Updated 6.15pm:
Nelson Tasman Civil Defence has issued several updates tonights, including which schools are closed tomorrow, and where power outages and boil water notices remain.
School closures
The following schools and early learning centres will be closed tomorrow (Monday):
Tapawera Area School, Riwaka School, Brooklyn School, Tapawera Kindergarten.
Water shortages
Motueka Top 10 Holiday Park are offering showers to the public, between the hours of 9am – 4pm. Please come to reception first and bring your own towel and toiletries. Motueka Rec Center are also offering showers on Monday 9am – 8.30pm. Please bring your own towel and toiletries.There will be a water tanker at the Motueka Recreation Centre 8-12pm Monday, BYO vessels.The Motueka Recreation Centre, 40 Old Wharf Road will be open Monday-Wednesday 10am-3pm. With agencies on-site to have a chat about any specific welfare needs.
Power
Great progress continues to be made with restoring power to impacted properties. There are under 200 homes still without power tonight.
Update: 3.35pm - State Highway 6 has reopened between Belgrove and Kohatu this afternoon.
This means direct access between Nelson and Murchison/West Coast has been restored.
Drivers can expect road work sites, areas reduced to a single lane, and stop-go traffic management along this route. Please allow extra travel time.
Drivers can expect weather damage on all state highways across the top of the South and must drive to the conditions. The potential for slips, rock and tree falls remains, and drivers are urged to check road conditions before they travel as routes can close at short notice
Update: 11:45am - State Highway 6 from Kohatu Junction to Murchison has now reopened; however, there is no access to Nelson via SH6 from Murchison.
Essential travel from Christchurch to Nelson is via Kaikōura, as the highway between Belgrove and Kohatu Junction remains closed.
SH6 Rocks Rd also remains closed to all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, with a traffic detour via Waimea Rd.
Nelson Tasman Civil Defence will update this afternoon the impacted schools and roads for those returning from school holidays to plan ahead.
It also implores people involved in the floods clean-up not to dispose of silt until a silt management plan is arranged with special drop-off sites, as the substance can present health hazards.
The advice is to leave silt on site where it is safe and practical to do so and if silt has already been disposed of, contact Nelson Tasman Civil Defence to let them know the silt dump site.
A number of households remain affected by power outages and work is ongoing to repair the network.
If you are clearing your property, please be aware of local power and communications lines and infrastructure to maintain connection and stay safe.
7:40am - As the region shifts into clean-up mode following Friday's devastating floods, response assessment teams will begin visiting properties in those areas worst hit.
Initially teams will be focusing on the Mārahau, Motueka Valley, Tadmor Valley, Tapawera, Wangapeka, Sherry River Valley, Riwaka, and Brooklyn areas.
The teams are there to determine the level of support required and assess property needs.
State Highway 60 reopened between Riwaka and Upper Tākaka on Saturday evening. The route is open to all traffic.
However, the highway has suffered weather damage and drivers can expect some sections of the road to be restricted to one lane and under give way and traffic light controls.
Road users must use extreme caution on this route.
There are currently 357 households affected by power outages. Work will recommence this morning on repairing the network.
Permanent boil water notices remain in place for Dovedale, Redwood Valley and 88 Valley. Temporary notices remain in place for residents of Tapawera. This is due to be reviewed tomorrow but will likely remain in place for longer. All households on a private water bore have been advised to boil their water as a precaution.
A reminder that the Motueka Recreation Centre, 40 Old Wharf Road will be open today from 10am-3pm. The Ministry for Social Development, Public Health, Te Piki Oranga, Ministry for Primary Industries, Nelson Bays Primary Health and Nelson Tasman Pasifika Community Trust will be there to have a chat about your specific welfare needs.
