Two died when a slip hit a home on Welcome Bay Rd, and six campers died in a slip from Mauao into the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park.<\/p>\n
Six people died in the Mauao landslide on January 22. Photo \/ Jason Dorday<\/p>\n
Several other slips affected private properties and public land around Tauranga and Western Bay.<\/p>\n
Tauranga City Council said Adams Ave, between Pilot Bay and the Maunganui Rd roundabout, would be temporarily closed to vehicles from 8am Friday as a precautionary approach following geotechnical advice about the current risks on Mauao from anticipated rainfall from Friday to Saturday.<\/p>\n
The footpath on the \u2018shop side\u2019 of Adams Ave will remain open.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhilst no definite timeframe can be given for the duration of the closure, it is temporary,\u201d the council said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe road will not be opened until the rain event has passed and we have expert advice regarding the safety of the area.\u201d<\/p>\n
Civil Defence encouraged anyone concerned about the risk of a landslide on their property to contact their local council for advice.<\/p>\n
Conversations with local controllers and partner agencies such as police and Fire and Emergency were ongoing regarding landslide-prone areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are now in the recovery phase following the heavy rain event in January, and some internal debriefs have taken place, with more planned, as is standard protocol.\u201d<\/p>\n
They advised the community to check and clear their drains and gutters in preparation for the incoming rain.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlways take care if you\u2019re out and about, as there may be surface flooding, further landslides, and\/or difficult driving conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Streams and rivers could rise rapidly, so people were advised to avoid low-lying areas, put safety first and not take any chances.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you feel unsafe in your home due to landslip risk or rising water, keep a grab bag close and be prepared to evacuate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Road network \u2018fragile\u2019<\/p>\n
The Western Bay of Plenty District Council\u2019s emergency management team lead, Jo Lynskey, said some of the district\u2019s roading networks were still fragile.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we get heavy rain, it is likely there will be further slips which may close roads.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are doing our usual pre-rain checks. Our transportation team is inspecting key roading sites, and we will have essential contractors, such as arborists, on standby.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said the Western Bay of Plenty<\/a> district still had an elevated risk of instability, mainly where there were pre-existing slips.<\/p>\n \u201cIn heavy rain, these areas might experience additional erosion and movement of unstable debris.<\/p>\n \u201cThere may also be areas where the ground has not slipped but is cracked or damaged and may be sensitive to additional rainfall.\u201d<\/p>\n People in the community who were still dealing with the effects of last month\u2019s severe weather event would still be feeling anxious, Lynskey said.<\/p>\n Her advice mirrored that of other councils.<\/p>\n \u201cCharge your phone and any other communications devices, and keep an eye on MetService New Zealand and Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Facebook pages for the latest weather information.\u201d<\/p>\n Slip monitoring continues<\/p>\n A spokesperson for the Tauranga City Council said it was closely monitoring the weather and would be ready to respond if needed.<\/p>\n Geotechnical assessments continued<\/a> for the 40 landslips on Mauao, 29 of them being on the base track.<\/p>\n Recent monitoring and inspections had identified instability on sections of the maunga, including areas where the risk of rockfall and landslip had increased.<\/p>\n Council recovery manager Paula Naude said the whole area continued to be monitored by engineers.<\/p>\n \u201cFurther information, especially following the next heavy rainfall, may help give greater confidence in determining the likelihood of a slip,\u201d Naude said.<\/p>\n Mauao remained closed.<\/p>\n Naude said while people were encouraged to visit Mount Maunganui and support local businesses, they should \u201crespect the no-go zones, fencing, signage and on-site instructions\u201d.<\/p>\n Rotorua takes \u2018usual precautions\u2019<\/p>\n Two Harbour View Rd properties in \u014cmokoroa were affected by a slip on January 22. Photo \/ Sandra Conchie<\/p>\n