The Kaikōura community is back in familiar territory, nearly 10 years on from the devastating November 2016 earthquake.
By David Hill for Local Democracy Reporting
With road closures, bridges damaged, rural residents cut off and flood damage in the town, the community is bracing itself for another long recovery, following heavy rain and flooding this week.
Nicky McArthur, who owns Puhi Peaks Station in the Seaward Kaikōura Ranges to the north of the town, said the latest event was "devastating".
"It might be 10 years since the earthquake, but we are still dealing with earthquake damage.
"Puhi Puhi Rd is a mess, as are rural roads all over the district.
"Different story, same gig. I feel for the farmers. My heart goes out to those who lost stock."
McArthur said she was relieved there was no snow and temperatures have not dropped below zero.
State Highway 1 north of Kaikōura reopened at 5pm on Wednesday evening, but it remained closed between Kaikōura and Cheviot on Thursday afternoon, along with Kaikōura Inland Rd.
Takahanga Marae opened up as an evacuation centre, reminiscent of its role after the 2016 earthquake.
Marae general manager Chevy Allen said up to 300 people were supported between 10am and 10pm on Tuesday, with around 60 staying overnight.
The Kaikōura Top 10 Holiday Park had been evacuated, until mayor Craig Mackle advised the guests could return, Allen said.
Marae staff camped out in the offices, while whānau kept evacuees fed throughout the two days with a menu including soup, curried sausages, creamed chicken, a roast meal and Filipino food.
The team went to the Kaikōura New World early on Tuesday morning, after getting the call from the Kaikōura District Council on Monday evening, Allen said.
"It was non-stop food. We are used to feeding hundreds of people. We just kept cooking and cooking until everyone stopped coming up to the counter.
"We just go to the supermarket and they send us an invoice. There is a need and we just get on and do it.
"The main thing is these people were stranded and hungry and tired, and we gave them somewhere to put their feet up, stay warm and have some warm food."
Among the guests at the marae were international travellers Julia, from Spain; Sheila, from Andorra; and Florian, from Germany, who departed on Thursday morning.
The three arrived at the marae after receiving the emergency mobile alert and said they felt safe, supported and well cared for.
While the severe weather delayed their travel plans, they embraced the unexpected cultural experience and were grateful for the warmth and hospitality.
Julia and Sheila were travelling together on working holiday visas and were bound for Queenstown for housekeeping jobs.
Florian was on his way to Oamaru to join a shearing gang.
Astrophotographer Rachel Gillespie usually divides her time between Kaikōura and Rangiora, with the most of her work in Canterbury.
She said her astrotourism business was at the behest of the weather.
"It's just the nature of the business. We probably have 60% cancellations, so you have to be able to make it work on 40% of your bookings."
But she said the flooding will be devastating for Kaikōura businesses which rely on tourism.
Gillespie and her partner Andrew Spencer, a local photographer, helped investigate bridges around Hāpuku for The Whale Trail with a drone.
"We went up the Hāpuku track a few days before the rain and now a lot that has been scoured out.
"There’s plenty of damage out there and I do feel for the farmers."
Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust co-ordinator Colette Doughty said Matariki events had been cancelled.
"‘The Matariki train can’t come up because the tracks aren’t open and the ground is sodden, so there’s nowhere we can safely have people out at night.
"So much work has gone into planning it all, so it’s disappointing, but we need to focus on being safe and get on with the recovery."
– Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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