26 Jun 2023

Te Karaka isolated to the north after cracks, slips close SH2 at Otoko Hill

From Morning Report, 6:16 am on 26 June 2023

The Gisborne settlement of Te Karaka is isolated to the north after heavy rain since Thursday washed out a section of State Highway 2.

The region is saturated and fragile, and geotechnical crews will be out today inspecting broken roads and slips, including cracks at Otoko Hill near Te Karaka.

On Friday, local farmer, Damian McPherson watched as water from the local river flooded about 50 hectares of his land - wiping out much of the work he's done to recover from Cyclone Gabrielle.

Damian McPherson spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.