Relief as all-clear is given to Papamoa residents

Papamoa residents evacuated to Baypark Stadium in Mount Maunganui waited anxiously yesterday morning for news they could return home to check their properties for flood damage.

There was a collective sigh of relief and round of applause when Red Cross volunteer Jan Pryce announced just after 9am that Civil Defence headquarters in Tauranga had given the all-clear for them to leave.

"It's all turned out all right," said Hayley Hart, who was evacuated about 11pm on Wednesday night with her husband, three children and the family cat.

Water had been 1cm away from coming through the door of their home, about 1km back from the beach, when Army personnel moved them out on Unimog trucks.

They were among 37 people who spent the night in a large hall at the stadium.

Mrs Hart's husband, Ashley, was anxious to get home after a sleepless night on Army stretchers set up in a carpeted section of the 50m long hall.

He spent the night staring out the window, willing the rain to stop.

The family moved to New Zealand from England just nine months ago.

Mr Hart said the weather was proving a bit of a test.

"I'm going to have to get on to the New Zealand tourist board and find out if this is all part of the Kiwi experience," he joked.

His neighbour, Rolf Porter, was also itching to get home.

He had just an hour's sleep, spending most of the night keeping an eye on his family's cat, Buster.

He and wife Glenys and their children moved into their home just six months ago.

The property, like those of the other evacuees, backs onto farmland sitting at the base of hills.

The hills drained the torrential rain received most of Wednesday onto the farmland and into the subdivision.

A woman who did not want to be named said she was very grateful to the Civil Defence, Red Cross and other volunteers who looked after them at the evacuation centre, and impressed by the "breakfast service" and sleeping bags handed out.

Minister of Civil Defence George Hawkins visited the evacuees soon after the announcement was made they could leave.

He promised Government relief was not far away.

"People will get help. They always do."