valley north of Tolaga Bay in what the four-year-old granddaughter said was “a cool adventure”.

The trio were airlifted off the roof together by the ECT Rescue Helicopter shortly before 9am. They had been on the roof since 4.30am. A paramedic stayed behind on the roof until the chopper returned on its second flight mission.

Tairawhiti Civil Defence Emergency Management group controller John Clarke said the three people were safe with whanau in Tolaga Bay.

“They have been on the roof for four hours and were very wet and cold. The young girl has been checked by paramedics and was all clear. The family is enjoying having a shower and relaxing after what would have been a traumatic time.”

Mr Clarke said he understood from the woman that floodwaters had swept away their woolshed, her partner’s work truck, her car, a digger, tractors and trailers. She said there was water everywhere. They could see no roads, no roofs and there was a just one huge water pool.

The water had flooded their home and had reached a metre from the ceiling. They had climbed on to a deck on the house and managed to get on to the roof to await rescue. They had phoned Gisborne District Council shortly before 4am. Fifteen minutes later they were fine. At 4.30am, they were on the roof. Emergency services were unable to reach them at that time.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Another two households about eight kilometres up the Tauwhareparae Road are also affected by flooding and are being checked from the air. About 20 people self-evacuated from houses around the area.

State Highway 2 at Mangatuna Road north of Tolaga Bay has been closed and at Whangara, where water has reached the bottom of the Waiomoko Bridge. Several families have moved out of their flooded properties and are safe with family and friends.

Rivers in the Tolaga Bay area had risen rapidly since midnight. Civil Defence believe the rivers have peaked and were now receding.

The rain is also believed to have affected residents this morning at Makorori Road and Okitu.

Motorists are advised to stay home unless travel is essential, and check the roads before travel.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.