Beach resort residents flee huge waves

Heavy seas threaten property in Haumoana and Te Awanga, near Hastings. Picture / Hawke's Bay Today

Residents of Hawkes Bay beach resort Haumoana evacuated their homes yesterday after 6m sea swells started toppling 15m pine trees and bashing against their doors.

Six houses in the coastal community - about 10km northeast of Hastings - were evacuated yesterday and a further 59 owners had been warned that the easterly swell may hit their houses around midnight, Hastings District Council said.


Another five homes were damaged after the waves hit overnight, the council's senior emergency manager Paul Hawke told National Radio.


One house had started to topple off its foundations because of heavy erosion.


Council staff would inspect the house today to decide whether it should be demolished.Most damage was between Haumoana - meaning sea-wind - and Te Awanga, 5km to the southeast.

At midday yesterday, the tide had topped over the beachfront, flooding houses, threatening others, causing erosion damage and damaging sea walls and concrete yards.

"It's also toppled four 15m Norfolk pines," council emergency management officer Paul Hawke said.

"The houses are extremely close - you could spit from your back door to the sea."

A deep low to the east of the North Island has generated waves of 3m at some Northland breaks and 2m plus at Mt Maunganui.

He said Waimarama Surf Club - 31km south-east of Hastings - had reported its roller doors had been knocked in by a wave.

Haumoana residents last received a flood warning last February when heavy rains caused a local lagoon to fill up too quickly.

- NZPA