State of emergency at Matata to be lifted today

The state of emergency at flood-devastated Matata will be lifted later today.

Almost two weeks after the floods hit, State Highway 2 from Matata to Tauranga will be opened at 3pm, Wakatane District Council said.

Mayor Colin Holmes said police would continue to monitor Matata closely.

A total of 114 houses have been affected by the floods, with 27 being declared unsafe and another 27 not suitable for occupation until remedial building works have been completed.

The second stories of 14 houses are suitable for occupation. A further 15 houses have restricted use and 31 have been declared safe to occupy.

The Rangitihi Marae at Matata continues to host evacuees, with 32 people staying at the marae overnight.

Housing New Zealand is continuing the work to match available housing with evacuees, the council said.

Meanwhile, in Tauranga emergency work is continuing today to make sites safe and to get people back into their homes.

Tauranga City Council communications manager Elizabeth Hughes said the call centre took 181 calls on Saturday and a further 84 on Sunday.

There are four pending demolitions but none will happen today.

"We have had 122 offers of accommodation and 150 offers of help so far," she said.

- NZPA