Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Auckland Council has said sorry to the residents of Piha for prematurely lifting cordons in the flood-ravaged town.
Auckland Emergency Management deputy response manager Mace Ward said the lifting of the cordon at the junction of Piha Road and Anawhata Road was discussed as part of a wider cordon management plan on Thursday and Friday.
Ward said details were still being worked through over the weekend.
However, the cordon was lifted on Monday morning to the shock of residents.
"I apologise for any confusion and upset that this may have caused. I also want to reassure residents that any future decisions regarding cordon management on the West Coast will be communicated to the public well ahead of time," Ward said.
Locals took to social media to vent their outrage at the lifting of the cordons.
Cordons have now been reinstated. The Waitākere Ranges Regional Park remains closed to visitors.
This includes Anawhata, Arataki, Cornwallis, Huia, Karekare, Piha, Te Henga Bethells, and Whatipu.
"We appreciate that Piha residents are experiencing unprecedented upheaval and uncertainty at this time."
Auckland Emergency Management deputy response manager, Mace Ward. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Chair of the Waitākere Ranges Local Board Greg Presland said there was plenty of angst among locals.
"Some local people are very keen for it to happen. They've got businesses that are struggling without patronage and other people are very worried. They've got stickered houses and they don't want strangers coming in and the possibility of burglaries."
Presland said an assault on Saturday night had heightened those feelings in the area.
"It's not a great situation."
He said the management response may have started slowly but people were getting up to speed with things that were working.
"It is really hard to get the roads opened, the geotech assessments are being done. But this recovery stage is going to be a long process and it will take time."
Presland said it was going to take a while for investigations to be completed and for people to understand where they were.
