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Transition period
The State of Emergency that was declared for Tauranga following severe weather ended on Wednesday, 4 February. The Notice of Local Transition period, under Section 94B of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002, took effect at 12.42pm on February 4 and ends on 4 March unless it is extended or ends before then.
Geotech experts continue to assess Mauao landslide risk
Geotechnical engineers are continuing this week to assess risks surrounding several structures at the base of Mauao following the landslide that tragically claimed six lives on 22 January.
Read the media release
Key information:
- Pilot Bay boat ramp closed for foreseeable future
- Mauao remains closed, with 40 slips identified - 29 on the base track. Closure will stay in place until experts confirm risk levels are safe
- Surf club building remains red-placarded
- Slip alert alarm system in place at Mount Hot Pools and Campground area
Adams Ave temporary closure
Adams Avenue, between Pilot Bay and the Maunganui Road roundabout, will be temporarily closed to vehicles from 8am Friday, 13 February as a heavy rain watch is in place. The footpath on the ‘shop side’ of Adams Ave will remain open. A portion of The Mall on Pilot Bay is also closed to vehicles.
This is a precautionary approach following geotechnical advice about the current risks on Mauao from anticipated rainfall from Friday to Saturday.
The heavy rain watch will be updated as Metservice provide further information.
Whilst no definite timeframe can be given for the duration of the closure, it is temporary. The road will not be opened until the rain event has passed and we have expert advice regarding the safety of the area.
Rāhui
The Rāhui placed by Tangata Whenua over parts of Waikorire (Pilot Bay) and Hīnekite (Mount Main Beach) following last month’s severe weather event has been lifted.
The Pilot Bay boat ramp remains closed.
Due to the risk of landslip and the associated maritime safety risks around Mauao/Mount Maunganui, a 30-metre exclusion zone put in place by the Bay of Plenty Regional Harbourmaster remains.
The exclusion zone applies to all vessels and people and is 30 metres from the base/shore of Mauao.
Road cordon lifted, Mauao remains closed
The Mall, Maunganui Road, Marine Parade and Adams Avenue is open to vehicles and pedestrians.
Shipping containers have been installed beside the footpath along Adams Avenue (between Maunganui Road and The Mall) as a precautionary measure to stop any potential debris movement. Two large boulders posing a risk on the northern side of the slip were removed on Thursday 5 February.
Permanent fencing has been installed to keep people out of the affected area, as the site remains hazardous. Areas behind the permanent fencing remain closed and must not be entered.
A 30-metre maritime exclusion zone also remains in place around Mauao. The exclusion applies to all vessels and people and extends 30 metres from the base and shoreline of Mauao.
We encourage people to visit the area and support local businesses, but we ask people to respect the no-go zones, fencing, signage and on-site instructions. Operational and recovery work is ongoing, and vehicles may still be operating in the area.
Mauao remains closed to protect public safety
While the road cordon around Adams Avenue and neighbouring streets has now been lifted, Mayor Mahé would like to remind the public that access to Mauao is still closed.
Recent monitoring and inspections have identified instability on sections of the maunga, including areas where rockfall and landslip risk has increased.
As part of the geotechnical assessment, a trigger action alarm system is in place which will sound should there be further landslips.
If people are near the fencing when an alarm goes off, they’re advised to move away from the area as quickly as possible.
Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park is closed until further notice
Following the landslide on Thursday, 22 January, the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park is closed until further notice.
Campground staff are working hard to contact guests who have bookings. This will take some time, and we ask for your patience.
Please do not call us with booking questions as we need to keep our phone lines free for urgent communications.
Tsunami safe location – Hopukiore Mount Drury
Hopukiore Mount Drury has now reopened and is a designated tsunami safe location.
In the event of a tsunami, the tsunami safe locations for Mount Maunganui are at Hopukiore Mount Drury and at Blake Park, between Maunganui Road and Totara Street. Mauao is no longer a designated tsunami safe location due to the Mauao landslide event on Thursday, 22 January and is closed to the public until further notice. There are still cordons in place around Mauao for public safety. However Marine Parade, as far as Adams Avenue is open to pedestrians. An earthquake is the first warning that a tsunami might be on the way. Do not wait for official warnings to evacuate. If an earthquake is long or strong, get gone. Move quickly to higher ground or as far from the coastline as possible. For more information on tsunami evacuation zones, visit www.tauranga.govt.nz/tsunami and bopcivildefence.govt.nz.
Public toilets at Mount Maunganui
Public toilets at the Pilot Bay Boat Ramp (cnr Adams Avenue and Pilot Quay) and Mount Surf Club (Adams Avenue) are currently closed. The following public toilets remain open:
- Mount Main Beach, Marine Parade, (opposite Commons Avenue) 6am-midnight
- Mount Drury Hopukiore Reserve, Pacific Avenue, 7am-11pm
- Mount Drury Hopukiore Reserve, 61 Maunganui Road, 7am -11pm
- Mount Main Street (Te Papa o Ngā Manu Porotakataka), 141 Maunganui Road, 7am-11pm
- Salisbury Avenue, 10 Salisbury Avenue, 24 hours
- The Mall, opposite 24 The Mall, 24 hours
Track closures
- Johnson Reserve, all access point until arborists confirm site safe and tree works completed.
- Waikareao West, Novella Place location
Community wellbeing and support Tauranga Mayoral Relief Fund