Homes red-stickered, highway to reopen as Kaikōura state of emergency lifts

Kaikōura's mayor says the state of emergency has been lifted, with SH1 expected to reopen tomorrow.

Kaikōura District Council declared a state of emergency last Tuesday, after torrential rain led to widespread flooding and the Kowhai River burst its banks which resulted in parts of the town being evacuated.

State Highway 1 south of Kaikoura to Cheviot and the Inland Kaikoura Road (Inland Route 70) remains closed due to slips and washouts.

People who want to travel further north on SH1 than Cheviot have to take the longer inland route via State Highways 7, 65, 6 and 63.

But the road is expected to reopen at midday on Wednesday after being closed last week.

The section from Cheviot to Kaikōura will be open to all traffic if no further safety concerns are identified.

The highway will be reduced to a single lane with speed restrictions and stop-go traffic management in place where floodwaters have eaten away parts of the road.

That is expected to remain in place for several weeks.

Rocks and debris have been cleared from State Highway 1, but motorists are being asked to travel with care and respect the restrictions in place.

Mayor Craig Mackle said the council's recovery priorities are restoring safe road and bridge access and ensuring the welfare of residents.

He said two houses had been red-stickered due to landslide risk, and four houses yellow-stickered with another two likely to also be yellow-stickered.

Waitaki District Council, further south, had lifted its local state of emergency last week.

The destructive southerly system made its way up the South Island last week, with heavy rain, flooding and strong winds reaching the lower North Island.

Kaikōura farmer Adam McManaway lost fences and feed when three rivers crossing his farm breached their banks.

A Kaikōura motel manager said he had to cancel bookings after floodwaters swept through all the units.