Latest news with #slips
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Climate
- RNZ News
Tasman deluge cuts off access points to national park
A slip on the Abel Tasman Coastal Track between Mārahau and Anchorage. Photo: Department of Conservation / supplied Some access points to the largest national park in Tasman could be cut off for some time, the Department of Conservation (DOC) says Slips and storm damage has cut off access to the Kahurangi National Park, and part of the Abel Tasman Coast Track is temporarily closed. DOC Motueka operations manager Chris Golding told Midday Report it will take time to understand the full extent of damage across conservation areas and facilities. He said he could not offer a timeline on how long parts of Kahurangi will be cut off. But he added that it was quieter in winter, and DOC hoped the Abel Tasman track would be fully up and running by the warmer months. "The Abel Tasman, which is a pretty popular place, has a few slips and a few issues with one of the bridges, but largely the Abel Tasman is open for business, one section of the track is closed, but most of the park is still fine." But he said it was still important to note that the ground throughout the district was still very water-logged "So even when we have been through a track to check it, it could still be slips or trees coming at a later date. And it won't take much more rain for more of those slips to be coming down." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Climate
- RNZ News
DOC closes access to parks and tracks following Tasman storm
A slip on the Abel Tasman Coastal Track between Mārahau and Anchorage. Photo: Department of Conservation / supplied Slips and storm damage have cut off access to the Kahurangi National Park from the Tasman District, and part of Abel Tasman Coast Track is temporarily closed. Nelson and Tasman remain in a state of emergency after the top of the South Island was battered by record rainfall last week. Department of Conservation (DOC) said storm damage to DOC-managed sites was widespread and it would take time to understand the full extent across conservation areas and facilities. DOC Northern South Island operations director Martin Rodd said the Motueka area seemed to be the hardest hit. "In Kahurangi National Park, there's no access to Flora car park as Graham Valley Road is closed, as a section has been undercut by the river. "This closure is expected to be in place for some time. Flora car park is commonly used to access the region's most popular alpine walks including Wharepapa/Mt Arthur tracks and huts. "The access road into the Cobb Valley has several large slips across it and is impassable, and access to the Wangapeka is closed by the wider flood response. This means all access roads to the southeastern part of the Kahurangi are closed." Abel Tasman Coast Track was being assessed as a priority and one section had been temporarily closed. "Due to cracking on the track, the southern section between Mārahau and Anchorage has been temporarily closed for safety while we have a damage assessment done. This will happen in the coming days. "At the northern end, the access road to Tōtaranui is also closed due to slips. We've had reports of some small slips, treefall and other minor impacts on other parts of the track which we will tidy up when we can. "Heaphy Track remains open but there is some minor damage, and anyone using the track once it has dried out should take extra care." DOC asked people to delay their trips until the tracks had had a chance to dry out. "The situation is changing rapidly and people should check DOC's website for up-to-date information about particular huts and tracks," Rodd said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
