Update: 10:40AM MORE than 40 people have been evacuated in Gisborne as ex-tropical cyclone Pam moves down the east of New Zealand.
The storm was expected to peak around midday Monday, closing to about 150km east of East Cape, then move away from the coastline towards the Chatham Islands.
Ten people were evacuated from Te Araroa in the northern end of the Gisborne district this morning. The residents at the start of the East Cape Road, parallel to the sea, are being accommodated in the township’s Hinerupe Marae.
A slip on East Cape Road – State Highway 35 – has made the road impassable. The Puketiti Road south of Te Puia is closed due to power lines across the road.
The army helped evacuate 24 people from Anaura Bay and the road was closed due to flooding.
Another six people have been evacuated from Mangatuna, north of Tolaga Bay, where the river has risen five and a half metres in about four hours. The Hikuwai River, now at more than 11 metres, historically overflows the highway at 12 metres. The river reached more than 14m in Cyclone Bola.
Power has been lost in several communities.
A spokesperson said people may find their power goes on and off over the day due to intermittent faults being repaired and others occurring due to weather conditions.
Network crews are also working to fix multiple faults to the west, north and east of Gisborne.
