More homes evacuated as slip damage is evaluated

-Residents on Tāhunanui hill being evacuated

-People asked to conserve water

-Many state highways still closed

-Some residents around Maitai River have been allowed back today

Residents on the Tāhunanui hills have been evacuated after "huge crack" was found on Greenville Terrace.

A resident who lives on Rocks Rd says dozens of properties on Rocks Rd, Greenville Terrace and Moncrieff Ave are currently being evacuated.

Slips from Princes Drive have also come down onto Moana Ave.

Homes on the hill-side of Milton St are being evacuated for fear of unstable trees on hill above.

One resident, who was happy to speak with Nelson App but didn't want to be named, said he was in his house in Halifax St when the slip came through their lounge. The house has since been red-stickered, meaning it is uninhabitable.

The house looked as if it had been knocked off its foundations and had large cracks on the exterior of the house.

Another resident said she had been spending the night at her mother's home down the road and came back in the morning to grab some things. Her house is okay but directly in the firing line if the hill comes down.

Civil Defence have today delivered food parcels to some who have been cutoff for days.

A helicopter made deliveries to residents in the upper Maitai Valley and the mid-Whangamoas, while they were on a mission to survey the area.

Residents allowed back into Nile St homes:

Residents who were displaced due to flooding in the Nile St/Maitai River area will be allowed back into their homes on Saturday afternoon.

Civil Defence controller Jim Frater says their focus today will be on getting majority of residents who were evacuated from flooding of the Maitai River back into their homes this afternoon.

Many residents will have access to their homes from this afternoon, he says, however those with yellow or red stickers will not be able to stay tonight.

Residents who don't have stickers on their home will be allowed to stay overnight.

"I have hope that we will get the majority of people in the Maitai River back to their house in the weekend."

Residents who have been asked to evacuate because of slip risk and land movement will be a slower process he says.

"The land is like custard, like porridge," he says.

Jim says geotech engineers, who assess whether the home is safe on its foundations and the land around it, are working hard but the stability of the land means the work is slow-going.

"They need some stability of that land."

Home washed away in Rai Valley:

A Givealittle page has been set up for the residents of a Rai Valley that got swept of its foundations through the night.

Nicole Macdonald who set up the page on behalf of her grandmother said the house was pushed off the hill after heavy rain.

"My nana's property she was renting was swept off the foundations when the hillside came down and pushed it off the hill and down onto the road at 3.30am in the morning," she said on Givealittle.

"My nana and friend luckily got out just in time as they felt the house moving and managed to seek shelter at a neighbouring property where other Ronga Valley residents were sheltering from the flooding."

Flooding in Stoke:

Two homes on a street in central Stoke were flooded this morning when their bottom levels filled with water.

Fire crews arrived and were pumping water out of the homes around 11.30am on Saturday.

One resident says her husband had just finished working 22 hours helping with the floods, now had their own home to begin cleaning.

Homes evacuated in Richmond:

Dozens of homes were evacuated last night as rain caused major flooding to Richmond and the Waimea plains.

The evacuations add to the 411 homes already evacuated across Nelson for flooding and slip damage.

Civil Defence spokesperson Chris Choat said at 7.30am today that there was a total of 508 homes now evacuated, although he says there could be more as many self-evacuated.

Most of the evacuations were around the Reservoir Creek area in Richmond that “jumped out of its banks”.

The Hart Rd end of Hill Street was also flooded after Hart Creek burst its banks around 5am this morning.

Local resident Maria Hart, who developed the subdivision, says the flood water is draining away in exactly the way it was designed to.

“We spent months and months going backwards and forwards with council when getting sign off for the subdivision to make sure if a flood happened, water would drain straight down the footpath and onwards to Pinecrest Drive. It’s doing exactly what it’s meant to.”

Another resident who lives by the side of the flooded footpath says he was woken at 5am by a roar, while the couple who live opposite the flooded road have lost their silver car to the submerged water after leaving it parked in the road overnight.

Locals were on the street at daybreak with spades and forks trying desperately to free up the drains to allow the water to flow away more freely.

Civil Defence spokesperson Chris Choat says as people assess damage this morning they are urging people not to travel.

“Our key message is just stay off the roads, please.”

He says the rain came down as predicted last night but it is easing now.

“There’s going to be a lot of damage as people start to assess the properties. Please take a look around and report any slips.”

Police urge people to stay home and off the roads unless absolutely necessary.

Heavy rain overnight:

The Metservice says at its peak, at around 4am this morning, 9mm of rain was falling every hour.

The Maitai River had 316 cubic metres of water flowing through it every second at 6am this morning, this has dropped to 245 cumecs at 7am. At its height on Wednesday, this was closer to 500 cumecs.

Roads update (5pm):

Multiple state highway closures across the Top of the South Island remain in place this weekend and into next week even as rainfall and river levels abate, says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.

“This is a huge weather event, with an even bigger impact on the state highway and local road network than the storm of July 2021. We are working as hard as we can to restore vital transport links. Everyone’s patience and understanding is appreciated,” says Helen Harris, National Journey Manager for Waka Kotahi.

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

Two routes into Nelson from Blenheim closed:

Significant damage and slips on SH6 between Blenheim and Nelson mean that SH6 will not open for days. The next update will be on Tuesday, 23 August, says Waka Kotahi's Helen Harris.

“The other key route into Nelson from Blenheim, SH63 via Renwick and St Arnaud is also closed due to a washout of the approach to the Branch Bridge. An update on that route will be available on Tuesday also. We know there is extensive damage on this route also above the Rainbow turnoff.”

Contractors will be clearing slips and debris over coming days, says Helen. Drivers need to be aware of this work which is so urgently needed, take care around crews, slow down and be prepared for delays.

Slips and localised flooding are an ongoing risk given the soaked state of the hills and land.

Farmers told to dump milk:

Dairy farmers in Rai Valley are being told to dump their milk, as milk tankers are unable to reach them.

An urgent call went out this morning for help for a Wakapuaka dairy farmer who has no power and has been unable to milk their herd.

Help was requested for temporary placement of cows, milking cows and uncalved cows as well as baleage for feed. If you can help call Eloise 020 4184 2546 Federated Farmers

Marsden Valley Rd closed:

Nelson City Council says damage on Marsden Valley Rd means it is closed and highly likely that it will remain so for a few hours while it is stabilized.

"Please be aware if you leave home there may be a delay in returning and you may not be able to leave your home. We are trying to ensure we can keep at least one lane open but we can’t guarantee it. Please pass this message to friends and family who need to know."

Conserve water:

People are also asked to conserve water after the water supply to the water treatment plant has been damaged and is operating at a lower capacity than normal.

"To maintain Nelson's drinking water, some areas of Stoke will receive water from the Richmond water supply.  Changes are also being made to the water network throughout Nelson city to help reduce demand, so residents may notice a reduction in their water pressure. You can help to protect our city's water supply by conserving water wherever possible - thank you," said Civil Defence in a statement.

To donate to the Nelson-Tasman Mayoral Relief Fund, simply transfer money to the Nelson City Council bank account:030703 0325055 00 and please use the reference “Mayoral Relief Fund”.