Cliff remains unstable

A second large slip has fallen from the cliffs at Cape Kidnappers, near Napier, narrowly missing two walkers. The beach route to the cape, popular with tourists going to view the cape gannet colony, has been closed to the public since a large slip occurred on January 23, seriously injuring two people. On Saturday, February 2, another large slip, similar in size to the first, occurred next to the first one, and it is believed that a further smaller slip may have occurred the following day. A Hastings District Council spokeswoman said two people were walking in the area on Saturday and narrowly escaped being in the path of the second rockfall. They were ‘‘very shaken’’, she said. The spokeswoman said the geologist engaged by the council warned there was a lot of loose material in the vicinity and that further rockfalls were likely. The area remains closed to the public until further notice.