27 Nov 2016

Farmers use Kaikōura's inland route for urgent milking

2:50 pm on 27 November 2016

Dairy farmers in the quake-hit Kaikōura area have been able to get some stock out through the inland road, although the route remains officially closed to private vehicles.

Cars and campervans were able to drive out of Kaikoura via the inland route today.

Cars and campervans were able to drive out of Kaikoura via the inland route today. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Work is continuing to try to restore road access to the town, but Civil Defence said there was no set date for the road to reopen.

View RNZ's full coverage of the earthquakes here.

Seven stock trucks came in yesterday afternoon, and made the return journey with about 130 cows on board.

Farmers in the area want to avoid drying their stock off as the milking season gets underway.

Civil Defence said that at this stage the road continues to be open for emergency and infrastructure vehicles only.

A family fun day planned for this afternoon was also moved from Churchill Park to Takahanga Domain due to high winds in Kaikōura.

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