Rainfall brings windfall

By ROSALEEN MACBRAYNE

The modest Omaio Store - a cup of tea and a bite to eat for travellers between the Eastern Bay of Plenty and East Cape - had an unprecedented rush this week.

By noon on Monday Doug Wright had sold out of all the basics. Supplies of milk, bread, flour, sugar, eggs, meat, even toilet paper and nappies, were exhausted, and so was he.

The destructive weekend weather brought business Mr Wright's way. The scenic Pacific Coast Road, State Highway 35, was closed at Maraenui 40km northeast of Opotiki and remains impassable.

Omaio's population was suddenly trebled by 100 extra people. Some were there for a tangi, others were stranded motorists to whom two local marae opened their doors.

With his stock all but cleaned out, Mr Wright was grateful to Civil Defence and Opotiki District Council officials who arranged for supplies to be flown in by helicopter on Tuesday.

With the road still closed yesterday, most frustrated visitors had taken the long way out - a five-hour drive to Gisborne.