What the water gave us: Nelson and Tasman start cleaning up the mess

Sunday, 21 August 2022

Stuff has travelled over the flooded Marlborough region to examine the extent of the damage after a devastating storm. Video first published August 21, 2022.

A heavy rain watch has been issued for the western Tasman region, 1pm to 10pm on Monday
Heavy rain eased up in the Nelson Tasman region on Saturday, rain continues in Golden Bay
A rāhui is in place for waterways across the top of the South
570 homes in Nelson have been affected by the floods, with about half already assessed
Landslides continue to cause havoc on roads and properties across the region

The long hard slog of cleanup has started across the top of the South Island, from Golden Bay to Marlborough, both in terms of townships and property, and the state highways connecting them.

Rivers have receded from farmlands in Golden Bay, leaving farmers to take stock of what the water has left behind, while many people across Nelson city and northern townships are left reckoning with unstable land and debris.

MetService has issued a heavy rain watch for the Tasman region west of Motueka, thanks largely to the already sodden conditions in the region.

People with mud and soil on their property can take it to a free dump site on the corner of Main Rd Stoke and Saxton St east.

'A weak low pressure system is expected east across central New Zealand on Monday. This may bring a period of heavy rain to western Tasman,' MetService said in its severe weather forecast.

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“Although it wouldn't meet the normal heavy rain watch criteria, given the rain that has fallen in the last a few days, a watch is now in force for this situation.”

Free landfill site for potentially contaminated mud

Nelson Tasman Civil Defence has opened a free clean-fill dump site for soil and mud left on properties by landslides and slips on the corner of Main Road Stoke and Saxton Rd east.

Electronic signage has been set up to guide people to the entrance, off Saxton Rd.

The site opened for free dumping of soil and mud from household cleanups only from noon on Sunday. Rubbish and damaged goods from flooding or landslides cannot be dumped there.

The site is not for commercial use, though small landscaping businesses are able to use it.

Though people are still advised to limit travel and stay off the road, people with “substantial mud to clear” were welcome to take it to the site using vehicles with trailers. A small loader is on-site to remove soil from flat-bed trucks or trailers without the ability to tip.

The site is not accessible for vehicles with more than six wheels due to turning restrictions.

High schools switch to online learning

High schools in central Nelson have moved to online learning for the start of the week, as the city remains in a state of emergency.

Nayland College principal Daniel Wilson said the school would switch to distance learning on Monday and Tuesday to support the emergency efforts.

Twenty-two staff were directly affected by the heavy rain event, and many of them were unable to work for at least a few more days, he said.

Nelson mayor Rachel Reese has been out and about meeting with residents affected by the weather event over the past days, and spent part of Sunday morning handing out cups of tea to evacuees returning to Nile St.

Nelson College was also switching to online learning, with principal, Richard Dykes saying it seemed inappropriate to encourage students or staff to travel to school while travel was being discouraged.

Nelson College for Girls principal Cathy Ewing said the school was likely to be online-learning until Wednesday.

Support ongoing, helicoptered into Tasman

Norelle Kendrick was forced to leave her Haven Rd, Nelson home after a landslide hit the back her home. Kendrick has complex medical issues that require her to use a wheel chair and leg braces and is now living in a motel.

Residents in cut-off areas have had support flown in while they await roads reopening.

Emma Furness said she was in Wainui, Golden Bay, and the settlement was going to be cut off for the next four days or so.

“The road is impassable and resources stretched,” she said.

“The amazing Civil Defence has committed to getting us supplies today by helicopter. What a huge effort so many people are making to clean up, get roads sorted, and ensure everyone is OK.”

Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese spent some time on Nile St on Sunday morning, meeting residents as they returned home.

It’s hard enough navigating landslides when you don’t have mobility issues, but for Norelle Kendrick it was a worst nightmare come true.

