Flooding 'worst in 50 years' | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

ROGER MORONEY

Many temporarily homeless long-time Maraekakaho residents are calling it the worst flooding in 50 years, with initial assessments of damage to be done today.

While it is already clear there is major loss in terms of burst dams, damaged crossing and fences, the cost in terms of stock will only be known in three or four days _ when the floodwaters ease enough to allow farmers to check stock. Puketapu also was hit by heavy rain, with farmer Phillip Alexander, whose family has farmed there for 70 years, saying it was the worst since 1963.

"But what was really frightening was just how fast the water rose," he said.

He had been on a farm bike to move lambing ewes to higher ground when surface water turned to torrents within an hour. He rode into a metre of water on a path, which stopped the bike, and he had to struggle out.

This morning, as he prepared to feed stock, he reckoned he had lost at least 100 lambs already.

Hawke's Bay Federated Farmers spokesman Kevin Mitchell expected farmers in the Maraekakaho region to have similar losses: "Lambing is well under way. It's not good. They have really been hit hard there."

Many pastures across Maraekakaho, which had been parched six weeks ago, are now under metres of water.

Farmer Errol Kelly said the waters of a river which were normally 500 metres from his house were now effectively at the back door.

Residents not evacuated from their homes still faced major headaches, apart from damage and marginal access. The Hastings District Council advised people in the area not to use their household water supplies.

A tanker of fresh water was trucked to Maraekakaho this morning for residents. Portable toilets were also sent.

Five houses had been evacuated, while others were accessible only to residents. A building team from the Hastings District Council was to carry out inspections today, where possible.

After the initial deluge of more than 140mm in the worst-affected areas, the rain eased off late yesterday and waters briefly receded.

The respite was brief as the rain-packed low-pressure front delivered another dumping overnight. The MetService predicts the big wet will continue into the weekend, although from tomorrow it should weaken.

The rain bomb was selective in where it struck worst, with rural Maraekakaho and Puketapu, and urban Flaxmere copping the worst.

Civil Defence emergency management controller for Hastings district, Mike Maguire, urged people to minimise non-essential travel in the affected areas. He said while there had been some easing of the rain, flooding would cause lingering problems.

Landcorp farm manager John Ferguson described the rainstorm as "bloody terrible".

He estimated up to half the lagoon farm was under water _ up to a metre deep in some places. He said it would take at least four days for the waters to drop before he could check damage.

"Farming used to be a lifestyle ... used to be enjoyable ... lately it's been cruel."

Parts of urban Flaxmere were today under water. Houses and businesses were affected, including the library and pool complex which had to close due to flooding.

Shops in central Hastings also reported minor flooding.

SH50 was still closed this morning although Transit hoped to have it open later. The Taupo and Wairoa roads were open, although minor slips had been reported and caution was advised.