A further 10 people have been evacuated from coastal areas in Hawke’s Bay.

Eight people have been rescued from Mangakuri by police and council four wheel drives.

A helicopter has also picked up two teenage boys from Aramoana Beach.

Central Hawke’s Bay District Council Emergency Officer Bruce Kitto says everyone who wanted to be evacuated has now been brought out.

He says now there’s limited access to some of the beaches, several permanent residents have decided to stay.

Mr Kitto says Aramoana Beach is still completely landlocked and it may be two to three weeks before road access can be achieved.

It may be some time before the evacuated Hawke’s Bay residents can return to their homes.

35 people were evacuated by helicopter from Kairakau yesterday and another four from Aramoana, while several others have self evacuated.

Central Hawke’s Bay incident controller Te Aroha Cook says there is significant damage to roading in the district.

“It’s anticipated that with the exception of Kairakau and Mangakuri that hopefully by the end of the weekend, most people can go back to their dwellings,” she says.

Ms Cook says most evacuees are staying with family and friends, while others have been put up in local motels.

Federated Farmers says stock deaths are inevitable in the Hawke’s Bay following this week’s weather bomb.

Several farmers in the worst hit coastal areas of the Bay have watched their livelihood all but disappear amid heavy rain and landslips.

Some say they have no idea where there stock is – and whether they’re alive.

Federated Farmers Meat and Fibre Spokesman Bruce Wills – a Hawke’s Bay farmer – says no one knew how bad this weather event would be.

“It’s just the speed of the event has caught a few people. There will be some stock losses but I think if it had to come at a time of year, this time of year with stock well fed, there’s no lambs about, stock are in pretty good heart and a good time of year to cope with this sort of event,” he says.

 

– NewstalkZB