“People don't know what they're going to find: red or orange stickers, it's very stressful,” she said. “Quite a few people were shaky and anxious, we sat them down for a cup of tea.”

A public meeting was held at 2:30pm at Saxton Stadium for all who had been evacuated or had their properties affected. Around the city, 570 homes have been affected by the floods, with 284 of those assessed as of Sunday afternoon.

In the meantime Saxton Stadium is still open as a support centre for any affected, and people are encouraged to go there if they need either material support (in terms of financial or food support) or emotional support.

Nelson Tasman Civil Defence said in a recent Facebook post that people should not feel whakamā or shy about asking for support from the trained staff at the stadium.

“Many of you won't have needed to ask for help before and it can be an uncomfortable feeling. Please remember this is what we are here for: if you have been affected by this emergency, you deserve to be looked after. Yes, you.”

“Worst nightmare” for those with mobility issues

Norelle Kendrick has limited mobility and tricky access into her home, so a slip happening on the hillside behind her rental house on Haven Rd had always been her 'worst nightmare'.

On Saturday that nightmare came true.

A red sticker home in Sunningdale Drive, Nelson. Affected homeowners are urged to get in touch with their private insurance providers as a single point of contact for both private insurance and EQC cover.

“I panicked when I heard the hill slipping, as I could not just run out of the house,” she said.

The material from the landslide stopped just short of her house, but she knew she had to get out because of the continued risk of further subsidence.

Kendrick has severe mobility issues caused by Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which affects connective tissue. Kendrick needs a wheelchair to go anywhere further than a few metres – but the only way out of her home requires navigating stairs.

“It took 20 minutes to get down six stairs and walk to the car with two helpers,” she said.

Now staying in short term accommodation organised by Civil Defence, Kendrick is fraught with anxiety over what she will do now.

“We're in a hotel at the moment cause there's no way I'm going anywhere near the house. The hill is right up to my house and I can't imagine it being safe for a while.”

Water conservation still in effect

While water from taps is safe to drink, people are still urged to conserve water, meaning people should not be hosing down their property and should avoid excessive water use.

This is because damage to water pipes from dams has left secondary, smaller pipes as the only means of water supply, meaning water pressure around the city is lower and excessive use could further reduce that pressure – something which is needed to move water through pipes at all.

NTCD is expected to have an update within a few hours on what to do with mud or rubbish which has accumulated.

Insurance council issues advice

The cleanup process began as the rain cleared up, but it will take some time to restore road connections across the top of the south.

Te Kāhui Inihua o Aotearoa Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ) and Toka Tū Āke (EQC) say people should contact their insurance provider as the first port of call to make the claims process “as easy and efficient as possible”.

ICNZ chief executive Tim Grafton said private insurers should be able to let people know what to do next, how to make their claim, and what damage may be covered by either their own insurer or by EQCover.

“This means that if your home and property have been damaged, your insurer will assess, manage and settle the entire claim – including the EQCover portion, if applicable - for you,” he said.

Grafton said flood and landslide recovery could be “extensive”, and both private insurers and the EQC had a role in that recovery. EQCover applies to some residential land damaged by storm or flood, while home and contents should be covered by private insurers according to individual policy, he said.

“If you haven’t been in touch about your claim, we urge you to contact your insurer or broker as soon as you can so they can support you.”

Alec Louverdis, Group Controller for Nelson Tasman Civil Defence, told media recovery from the floods would take years.

Checking the state of State Highways

Waka Kotahi is assessing the extent of the damage to the road network, but it is already clear that it will take “some time before the links between Nelson and Blenheim on State Highway 6 and State Highway 63 are restored”.

An update on SH6 and SH63 is expected on Tuesday, but in the meantime both roads remain closed, SH6 from Nelson to Blenheim (Hira to Rai Valley) and the Rocks Rd section from Haven Rd to Tāhunanui, and SH63 from Renwick to Saint Arnaud.

