November 20, 2016
Quake damage sends TOKM staff home
Staff at Te Ohu Kaimoana hope to find out today whether it is safe to move back into their Wellington headquarters.
Initial checks of the Thorndon office block after last Monday’s earthquake gave the all clear, but chief executive Dion Tuuta says another inspection midweek raised safety concerns.
Staff have been working from home.
It’s a busy time for the fisheries settlement trust as it tries to work through restructuring options as requested by iwi as well as countering the Ministry for Primary Industries’ review of fisheries policy, which Te Ohi Kaimoana says includes elements which undermine the settlement.
Meanwhile Kaikoura residents are coming to terms with being cut off by road for longer.
The New Zealand Transport Agency had hoped to get the inland road open to the public by the weekend but surveys reveals the risk of further landslips was too high.
Some military vehicles have managed to get through.
Another 186 people were evacuated to Christchurch by ship yesterday.
Kaikoura airport has reopened for commercial flights if anyone else needs to leave.
Also back are the whales.
Whale Watch Kaikoura sent out a boat at high tide yesterday and spotted six whales in two locations, as well as seals, dolphins, albatross and other seabirds.
General manager Kauahi Ngapora say it’s huge relief the canyon environment that draws the whales to the area is still there.
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