Motorists Please Be Patient - Police

Police are having to deal with motorists arriving at cordons and Hastings emergency centre staff are fielding calls from people wanting to know when the road will be open.

Roads:
Inspector Mike O'Leary, Operations Manager Eastern District Police, says motorists should listen to their radio for when the road will be open.
"It has been widely reported that the road could open at 3pm - that is not correct.
"The decision to open the road will be a joint decision by all authorities involved.
"Police ask motorist waiting to get through to remain where they are until the call is made. Queuing behind a cordon for hours is not safe given the unstable weather conditions," Inspector O'Leary says.
A bus load of drivers of abandoned vehicles left Hukarere Girls College at 10am and they are currently returning their vehicles to Napier.
However, there are still around nine vehicles that can't be moved because their owners have not arrived at the Welfare Centre.
The first of 168 vehicles are currently being removed from Waipunga, which are being moved back to Taupo.
Police are asking any drivers of abandoned vehicles who haven't yet reported to Hukarere Girls College to get there urgently and call Hastings emergency centre on ph. 871 5000 to inform of their arrival time.
Napier-Taihape Road is still closed and it's not expected to be opened for at least 24 hours.

Rural Communities:
There are concerns about potential for high stock losses at Puketitiri and Patoka.
Most farmers are relying on alternative heating and power sources. Those who are equipped with generators have faired well.
Hastings Civil Defence controller, Paul Hawke says other framers should consider arming themselves with generators for future incidents like this.
Any farmers who need assistance, such as medical help, should call Hastings District Council's emergency centre on ph. 871 5000 or emergency services on ph. 111.
Federated Farmers provincial president Kevin Mitchell has also offered to coordinate assistance for farmers in need.
"As well as visiting farms to offer support and assistance, Federated Farmers is helping to clear fences and driveways of fallen trees. We may also be able to provide feed to keep as much condition on stock as possible," Mr Mitchell says.

MAF says some dairy farmers haven't milked since Sunday morning due to power outages.

Power:
As of this morning just over 200 power consumers are currently without power in Hawke's Bay's high country.
Unison spokesman Danny Gough says some areas are not expected to get power restored for two to three days.
"By this time tomorrow we will have a better idea of how long some areas will be without power.
"There are a lot of poles down around the summit at Te Haroto and there is still debris and trees down across lines," Mr Gough says.
"A number of trees are still threatening to come down across lines and Unison are currently taking those trees down, which may require dropping them onto the road.