The only route between Nelson and Blenheim open is via the Lewis Pass, State Highway 7, and Murchison, State Highways 65 and 6.

State Highway 60 from Appleby to Upper Tākaka is open, but flood damaged. Traffic management is in place.

The swolen Pelorus river in the midst of high flood. All waterways across the top of the South have been put under a rāhui, preventing entry into the water and the gathering of kai.

Waka Kotahi urged extreme care for all drivers.

“The weather has caused extensive damage, and drivers must drive to the conditions … roadworks and delays will affect travel times. Road users are urged to check road conditions before travelling.

A Halifax Street East resident looks at the flooded Maitai River at the Riverside Foot Bridge on Saturday morning.

“Motorists are still strongly advised to avoid travel or keep to essential trips only in areas still covered in floodwaters and debris around Tākaka, Nelson and Blenheim.”

Road closure updates can be checked live on Waka Kotahi’s journey planner website.

Local networks have also been hazardous, hampering evacuation efforts and emergency responders.

Nelson Fire Station senior officer Kerry McNamara said he saw “intensive damage”, carried out risky rescues and watched a community step up throughout the ordeal.

'It's been pretty intense, extensive damage from floodwaters and slips, all over the place,' McNamara said.

Some evacuations had been challenging and a test of both skill and equipment, he said, and highlighted the ongoing industrial action. He said the work they were doing highlighted the need for better conditions.

“The public have been so supportive to us. Yesterday we went back to Nile St, spoke to some residents [returning to evacuated properties], they were so grateful.

“It's great to see the community working well together, neighbours helping neighbours.”

Rāhui dictated by te Taiao

The eight mana whenua iwi of Te Tauihu have placed a rāhui across the northern coastline of Te Tauihu o Te Waka-a-Māui (the top of the South), preventing entry into waterways or the gathering of seafood or kai.

The rāhui was implemented by the Iwi Emergency Management Rōpū (IEMR), working as part of the Nelson Tasman Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), with the support of local iwi.

The rāhui took effect at noon on Saturday and will last “as long as te Taiao dictated” from Te Parinui o Whiti (the White Bluffs) in the east, west to Kahurangi Point, including Aorere and Tai Tapu. It covers all coastlines, river mouths, and floodwaters.

IEMR Tikanga Pou lead Barney Thomas said the rāhui would remain for as long as te Taiao (the environment) needed it.

“It has to be healthy, and that could be some time off,” he said in a statement.

“It’s sad that we are here again, but that is Tāwhirimātea (the god of weather), and what we must do as people of the land is work with that - work with what we are handed.”

Iwi representatives are working as part of Emergency Management Operations Centres in Nelson Tasman and in Wairau.

Pouwhakahaere Rauemi Dr Lorraine Eade said iwi and Māori rōpū had come together quickly to support communities.

“That’s the plus side to a very bad situation, not just for Wairau, not just for Whakatū or Mohua, but for the entire rohe,” she said.

“The way marae, iwi and Māori social services have stood up has been incredible and this sort of support people is what helps our communities get through such stressful times.”

Waikawa Marae was activated on Saturday to support people stranded in Picton, and Omaka Marae in Blenheim and Tuamātene in Grovetown were also placed on stand-by but later stood down.

“We want to acknowledge our marae, kaimahi on the ground and also the many others who have offered and continue to offer manaaki and support. There is still a long road ahead, but together we do get further.”

Rain still falling in Golden Bay

In Golden Bay, though the rivers have retreated the rain was still falling on Sunday morning, and further heavy rain watches for Monday are making residents nervous.

Grant Knowles, who lives just out of Tākaka, said on Sunday there were showers all night long, “some pretty heavy”.

“Nothing's had a chance to dry out.”

He said the rest of Sunday was partially cloudy, but sunny and “unnaturally warm”.

He said he was keeping an eye on MetService forecasts, and though there was some respite over the coming days he was worried by the prediction of heavy rain returning later in the week.