Tairāwhiti Civil Defence has declared a state of local emergency with a major Gisborne river threatening to breach its banks as the district continues to be pummelled by ex-Cyclone Hale. Earlier this afternoon, Green said the civil defence team was anxious about levels potentially reaching 13m. Civil Defence controller Greg Shelton said the rising river posed a major risk of thousands of hectares of farmland and property being damaged. Tairāwhiti Civil Defence and Emergency manager Ben Green says people should delay travel and keep off the roads if they can. New Zealand Civil Defence told people to make an emergency plan and prepare homes ahead of the tropical blast.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 10, 2023 06:14 UTC