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Download AudioA veteran journalist says flooding on the East Coast could be as bad as Cyclone Bola.
A state of emergency has been declared for Te Tairāwhiti because of rising river levels, with more heavy rain expected this afternoon and into Thursday.
Some residents in Mangatuna, Tokomaru Bay and Tolaga Bay have been evacuated.
Radio Ngāti Porou station manager Erana Reedy set out this morning from Ruatōria for Tolaga Bay with a camera operator but had to turn back at the Hiruharama straight because the river was up to the top of the fences – almost the level she witnessed in 1988.
The picture’s not any better heading north towards Waiomatatini and Tikitiki.
“The Waiapū River looks like a raging torrent with half a forest floating out to sea because you can see pine logs floating away in our river. That is bloody sad because it ends up washing out on the river mouth and then on to Tikapa Beach which has slash for Africa on it,” she says.
Ms Reedy says there will be a huge clean up in the coming months, including restoring much of the planting done for erosion control.
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