Road access to the Urewera township of Ruatahuna has finally been restored after being cut off for more than a week.
The road closed sign at the edge of the northern cordon around Kaikoura. Photo: RNZ / Chris Bramwell
Ruatahuna was one of several Bay of Plenty towns completely cut off by slips and flooding caused by Cyclone Debbie, and yesterday it was the last to have its roads reopened.
Whakatāne district mayor Tony Bonne said the roads were still fragile and a lot of work was still needed to get them back to full use.
Residents of Ruatahuna also had to cope without power over the last week.
Meanwhile, hundreds of homes and businesses around Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay were still without power.