Slips threaten to sweep away historic Hawke's Bay home

Another landslip like one last week could destroy Angus Gordon's 100-year-old homestead. Picture / Andrew Labett

The future of one of Hawke's Bay's oldest homes teeters in the balance with thousands of tonnes of soil and mud threatening to collapse on it.

More heavy rain could send another landslip crashing on to the Gordon family's 100-year-old homestead at Cape Kidnappers.

The large old villa narrowly escaped being destroyed by one giant slip during torrential rain last week.

Insurance assessors and engineers from the Earthquake Commission have told owner Angus Gordon the potential for another large landslip to hit the house is high if nothing is done.

There are 10,000 to 20,000 cubic metres of unstable soil on the bank above the house.

Mr Gordon said he got "one hell of a shock" when he woke up to the sight of his beautifully manicured lawn and driveway covered in a thick layer of mud last Thursday.

The farmer and tourism operator said it was "really creepy" seeing the landslide still moving slowly in the morning.

"It was like a slow-moving glacier of mud going past your front door."

Landslips occur after heavy rain when the top two layers of soil and gravel can no longer absorb any more moisture. A layer of hard pan soil builds up, causing the top two layers to slip away.

The Earthquake Commission covers damage within an 8m radius of any house, garage or septic tank.

Damage to the Gordons' house was minimised by a series of trees and a wire fence that obstructed the slip's path.

The Clifton property has been home to four generations of Gordons since 1902. Mr Gordon now lives there with his wife, Dinah.

Mr Gordon said it would be a tragedy if any harm came to the house because of the history attached to the old villa. He hopes many more generations of Gordons will be able to enjoy the family home. In the meantime, the clean-up will begin with a man-made wall of soil to deflect any further slips.

He said this was the worst slip on record. The last big one in 1975 uprooted a Maori burial ground.

Long-term remedial work, paid for by the Earthquake Commission, could include a solid timber wall with earth behind it and drainage works on the terrace where the slip occurred.

- NZPA