State of Emergency Declared for Tairāwhiti from Cyclone Hale
January 11, 2023
PHOTO: Gisborne District Council
An estimated 30 whānau from the Uawa, or Tolaga Bay area have spent the night away from home, staying with relatives on higher ground as Cyclone Hale set floodwaters lapping at their doors.
The Hikuwai River reached 13.4 metres about 3am on Wednesday morning.
Tairāwhiti Civil Defence Emergency Management declared a state of local emergency at 10pm on Tuesday.
But Uawa Civil Defence group member Shanan Gray said the rain had eased in the Tolaga Bay area this morning, after a night of being battered by severe weather.
The Hikuwai River had receded to 12.8 metres, coming down from its highest level of 13.4m peak, he said.
It is unclear when the evacuated families will be able to return to their homes.