A no-go area is likely to be imposed on the southwest edge of Lake Taupo later today because of the threat of a major landslide above tiny Waihi Village, Civil Defence has said.
About 50 residents of the village were evacuated from their homes last night, as fears grew of a landslide at the Hipaua Thermal Area above the village following a series of earthquakes and heavy rain in the area.
They were allowed back briefly this morning to collect their possessions and were advised to take their pets away from the village.
Two more earthquakes shook the area last night but there were no reports of major damage. Several quakes, two of which measured more than 4.1 on the Richter scale, struck the area at the weekend.