Warwick Horton travelled to his home after being told all hell might break loose. Photo: RNZ/Dan Jones
Authorities had got it "fairly right" over a possible threat to homes near the Tauranga-Taupō River north of Tūrangi, a resident says.
People living near the river that came close to bursting its banks this morning were unlikely to have to leave their homes, authorities said by mid-morning.
Residents had been told to prepare to evacuate after wild weather lashed much of the North Island overnight, sending the river near the settlement of Oruatua into flood.
A tanker travels over the river this morning. Photo: RNZ/Dan Jones
The Tauranga-Taupō River had likely peaked by 9am and was expected to fall without breaching its banks, Taupō District emergency management said.
"There is no further significant rain in the 24-hour forecast but as always people should check the forecast, exercise caution around rivers and stay out of flooded areas," the agency said.
"Civil Defence centres have been set up in Tūrangi and Taupō if needed but these will be stood down as the day progresses."
There are about 70 properties at the Tauranga-Taupō settlement, but most were holiday homes with only about 20 properties occupied and about 35 residents in total.
Some of them told RNZ they were ready to leave their homes - and some of their neighbours had - but they were glad to stay put.
Mark and Karen had been told to prepare to leave their home. Photo: RNZ/Dan Jones
Mark and Karen had been out checking on the river levels during the morning, and authorities had told them to prepare to leave.
"Police have been round this morning knocking on doors, just saying, you know, 'be ready, do you need help or anything?'," said Mark.
"Everyone's just, hurry up and wait, and hopefully it doesn't get any worse."
Cody was not too concerned about the flooding. Photo: RNZ/Dan Jones
Another resident, Cody had parked up at a river-watching spot and said it was good to see the water going down.
The rain overnight was "pretty heavy" but he was not too worried about flooding.
"That's what insurances are for, eh?" he said.
Warwick Horton told RNZ he'd lived in the area a long time and had seen much worse flooding, but it was good authorities had been proactively warning people they may need to leave.
He had been in Papamoa overnight but drove back home on Thursday morning after he woke up and heard that "all hell was going to break loose down here".
Horton said the regional council, Environment Waikato had done a lot of flood protection work in the area in the last decade - and it seemed to have worked.
"They've lifted this floodbank here, and done a lot of wooden walls and stuff," he said.
"You put faith in them that they get it right, they have computer modelling and stuff, and it looks as if they've got it fairly right."
Photo: RNZ/Dan Jones
