A 1m dropout at Mata Road, Tokomaru Bay, at the 17.5km mark. Photo: Gisborne District Council
A new flight service has launched on the East Coast giving vulnerable communities the ability to avoid damaged roads in the region.
With slips and broken roads blocking the path between Gisborne and Ruatoria, getting supplies to people up the East Coast has been a problem in recent weeks.
Debris still remains on stretches of State Highway 35 and State Highway 2, causing delays and dangerous conditions.
"We're prioritising those with medical needs and welfare needs over any kind of other passenger" Rapaea Parata, Ngāti Porou
On Tuesday, Air Ruatoria and Ngāti Porou began a partnership, running daily flights between Ruatoria and Gisborne to keep the communities connected.
Rapaea Parata of Ngāti Porou has been involved in the flights. She told Morning Report the partnership had been running daily flights from Wednesday, departing from Ruatoria to Gisborne in the morning and returning in the afternoon.
"There are five seats available, so five passengers per flight, you can only carry on a 7kg bag with you," she said.
"We're prioritising those with medical needs and welfare needs over any kind of other passenger."
The flights will be running until 8 March and depending on how well the service is going it may be extended, she said.
The runway being used was considered by some as too soft at times for landing, but Parata said it hadn't been an issue.