Community Update - Flooding Event - 5pm Saturday 11th July
Kia ora e te Kaikōura whānau,
Our response and recovery efforts continue across the district, with teams focused on welfare support, property assessments, rural recovery, debris removal and infrastructure repairs.
Property assessments and welfare
- Four township properties have now been issued yellow placards, with two households currently in temporary accommodation. Two more properties are likely to receive yellow placards after assessments can be carried out when property owners return and provide Council access.
- Two South Bay homes have received precautionary red placards due to landslide risk and will be reassessed by geotechnical engineers on Monday.
- While no new at-risk properties have been identified, landslides remain a risk as conditions dry out. Please stay vigilant and report any concerns to 03 319 5026.
- Since the response began, our team has checked on approximately 60 properties identified as potentially isolated and delivered supplies where needed. Thanks to ongoing access restoration work on local roads, there are currently no isolated households.
- Three properties remain with walking-only access due to damage to private driveways. We’re checking in regularly with these residents to ensure they have access to essential supplies.
Support for our rural communities
We know this event has been especially challenging for our farming communities during an already busy time of year. MPI and Taskforce Kiwi have been on the ground today meeting with affected farmers to help identify livestock needs and plan recovery efforts.
If your farm has been impacted, please complete a Rapid Rural Damage Assessment survey to help direct support where it is needed most.
Events like these can be emotionally and physically exhausting. Feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or unsettled is a normal response.
The North Canterbury Rural Support Trust is part of a nationwide network supporting farmers and their families through challenging times, including adverse weather events. Free and confidential support is available through the Trust’s facilitators, who understand the unique challenges of rural life.
Call the North Canterbury Rural Support Trust on 0800 787 254 or visit their website.
Water updates
- Residents on the Fernleigh Scheme can now collect treated water from the tap at the corner of Dairy Farm Road and Inland Road.
- Residents on both the Fernleigh and Kincaid schemes are asked to continue conserving water while teams work urgently to repair and restore supplies.
- The Peketā Boil Water Notice remains in place until further notice.
Roading updates
- Cribb Creek Bridge remains impassable after the approach was washed away. A temporary ford crossing is expected to be available for 4WD access as early as tomorrow.
- Inland Road remains closed while bridge works continue.
- Kahutara Bridge and Greenburn Bridge are both intact and passable.
- Puhi Puhi is accessible by 4WD only. Please take extreme care.
State Highway 1
State Highway 1 south remains closed between Kaikōura and Cheviot due to extensive flood and slip damage. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi advises the closure is expected to remain in place until at least 14 July while repair work continues.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is continuing to as quickly as possible to restore this essential lifeline for the district.
As always, thank you for your patience, resilience, and support for one another as recovery continues across our district.
Kia kaha, Kaikōura
