Flooding closes highway, gorge

Damp campers in good spirits despite weather disrupting their travel plans

It must've been pretty heavy in the hills because even though it rained solidly here in po¯tiki, it wasn't hard, hard rain

po¯tiki mayor Lyn Riesterer

Slips and flooding saw routes out of po¯tiki reduced from three to just one for a period yesterday, leaving some visitors unable to head home. Multiple sections of State Highway 2 in the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne areas were closed.

As of late yesterday afternoon, the highway through the Waimana Gorge remained closed between Kutarere and Taneatua due to flooding. It first closed shortly before 7am.

The detour route on local roads was also closed due to flooding and a slip, and Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency was advising motorists to delay their journeys.

In a statement on Sunday afternoon the agency said it expected flooding to recede as the tide went out in the late afternoon, at which point it would be able to assess the condition of the road and decide whether the highway through the gorge could reopen.

The Waioeka Gorge, on the highway between po¯tiki and Gisborne, also closed due to flooding from 11am, reopening shortly after 1pm. The agency warned it was at risk of closing again if heavy rain continued.

The closures left some visitors to the eastern Bay of Plenty town unable to leave.

Tirohanga Beach Motor Camp manager Julie Munro said the weather and road closures had caused disruption for those looking to travel today.

“People have just arrived now but there were some people who couldn't get through earlier and now they have to wait,” she said.

She said the campground had not flooded. “It has stopped raining now, people are still damp but the sun is getting brighter. It's going to be nice, we're confident.”

She said the disruptions had not affected the good mood of travellers.

“It's all just part and parcel of camping.”

po¯tiki mayor Lyn Riesterer said on Sunday there had been a lot of rain overnight and she encouraged motorists to be patient.

“It must've been pretty heavy in the hills because even though it rained solidly here in po¯tiki, it wasn't hard, hard rain,” she said.

“[Motorists] should make sure they're not trying to cut across any slips and that they take their time to wait and ensure it's safe.

“I think most people travelling through from Gisborne, from Rhythm and Vines, had already gone through but our campgrounds are pretty full.”

Riesterer said she could think of worse places to be stuck than po¯tiki.

“Check out the i-site and get any up-to-date information you need. Go and enjoy the town and the museum.”