Misery continues as rain returns with vengence

7.00pm

Thousands of people in the lower North Island remained isolated by floodwaters tonight, as the heavens opened and dreaded rain began to pour again.

People in already swamped areas were warned to gather birth certificates, insurance policies, food, medicine and batteries into "getaway kits" in case they needed to evacuate in a hurry.

A severe rain and wind warning was issued for Taranaki, Manawatu-Wanganui, Wellington and Marlborough.

Up to 140mm of rain was expected to fall on Taranaki by up to midnight tonight.

Up to 120mm was expected in the Tararua ranges, with 50mm on lower slopes from Levin southwards and 25mm near the coast.

Civil Defence teams were on full alert, with back-up from the Defence Force and council staff across Manawatu, Wanganui, Rangitikei, Horowhenua, South Taranaki, Wairarapa, the Hutt Valley and Wellington.

States of civil defence emergency were still in place in the Manawatu-Wanganui region and South Taranaki, already struggling to deal with flooding that began last Saturday.

The coastal Lower Hutt suburb of Eastbourne was cut off tonight, after the only access road was blocked by a large and dangerous landslide of rock and mud.

A busload of schoolboys from Wellesley College in Eastbourne were allowed through to be dropped off at Lower Hutt's town hall this evening, after parents became worried about how to get them home.

A Civil Defence headquarters was set up in Eastbourne tonight, with another base activated at the Lower Hutt town hall, Senior Sergeant Dave Rose of the police central communications centre said.

Air force helicopters spent today dropping food supplies to stranded families in the Turakina river valley area, between north of Marton and Waiouru.

Each family received around 90kg of essential food, including water, bread, milk and tinned food, a Defence Force statement said.

The 3 Squadron was to remain on standby overnight at Ohakea base.

Evacuations continued today in South Taranaki's cut-off Waitotara Valley, with 15 people brought out yesterday and today, civil defence teams based at Waverley said.

Those evacuated included two 14-year-old girls, two woodcutters, a pregnant woman and two Australian tourists.

Two more stranded men had already found their own way out.

Food drops were made to 20 families stranded in the Waitotara Valley and two families in the Tangahoe Valley today, Civil Defence said.

Army personnel arrived in Waitotara today to provide assistance for the clean-up.

Accommodation for those evacuated from Waitotara township and the valley had been confirmed at Waverley's Ashley Park for another week.

In Wanganui, Civil Defence spokesman Colin Whitlock said several members of the public were looking to make contact with others who had been cut off since the floods began.

"There have been lots of calls for food requests and medical deliveries," Mr Whitlock said in a statement.

State Highway 3 through the Manawatu Gorge remained closed tonight, after a boulder "as big as a house" fell across the road today, Transit said in a statement.

"This slip is as big as the 1998 slip which closed the gorge for three weeks," spokesman Dave Bates said.

He estimated the floods had cost Transit up to $1.5 million to date, with a further $2 million for washout repairs to come.

Parts of State Highway 4 from Raetihi-Wanganui, and parts of state highways 54, 56 around Manawatu and Horowhenua remained closed.

Federated Farmers said tonight that requests for grazing land from farmers who had nowhere dry to put their stock had been "overwhelming".

Sufficient land had been offered for displaced animals and no more was required, but donations of food were still needed, a statement said.

Manawatu residents were asked to watch out for floating drums and other containers which may have been washed out of flooded premises.

Horizons Regional Council said at least one drum - which contained only creosote - was found by children washed up in a park, but the council was concerned that other containers of potentially hazardous chemicals may be washed out of industrial premises and turn up on riverbanks and beaches.

A 52-year-old farmer and his partner were tossed off their four-wheel motorbike about 11.30am today, as they were inspecting flood damage to their farm at Kuangaroa, near Wanganui.

The farmer's partner was able to jump free, but the bike rolled over him and crushed his chest, the Square Trust rescue helicopter said in a statement.

A power company worker in the area used his radio to alert emergency services.

Rescue helicopter staff flew with a St John ambulance paramedic to the property, about 15km north of Fordell, and treated the man at the scene before taking him to Wanganui Hospital.

- NZPA

To make a donation to the Red Cross flood appeal

Phone: To make an automatic donation of $20 call 0900 33 200

Post: donations to Freepost Red Cross, PO Box 12-140, Wellington

Online: Red Cross website