Southland residents are worried their homes and baches at a small beach community will be swept into the Waiau River as swift waters claw into the banks.
A local state of emergency has been declared for Bluecliffs as the river swells from recent heavy rain, taking gravel and sand with it. Locals have been calling for action from their local council for more than a year to no avail and now they're facing potential evacuation.
Tess Brunton is in Bluecliffs and filed this report
