Taranaki Civil Defence Emergency Management Group
Media Release
For immediate release

Event: Ex Cyclone Gita
Media release no: 5
Date/Time: 23 February 11.45am

Latest updates

New Plymouth District Water supply:

NPDC fixed the pipe last night that was damaged during ex Cyclone Gita.

Water is running through it and they are filling reservoirs.

While this process continues, please continue to save and boil water as this will support the refilling process.

Fix-It squads are on the ground this morning in Waitara.

They have to manually remove the lid of fire hydrants, install a vertical pipe (stand pipe) which will allow air and water to escape the system as it is gradually refilled.

They need to do this slowly so they can control the pressure, venting the air from the pipes as water rushes in.

There are about 30 fire hydrants that they do this to in Waitara and then they’ll move to other parts of district.

People will see water coming out of the pipe and this is an important safety measure; confirming the pipes are full of water and pressure is under control.

There will be several days of flushing the pipes clean to make the water safe to drink again.

In the meantime, we ask everyone to continue to save and boil water until further notice.

Please ensure your neighbours, particularly the elderly and infirm, are okay.

It will take about a week until we are in a position to lift the boil water notice.

While the refill is occurring some areas will still have disruptions to water supply. Urenui and Onareo may be without water.

Water tankers have been put in place at 31 Onaero Beach Road and corner Whakapaki Street & Ngakoti Streets opposite the primary school.

There are also water tankers at:

Hickford Park Car Park (end of Smeaton Road), Bell Block.
Bell Block Court, Bell Block (outside The Warehouse).
Outside Waitara Memorial Hall, Memorial Place, Waitara.
Clifton Park car park, opposite Waitara High School, Princess Street, Waitara.
Outside Tennis/Bowling Club, Manutahi Road, Lepperton.
Rimu Street Industrial Park, Rimu Street, Merrilands, New Plymouth.
Outside Mangorei School, Mangorei Road, New Plymouth.

Health & hygiene - toilets:
- It’s okay to leave your toilet unflushed for 24 hours.
- If it’s getting full, find undrinkable water to pour into the bowl to flush it out – used dishwater, rainwater, paddling pool water, etc.
- If you have access to a camp toilet, take advantage of it.
- If you are traveling to an area not affected by the water shortage, use the toilet there.

South Taranaki update
• Storm-related greenwaste can be dropped off, for free, at all South Taranaki DC transfer stations between 1 - 4pm through until Sunday 25 February. They have also set up 3 alternative sites to drop off greenwaste in Hawera, Normanby and Kaponga. Go to this link to see exactly where the alternative sites are located and times available:https://www.southtaranaki.com/Council/Gita-Greenwaste-clean-up/

• Most local roads in South Taranaki have been cleared to, at least, one lane of traffic however there are still some closed – click here for a roading status update.https://www.southtaranaki.com/Live/Press-Releases-News-Articles/State-of-Emergency-Declared/60684/

For those in South Taranaki rural areas without power. We have organised the following:
• Members of the public can use the showers at Sandford Event Centre Opunake between 9am - 5pm (Mon-Fri) PH: 06 758 7609 and at the Hawera Holiday Park between 9am – 5pm PH 0272730539.
• People can fill up containers with Potable taps at:
- The Four Square in Rahotu
- Opunake LibraryPlus
- Oaonui Hall where there will be a water tanker from 2pm – 4:30pm Thursday –Sunday 24 Feb
- Manaia Swimming Pool Fri 3:30pm – 7pm Sat/Sun noon – 7pm
- Normanby Hall (outside taps)
- Kaponga Swimming Pool (Sat/Sun noon – 5pm)
- Eltham LibraryPlus
- Patea LibraryPlus (during open hours Mon-Fri 9-5pm, Sat 9:30am -12 noon)
- Waverley LibraryPlus (during open hours Mon-Fri 9-5pm, Sat 9:30am -12 noon)

• All rural pools, apart from Kaponga, are open today. Please note, this is subject to change.
• Naumai Park (High Street, Hawera) has a lot of damaged trees. Please stay away from this area.
• Numerous streetlight bulbs have blown – these should be repaired by the end of the week.

Declaration status
A local state of emergency will remain in place for the New Plymouth District but has been lifted for Stratford and South Taranaki Districts.

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