22 Feb 2018

Gita: Storm sweeps 16 slips over Takaka road

From Morning Report, 7:20 am on 22 February 2018

Takaka and the surrounding area faces a long and expensive clean up after Tuesday night's big storm while other areas are still being hit by the tail of former-cyclone Gita. In Golden Bay the immediate priority is supplying the necessities of life to thousands of locals and tourists after the only road over Takaka Hill was severly damaged by slips. Neil Walker from the Transport Agency says it is unlikely to reopen any time soon. Tasman District Mayor Richard Kempthorne tells Guyon Espiner the critical thing is getting the road open, and getting food and fuel into Golden Bay by barge.