Families evacuated from their homes on Auckland's North Shore will have to wait until Friday before they find out when they will be allowed back.
Emergency services cordoned off Lingham Crescent in Torbay and evacuated residents from a number of homes after a slip on Wednesday.
One house is almost destroyed and three have been badly damaged.
Engineers will remain at the slip site overnight to assess whether any further subsidence occurs.
Evacuated residents have been told they will have to wait at least until Friday afternoon before any decision is made as to whether they will be allowed back in.
Civil Defence Minister Rick Barker, who visited the site, says engineers are trying to stabilise the slip, which moved 700mm on Wednesday. They are drilling 45m into the slip to drain water.
Mr Barker says everything will be done to make sure the welfare needs of evacuated residents are taken care of.
