Overnight rain traps guests at Blue Duck Lodge at Whakahoro, Ruapehu District

Around 120 people are needing to spend the night at the Blue Duck Lodge, Whakahoro, on the Retaruke River following last night’s heavy rain.

Ruapehu Emergency Management Officer Nick Watson said slips on the access road and a flooded river had cut access to the lodge.

“Ruapehu Civil Defence has been in contact with the lodge owners and organised for a helicopter and food to be dropped in which arrived around 15:30 this afternoon,” he said.

“They advise that everyone is warm, safe and happy for tonight with enough supplies for tonight and into tomorrow.

We will be watching the weather situation overnight and making a decision on evacuations in the morning.

In other parts of Ruapehu we still have SH43 closed with multiple slips between Haeo and Tahora on the Forgotten World Highway.

In the Taumarunui area the water has dropped away but left several garages needing to be cleaned up.

We are also getting reports from farmers who have suffered damage to tracks and fences

Ruapehu Civil Defence will remain on stand-by overnight in case there are any developments.”

Members of the public are advised to take care while driving and check the AA’s website, http://maps.aa.co.nz/traffic/roadwatch for information on road conditions.
Up-to-date information on river heights and rainfall is available via Horizons 24 hour toll-free Waterline 0508 4 FLOOD or via our website www.horizons.govt.nz
Updates will also be posted to the Manawatu-Wanganui Civil Defence page: https://www.facebook.com/civildefencemanawatuwanganui/
For weather forecasting information please see www.metservice.co.nz

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