Stay home and stay safe northland....Posted on Behalf
Morena Northland!
A couple of updates below from Waka Kotahi - NZ Transport Agency Northland and Civil Defence Northland as at this morning Sunday 19 July.
Minister of Civil Defence Peeni Henare is heading North today to meet with our teams on the ground. I will update you again tonight. Kia haumaru te noho, stay home if you can and stay safe everyone.
Thank you Pita Tipene for the drone images of Taumarere, Kawakawa, Moerewa taken yesterday 📸
UPDATES (Please check their websites as things can change quickly)
NORTHLAND SEVERE WEATHER ISSUES
UPDATE AS AT 8:30AM, SUN 19 JUL
As a result of earlier severe weather impacting all roads, any travel in this region should be taken under caution. Please take extra care. Go slow, watch out for remaining surface flooding, new road surface damage, new slips, and/or fallen tree and other debris today.
STATE HIGHWAYS STILL CLOSED
- SH1 Kaitaia to Okaihau (including the Mangamuka Gorge) - Multiple slips & flooding (not expected to reopen for some time).
CAUTION
- SH1 Kawakawa - Take extra care.
- SH11 Opua to Kawakawa - Take extra care.
- SH12 Kaikohe to Omapere - One lane open on Taheke River Bridge
- SH15 Kaikohe to Maungatapere - Take extra care
For up-to-date information, please check our website Traffic Map here: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/northland ^TP
UPDATE AS AT 7.00AM, SUN 19 JULY
from Civil Defence Northland
What can be achieved in a day...
Fantastic to see the progress that was made yesterday (Saturday) clearing slips, fallen trees etc off roads around the region. We have included the most recent (Saturday evening) updates from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency - Northland, Whangarei District Council and Far North District Council in the Comments below (original post) but please check their pages for the latest status. We're still recommending that people avoid non-essential travel.
Water levels are still close to (or on) the road in a number of locations around the region and please be advised that rivers will rise quickly again with any further rainfall. So please remain aware that the situation can change again rapidly with roads and particularly bridges that may have been passable even 30 minutes earlier.
Getting the roading network back up and running remains a priority - roading authorities and contractors are gaining a clearer picture of what needs to be done around the region but there is significant damage in some places and some of the repairs will require detailed engineering and planning.
Water treatment plants in Whangarei and Paihia (supplying Opua/Paihia/Waitangi) are still undergoing urgent repairs and households and businesses are still being asked to conserve water - please take these messages seriously. Although it seems strange that an oversupply of water falling from the sky can lead to a shortage of drinking water, that is the reality at the moment.
tadpoles
Kerikeri's frogs are in trouble. A fungus is killing a lot of the adults. If you have tadpoles in your swimming pool and would like them removed we have ponds available for them to mature in. Call 407-3974 and we'll pick them up.
Poll: Do you think banning gang patches is reasonable?
With the government cracking down on gangs, it is now illegal for gang members to display their insignia in public places whether through clothing or their property.
This means arrests can be made if these patches are worn in places like restaurants, shops, on public transport or ferries, and on airplanes. Arrests were made recently at a funeral.
Do you think this ban is reasonable?
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75.7% Yes
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22.9% No
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1.4% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.