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Helicopters swooped into the Waioeka Gorge overnight, airlifting more than 40 people to safety after slips and flooding cut off trapped motorists. 

Police were alerted to the first slip about 9am yesterday after heavy rain hammered the area between Matawai and Ōpōtiki. 

Conditions rapidly deteriorated, with further slips and flooding cutting off motorists. 

By midnight, helicopters had evacuated everyone known to be trapped, Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Commander Inspector Nicky Cooney said. 

Another eight people at two private properties are due to be flown out this morning. 

“It’s been a significant effort to reach so many people who were trapped,” Cooney said. 

“I want to acknowledge the efforts of local helicopter pilots, New Zealand Defence Force staff, local and regional councils, and Police Search and Rescue. 

“It’s been a long operation, but we’re just thankful that everyone is safe – everyone we know about has been accounted for.” 

Evacuated motorists were initially flown to a nearby campsite, before an NZDF NH90 helicopter ferried them on to evacuation centres at Matawai and Ōpōtiki. 

“The recovery of the vehicles will take some time given the significant damage and number of slips through the gorge, but the main thing is nobody was hurt,” Cooney said. 

Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz said everyone had now been safely evacuated, praising the overnight response. 

“We know that everyone has been safely evacuated, and it was great coordination by the Bay of Plenty, police and NZTA – they worked last night to evacuate everyone by helicopter,” Stoltz said. 

She said NZTA would reassess damage to the gorge on Monday morning after aerial inspections. 

“There is extensive damage to the gorge, and we will coordinate with them on Monday to see how we move forward.” 

SH2 closed all weekend 

The Waioeka Gorge was closed to motorists yesterday and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi says it will remain closed over the weekend. 

State Highway 2, through the Waioeka Gorge, is closed due to a slip. Image / Google Maps 

“Crews are on-site clearing debris,” NZTA said. “Use the detours provided or consider delaying your journey.” 

An update on the closure is expected on Monday. Motorists are advised to check NZTA’s Journey Planner for the latest road conditions. 

Electrical storm and widespread lightning 

An intense electrical storm swept through the gorge ahead of the slips, as severe thunderstorms rolled across the North Island early Friday morning. 

MetService said almost 18,000 lightning strikes were recorded between noon Thursday and 7am Friday across Northland, Waikato, Taranaki, Manawatū and surrounding waters, with Waikato and Taranaki recording the highest numbers. 

MetService had warned that the thunderstorms could bring torrential rain and flash flooding. 

The wild weather follows severe conditions on Thursday, when tornadoes ripped across parts of the North Island, damaging buildings and bringing down trees and fences.