Urgent repair work is underway to fix a chunk of road swept away yesterday by rain, Far North mayor John Carter says.
The washed out road south of Pukenui between Whalers Road and Lamb Road. Photo: Facebook / Houhora Big Game & Sports Fishing Club
State Highway One 40km north of Kaitaia was washed out at about 4pm yesterday, essentially cutting off about 4000 Far North residents.
The water punched a hole in the road about 20m wide and 4m to 5m deep, the Transport Agency said.
It is not known how many tourists could be stranded in the area.
NZTA's Northland system manager, Jaqui Hori-Hoult, said it could be middle of next week before the road is repaired, if the weather plays ball.
Contractors would work to repair the culvert that had been washed away and then create one late, she said.
Ms Hori-Hoult said welfare teams were contacting those stranded by the washout to see they have all they need.
Civil Defence said it was also keeping an eye on the situation and help would be provided to anyone who needed it.
Mr Carter said a blocked culvert that overflowed was to blame.
"There was just an unbelievable downpour of rain, unseen before quite honestly as far as any of the locals are aware, and the consequence of the culvert being blocked is it just washed the road right out," he said.
Mr Carter said nobody knew that this part of the road was at risk.
"As far as I'm aware the authorities weren't aware of it - obviously if they had of been they would have fixed it, so it's come as a surprise.
"What it has shown us is that we need to get better at it and that's why we're working on changing the way in which we do our inspections."
He said NZTA had contractors on the ground at the moment working to create one lane.
"The NZTA are looking to do as fast as possible a temporary repair so we can open one lane to take people back and forward, I can't give a timeline on that yet, but it's being worked on."
He said access to Kaitaia hospital was a concern, but if it was necessary for people to travel they could use the beach or forestry roads.
"We do have the beach which people can come down, but of course that depends on tides. We do have access through forestry roading but you've just got to take great care if you are using the forestry roading. So everyone's not completely cut off, but it's certainly causing challenges to people.
"We have the 90 Mile fishing competition on at the moment so there's 1000 fishermen up on the beach so anyone using the beach needs to take great care."
Washout on State Highway 1. Photo: RNZ / Supplied
However, NZTA said people should not take beach or forestry routes.
Northland system manager Jacqui Hori-Hoult said it did not want to have to divert resources to rescue people stuck in sand or lost or broken down in the forest.
"These are high risk options for drivers and their vehicles if they are not experienced at driving in these conditions.
"Please do not use these routes."
Motorists should delay travel if possible, Ms Hori-Hoult said.
Civil Defence spokesperson Bill Hutchinson said a drop-in centre had been set up at the Houhora Big Game and Sports Club, but nobody has needed it yet.