Civil emergency status stays in Whakatane

By ROSALEEN MacBRAYNE


Whakatane is still in a state of civil defence emergency as flooding, earthquakes and slips continue to trouble the district.

More than 140 Eastern Bay of Plenty residents are in evacuation centres 10 days after the region was hit by heavy rains and earth tremors.

Many properties remain under water and landslides keep causing problems.

Late yesterday the Whakatane District Council extended its state of emergency for another 24 hours. It will be reviewed again at 4pm today.

The situation was not stable enough to lift the emergency classification, said civil defence controller David Christison.

Many isolated residents could not be reached by road and earthquake swarms continued. Main access into the district was through the epicentre of the earthquake zone, he said.

Officials say the total number of people driven from their homes in last week's floods is still not known as many rural evacuees have not yet registered.

The Eastern Bay of Plenty disaster recovery office revealed yesterday that between 500 and 700 houses had been damaged by water and landslides.

A further 70 to 80 homes on the Rangitaiki Plains will be inaccessible until water levels fall later this week.

So far, 115 flooded houses are considered repairable and a further 60 have still to be inspected. About 90 are not insured.

Landslips have affected 42 homes, eight of which are uninhabitable and a further 11 have restricted use.

Of 10 Opotiki houses no longer fit to live in, eight have been condemned.

Federated Farmers estimates about 450 farms and some horticultural blocks have suffered flooding. Much of the water on the Rangitaiki Plains is expected to reduce slowly through natural drainage and pumping.

About 5000 cows have been moved out of Opotiki and Whakatane, with some unlikely to return for several months. On 50 properties rated seriously damaged, there will probably be no milking this season, wiping out a year's income.

With winter pruning delayed and kiwifruit orchards missing the spraying season, the impact on horticultural properties is difficult to calculate.

A taskforce has been established to determine the economic impact on the regional economy.

Recovery facilitator Peter Davies has appealed for vegetables and tinned foods.

"We would also appreciate fruit, sugar, flour and noodles. We don't know what other items might be needed yet, but food is necessary for those who are away from their homes," he said.

The National Welfare Recovery Co-ordination Group has established a dedicated toll free number, 0800 779-997, and set up centres at the Edgecumbe War Memorial Hall and Whakatane Army Hall, offering services such as Work and Income, Housing New Zealand, Inland Revenue and Ngati Awa Social and Health Trust.

Emergency needs grants are being issued.