Photo: RNZ/Tess Brunton
The residents of a small Southland settlement affected by erosion have been given until Friday afternoon to evacuate.
Bluecliffs - located at the mouth of the Waiau River - is already under a state of emergency, after rapid erosion from the sea and Waiau River threatened properties.
The six permanent residents are now being asked to leave their homes in the next two days, as work gets under way to clear a nearby dump that could contain explosives, asbestos and other hazardous material.
Emergency Management Southland controller Lucy Hicks said a 1km radius of the tip will ensure everyone's safety.
"Set up is intending to start on Saturday and work itself may take up to three weeks.
"Our focus is on ensuring the safety of the residents and those working in the area."
Accommodation has been arranged in Tuatapere for the Bluecliffs residents.
Hicks said there was a "solid plan" to deal with any issues that could crop up during the excavation of the tip,
"But we don't know what is in there and where.
"We have to clear the tip as the erosion continues to creep closer and want to minimise the risk of it going into the sea,"