Pauanui's stranded visitors slip away

This washout on the Pauanui-to-Hikuai road left Pauanui cut off for two days. Picture / Michael Evans

The road to Pauanui reopened last night, allowing stranded holidaymakers to drive out of the Coromandel beach town for the first time since Sunday.

Road conditions were difficult because of mud but cars were able to get in and out.

Sixty people who had been unable to wait after flooding closed the Hikuai Settlement Rd took flights from Pauanui's airstrip yesterday and on Sunday.

Others boarded the ferry across the harbour to Tairua and arranged for friends or relatives to pick them up.

The ferry also carried supplies to stores catering for the 2000 people in Pauanui.

Pauanui has about 500 permanent residents but a further 1500 people were in the town, many for school holidays, when heavy rain caused a stream culvert to burst and cover the road in a metre of water.

It was the second time in two months the culvert had failed.

Workers spent yesterday repairing the culvert, which had been replaced by a temporary structure after flooding in May.

Thames Coromandel District Council spokesman Peter Hazael said the latest flooding came before permanent repairs to the culvert, scheduled for the end of this month, could be done.

"Mother Nature beat us to it," he said.

Slips caused by the weekend rain were cleared on three other roads on the Coromandel Peninsula.

The council was also forced to release treated waste from Pauanui's sewage system on Sunday night after the plant threatened to overflow.

It put up signs warning people not to take shellfish or swim.

MetService said 167mm of rain fell in the hills on the peninsula in the 24 hours to 2pm on Sunday, but Mr Hazael said rain gauges on private properties in Pauanui had recorded up to 230mm.

The Pauanui Information Centre arranged flights for 40 people yesterday and 22 on Sunday.

Manager Keith Holmes said those needing to leave the town included a man who had been waiting two years for an operation and a woman sitting exams.

People with international flights booked were also among those who paid for flights on helicopters and nine-seater, seven-seater and three-seater planes.

Flights to Ardmore Airport cost from $150 to $300 a seat, depending on the operator.

The Pauanui General Store had another busy day yesterday as people not sure of how long the road would be closed rushed to stock up on basics.

Owner Jan Reynolds had a delivery of bread, milk, fruit, vegetables and newspapers brought in by ferry.

She said customers' spirits were high, despite being stranded. One man told her: "It's like being marooned on an island."

Rain continued on and off during the day in Whitianga, Whangamata, Waihi and Paeroa but the Fire Service and police said there were no reports of damage.

Tairua fire chief Chris New also said there had been no new incidents after a couple were advised to evacuate a holiday home hit by a slip on Sunday.

An engineer had been called to examine the home, which was one of two affected by the slip.

The road through Karangahake Gorge was open, with no problems reported after flooding on Sunday threatened five people in a car. The group from Waihi were rescued by a petrol tanker after flood waters spilled over the car's bonnet.

MetService said further bands of intense showers would continue in the Coromandel, Waikato and Bay of Plenty today and tomorrow.

"It's remaining pretty unsettled which isn't what they need," said forecaster Andy Downs.

He said light winds increased the risk of rain falling in the same patches. "The problems occur when you get the heavy showers and they don't move."

Paeroa had 32mm of rain to 3pm yesterday, with 18mm falling in one hour.

Rain was expected to ease by Thursday in the affected areas.

Pauanui

* Permanent population: 699.
* Holiday population: 2000.
* Rainfall in 24 hours: 167mm.
* Forecast: More heavy rain today and tomorrow, easing on Thursday.