Clean-up continues after storm

The Band Hall at Blaketown was destroyed. Photo / supplied
The Band Hall at Blaketown was destroyed. Photo / supplied
The devastation wrecked by ex-cyclone Ita around the South Island last week has become clearer.

Westland Council said concrete power poles were snapped and a native forest has been destroyed, Radio New Zealand reported.

Milk production was also down by 5 per cent due to power outages in some rural areas.

Eight people remain stranded after slips have blocked Graham Valley Road near Motueka, .

Tasman District Mayor Richard Kempthorne told RNZ residents had supplies for a week.

"It is very far out and they are very resilient people."

The blocked road was a Department of Conservation road and the council was working with the organisation to have it cleared.

"All of the contractors, both this side of the Takaka Hill and in Golden Bay...they've been out since Thursday night doing a lot of work.

"There isn't a known solution yet but that's what's being worked on as soon as possible."

It could take at least a week before the slips were cleared, Mr Kempthorne said.

Meanwhile, 60 rural residents remained without power in the Buller District, TVNZ's Breakfast programme reported.

 

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