Ruapehu Civil Defence Controller Clive Manley says additional resources are being deployed to support ongoing flood recovery efforts in Ōhura and other affected areas across the district.

“Council is being supported by a range of partner agencies including the New Zealand Red Cross, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Rural Support, and local iwi, who are actively carrying out welfare checks across impacted communities,” said Mr Manley.

“Further support is arriving today from regional Civil Defence, including specialist planning and intelligence personnel who will help us build a clearer picture of the situation and ensure resources are directed where they are most needed.”

Overnight, welfare teams supported three stranded travellers at the Ōhura Community Hall after their vehicle was flooded. A further four people were accommodated by local residents.

Access and Road Conditions

Access to Ōhura remains restricted, with roads closed to all traffic except emergency services.

Floodwaters are receding slowly due to saturated ground conditions, and a number of slips are yet to be cleared.

“We are asking people to respect road closure notices. We’ve had a number of issues with travellers bypassing closures, reaching Ōhura, and then finding they cannot go any further,” Mr Manley said.

“Yesterday alone, an estimated 100 to 150 vehicles ignored road closure signs, creating unnecessary risk for themselves and challenges for emergency responders. Some traffic is still attempting to come through today.”

Roading crews are working urgently to restore access, with five digger crews currently deployed to clear slips and reopen roads to at least one lane.

Current road outages and issues include:

• Ohura Road - Closed
• Mangaparo Road - Closed
• Waitaanga Road - Closed
• Huia Road - Closed
• Okahukura Saddle road - Closed
• Kawautahi Road - Closed at 6km mark
• Kaitieke Road - Closed
• Oio Road - Open - Bridge assessment is required
• Upper Retaruke Road - Closed – Resident access only
• Aramahoe Road - Closed
• Roto/Huia Road - Closed
• Kururau Road Closed – Impassable A & B road.
• Koiro Road - Closed
• Te Maire Valley Road - Closed
• Kirikau Valley Road - Closed
• Tokirima Road - Closed

Travellers are strongly encouraged to check the NZTA Journey Planner before setting out and confirm which State Highways are open. Motorists should avoid unnecessary travel and take extreme care, as roads remain fragile and multiple work crews are active.

Welfare and Public Health

Within Ōhura township, Fire and Emergency New Zealand volunteers have begun hosing out flood-affected properties and roadways. This is a critical public health measure due to septic tanks being inundated during the flooding.

At this stage, 49 properties are known to require assistance, with numbers expected to increase as more information becomes available and additional requests for help are received.

There are no issues with the township’s drinking water supply, with the water treatment plant now producing potable water again. Residents on tank water who are concerned about their supply are advised to boil water or collect bottled water from the community hall.

Requests for assistance are continuing to come in, including the need for replacement fridges and dry firewood lost during the flood.

Rural Support has advised that there have also been stock losses and damage to farm infrastructure, including fencing and tracks.

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