KEY POINTS:
Properties at Kawakawa Bay, Manukau City, have been declared unsafe after a major landslip.
Manukau City Council economic director Rick Walden said three properties had been deemed unsafe for residents to live in because of the danger posed by the landslip.
Geotechnical experts had advised the city council that a landslip on Turei Hill just north of Kawakawa Bay was continuing to move.
Because of the potential that another major slip could happen at any time the properties were being served with dangerous building notices, Mr Walden said.
"Only one of the properties has been occupied in recent weeks and that resident is now moving out. Residents of the property at the top of the slip voluntarily moved out last week."
The road below the landslip had been closed since Sunday because of the potential risk to public safety.
About 500 cubic metres of earth came down onto the road on Sunday.
Mr Walden said the risk had increased significantly since then.
"The hillside is on the move, a much larger landslip could come down very quickly.
Mr Walden also warned people to stay away from the area because it was very dangerous after reports some people had been walking along the beach in front of the slip to get around it.
"This is not an ordinary slip that covers the road and is then cleaned up quickly. Cracks in the rock face and continuing movement make us concerned that a huge landslip could happen."
He said the section of rock in the hill could collapse at any time and bring down thousands of tonnes of debris onto the road.
The road into Kawakawa Bay from the north has been closed and was likely to remain so. The closure would be reviewed tomorrow.
- NZPA
