A group of 50 workers at a Hawke's Bay apple orchard have been rescued after scrambling onto the top of roofs to escape rising flood water as they waited for help to arrive.
Apple orchard Mr Apple confirmed the news of the successful rescue effort to 1News this evening.
Footage posted to Facebook by Lie Tu'imoala shows at least 10 people sitting on top of small dwellings on the banks of the Tūtaekurī River at Mr Apple on Omarunui Rd in Puketapu.
The video shows the group surrounded by brown water sitting high up against the individual cabins.
At one stage in the clip, two of the men are seen swimming in the water while one man manoeuvres back inside one of the windows to reclaim more property.
A number of vehicles can be seen in the video, with one van totally submerged and only a fraction of its roof showing.
Despite their situation, the group appeared to be in good spirits and were staying positive.
Some appeared to have been able to save some personal items while others were seen sharing food.
One of the three directors at Mr Apple, Andrew Borland, earlier told 1News there were difficulties communicating with the search and rescue teams who were trying to get to the group.
Borland said: "It's all in the hands of the authorities and Civil Defence. We're obviously concerned about them and working with the authorities to get them to a safer place as quickly as possible."
He said Mr Apple would do "everything we can do" to help them and said some workers who had managed to make it to higher ground earlier had been taken to one of the managers' homes.
"We'll do everything it takes to look after them," he added.
He said water had come through the apple orchard and many other parts of that district.
Borland said they were most worried about the people.
"Information is very sketchy at the moment, reception is bad, we're just hoping the authorities can get in there and get them out."
More than 1100 social media users have shared comments on the post, many who expressed concerns about the group.
One person wrote: "Please stay safe."
Another said: "That is not good for you guys. I hope help comes for you guys. God bless and be safe."
A third wrote: "Is anyone going to help these guys?"
More than 40 households in Eskdale in the Hawke's Bay are trapped due to Cyclone Gabrielle, Fire and Emergency NZ have said.
They said multiple people are trapped in flooded houses or cars on State Highway 5.
"Rescues are delayed due to a bridge washout and there are people trapped in Puketapu."
State of Emergency
At 8.30am, a National State of Emergency was declared to assist in the response to Cyclone Gabrielle.
The declaration will include Northland, Auckland, Tairāwhiti, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, and Hawke's Bay.
Hawke's Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Group are urging all Taradale and Omanhu residents to evacuate immediately: "If possible, stay with family and friends".
"Check that your evacuation route is safe, check the Waka Kotahi website for road closures.
"If unable to stay with family and friends, Omahu residents are being asked to go to Hastings Sports' Centre.
"Taradale Community are being asked to go to St Joseph's Māori Girls' School."
"Defence Force assets are on their way to Hawke's Bay and active rescues are underway."
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