“You could see smaller rocks kept busting off and hitting the road, so we waited a while until we were brave enough to drive past.”
State Highway 35 will be closed overnight due to the risk of further rockfalls. Photo / Tash Wanoa
As a precaution, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said SH35 between Waiau Rd and Anaura Rd will close from 9pm Saturday and reopen at 6am tomorrow.
Abseiling crews will be on site tomorrow checking for more loose rocks.
Crews arrived at the rockfall within minutes and cleared the road a few hours later. They pushed the large rock clear of the highway and away from the cliff face.
NZTA said to expect the possibility of further short-notice closures if more material comes loose and advised everyone “to drive to the conditions and be alert for further debris or slips”.
“Even if the rain has stopped, the ground will be sodden from heavy and persistent rain. Crews are continuing to monitor the region’s state highways, including Waioweka Gorge, and are on standby ready to respond to issues around the region.”
Atkins, who monitors his own water gauge, said there had been more than 120mm of rain since early Friday morning.
As soon as the heavy rain started, Atkins said he knew he had to get home to Tikapa, 30 minutes northeast of Ruatoria, itself a two-hour drive from Gisborne.
“We all know up here that with a certain amount of rainfall you’re at risk of the road closing and being stuck in Gisborne or, worse, stuck in the middle of nowhere,” Atkins said.
“That’s just the price we pay for living up this way.”