A state of emergency has been declared in Northland.
Northland District Council made the declaration at 1pm on Tuesday, for an initial period of seven days, as part of the response to the current weather event.
The emergency declaration was requested by Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group Controller Graeme MacDonald and signed by CDEM Group chair and Deputy Far North Mayor Kelly Stratford.
An Emergency Mobile Alert advising of the declaration is being sent to phones in Northland which are capable of receiving them.
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MetService/Supplied
A state of emergency has been declared in Northland.
MacDonald said emergency declarations were relatively rare in Northland, with only five emergency declarations since 1973, some of which affected only parts of the region.
He said some of the most commonly used emergency powers include evacuating premises and places; entering premises; closing roads and public places; removing aircraft, vessels, vehicles etc; and requisitioning property, equipment, material or supplies.
“We don’t know for certain that we will need to make use of these emergency powers but, given the potential for the main impact of this event to happen overnight, we’ve done it now as a precautionary step so we have them available if they’re needed,” MacDonald said.
Supplied
Far North Mayor Moko Tepania (Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa, Te Rarawa) is encouraging rōpu to prepare. (File photo)
He said although this weather event has begun with only moderate rainfall for most parts of Northland and no further significant issues on the roads as yet, Northland Civil Defence – along with all of the region’s emergency services and partner agencies – continue to urge Northlanders to take it seriously.
Far North Mayor Moko Tepania (Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa, Te Rarawa) is encouraging rōpu in the Far North to prepare for the incoming weather system, however communities have already been creating plans.
Tepania said the wet weather was set to coincide with high tide later this afternoon, and could create problems.
Kaumatua and kuia in the Whirinaki Valley, Hokianga have already been evacuated by locals after a tree fell into the river.
“You can never be too prepared,” Tepania said.
