All Unaccounted for Travelers Have been Located

Hawke's Bay Civil Defence staff have now matched all evacuees, who were forced to abandon their cars in heavy snow on State Highway Five last night, with reports received from the public of unaccounted for relatives.

Staff have spent the day taking calls from concerned family members and matching them with the 460 people registered in Hawke's Bay.

All drivers who reported to Hukarere Girls College have left the Welfare Centre to pick up their cars and are now making a slow return to Napier.

Less than 20 of their family members are currently waiting at Hukarere to be picked up on their way back.

No evacuees have requested accommodation and the Ministry for Social Development has been working with evacuees who may have needed financial assistance to get through the situation.

Mayor Lawrence Yule says Civil Defence has the situation well under control but appeals to evacuees to be patient and wait out the weather.

"This is a one in 25 year event and so far the public have acted very sensibly and we haven't had any serious incidents," Mayor Yule says.

At 2pm, there were about 25 vehicles that could not to be recovered because they are embedded in deep snow.

Owners of vehicles abandoned, on the Napier side of Te Haroto, that haven't already picked up their cars should be at Hukarere Girls College at 9am tomorrow morning.

State Highway Five is still closed and will remain closed as long as abandoned vehicles are still on the road and it is not safe to proceed to Taupo.

"The main thing is that everyone is safe. We have had many concerned family members calling the emergency centre and now we have been able to confirm their safety. That's great news," Mayor Yule says.

Unison says power is expected to be restored to Mohaka River tonight and the remainder should be restored tomorrow morning, after snow bought lines down overnight.

"Local farmers are used to snow and power outages and know how to react. They should stay where they are and attend to their livestock," Mayor Yule says.

If they have any medical problems or emergencies they should call Hastings District Council on ph. 871 5000 or emergency services on 111.