Severe weather on East Coast
A state of emergency has been declared for locations on the East Coast. Check out this morning's breaking news from Stuff.co.nz.
- Severe flooding hits the Tolaga Bay and Tokomaru Bay areas of Tairāwhiti.
- Two contractors are trapped near Anaura Bay, and a rescue operation is underway.
- Tairāwhiti Civil Defence has ordered the evacuation of residents in the Mangatuna area north of Gisborne.
- The Hikuwai River reached 12.8 metres after 3am, a level higher than in flooding in 2020.
- State Highway 35 from Gisborne to Ōpōtiki, is closed because of flooding, slips and washouts.
- Power is out for around 755 customers in the Tokomaru Bay area.
- There are multiple slips in Tolaga Bay Gorge, with flooding across the road making it suitable only for four-wheel drives.
- Gisborne Civil Defence manager Ben Green told RNZ the rainfall overnight was almost "biblical".
- At least seven households have been evacuated.
- Rainfall is still heavy and there is more to come across the region, potentially another 150mm today.
- Parts of Bay of Plenty could also expect more than 200mm of rain to fall today.
For further information on the evolving situation, click here.
Worst Xmas ever?
There's a a lot of planning that goes into Christmas day and sometimes things just don't go to plan. But it can be a good thing - a family mishap or hilarious memory that you can laugh about in Christmases to come.
Whether you burnt the dinner or were stranded at an airport...
Share your Christmas mishaps below!
Office Closure
The Grey Power Rotorua Office is closed until 11 February 2025. We are checking the emails, but not the phone messages or the postal mail.
Have a wonderful break and hopefully we shall see you in 2025.