Helicopters using monsoon buckets have successfully brought down truckloads of earth created by a slip at Kawakawa near Auckland.
A section of earth above the slip is threatening to come down on the main road into the settlement, forcing residents to make a 100-kilometre detour to get to and from Manukau.
The helicopters have bombarded the earth with 130,000 litres of water - in monsoon bucket loads of 1300 litres at a time.
Manukau City Council says when it has cleared the hazard work will begin on clearing debris from the main slip off the road.
The council says it will probably be October before residents can use the main road again.
