Heavy rain closes schools

Hundreds of Hawke’s Bay students had to take a day off schoolyesterday due to the heavy rainfall and gale force winds.

A total of 13 schools closed their doors due to the wind and heavy rain which hammered the North Island on Monday night and yesterday.

Haumoana School, Elsthorpe School, Mohaka School, Pakipaki School and Pakowhai School announced closures early yesterday morning as streams spilled over and slips began to tumble on to roads.

Other schools across the re- gion followed suit, including Te Pohue, Meeanee, Tutira, Patoka, Pukehamoamoa, Lucknow, Omakere and Weber School.

A Ministry of Education spokesman said the closures affected hundreds of students across the Hawke’s Bay and thousands across the country.

Parents and caregivers were advised to contact schools directly or check their websites or social media pages for closures.

The Ministry of Education said the decision to close schools remained with the board of trustees for each school and managers/owners for early learning services.

Weber School principal Janine Satchewell said they had to close the school early yesterday afternoon as they were worried about rising waters in the area.

The school has 66 students and Satchewell said she had to phone parents and caregivers to pick up their children.

A total of 2557 Hawke’s Bay students were affected overall..

The Hawke’s Bay region continued to stay wet yesterday with 36 millimetres of rain measured at Hawke’s Bay Airport and 67 millimetres measured in Hastings.

Wind speeds reached up to 75 kilometres an hour at times.