Evacuations, highways closed after heavy rain in Wairoa

The Nuhaka School community is hurting after torrential rain on Tuesday night flooded the school buildings for the second time this year. Children and staff relocated to St Joseph’s School in Wairoa for two terms after Cyclone Gabrielle flooded the school’s buildings in February. More recently, the school has been operating closer to home at the chapel of the Jesus Christ Church of Latter Day Saints.

Wairoa District Council is monitoring the impact of heavy rainfall overnight Tuesday and Wednesday.

Civil Defence controller Juanita Savage yesterday said there had been Fire and Emergency NZ-assisted evacuations from Nuhaka properties and from vehicles on the road near the chapel at Nūhaka.

“Ten people have been evacuated — six to Tanenuiarangi Marae in Nūhaka and the balance to their whānau. A further evacuation centre has been established in town at the War Memorial Hall but this has not been needed.

“Overnight, highways into Wairoa were closed but were reopened this morning.

Extensive surface flooding closed some streets in Nūhaka and Karaka Street in town. Some schools and early childhood centres chose to close, she said.

“Flooding and slips closed roads with contractors heading to the following sites — Mangapoike Road, Māhia East Coast Road, Glenbrook Road, Waihua Valley Road, Tiniroto Road, Kinikini Road and Mahanga Road.

Wairoa River levels were being monitored. The bar was open and the river was flowing freely.

Nūhaka School principal Raelene McFarlane said on TV3 breakfast show AM yesterday that it had been a “rough night”.

Footage sent to the programme shows the playground and school flooded.

“What’s really hard is it’s exactly what happened at Gabrielle. The water table is so high that nothing can escape at the moment. But to see this again, it really does hurt. It just sort of brings it all back,” she told the programme’s host Melissa Davies.

“It’s not just a building, it’s 100 years of history and love and whānau who have come though those buildings. To see her keep getting hurt is hard on everyone,” Ms McFarlane said.

The school had to move out of its buildings after Cyclone Gabrielle. After two terms at St Joseph’s School in Wairoa, it is now operating out of a chapel at the local Jesus Christ Church of Latter Day Saints.

Wairoa Mayor Craig Little assured communities the situation was being monitored and even though the orange heavy rain warning had been lifted, council staff would continue to be out and about checking on conditions.

“Since Cyclone Gabrielle, heavy rain events naturally increase anxiety. Our district is still recovering from the February cyclone and this amount of rain in a short time frame can be a scary time for people. We have had reports of areas of the district receiving rainfall of between 150 and 200 millimetres overnight.

“If you can, please stay home, stay off the roads, and stay safe. If you have to travel please check journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic and the Wairoa District Council website.

“If you are feeling unsafe, call 111 immediately.”