A police officer helped an ambulance carrying a critically ill newborn baby navigate slips and flooding in Awakino Gorge during wild weather on Monday.
Constable Donna Potroz was on call in Mōkau and responded to reports of a major slip blocking the road at around 1.40am.
On arrival, she found multiple vehicles stranded, including a patient transfer service ambulance with a critically ill newborn onboard.
The ambulance was attempting to get from New Plymouth to Waikato Hospital via road because poor weather had grounded air ambulance services.
“Constable Potroz chose to travel alongside our patient transfer services officer and medical team from Health New Zealand, to provide access to important communications,” said St John operations manager Chris Haines.
“We are also grateful to have had a team of neonatal intensive care specialists from Health New Zealand onboard our ambulance to provide essential care to the patient.”
Roading contractors were already working to clear the road, but multiple slips made progress slow.
The gorge more resembles a giant muddy lake after massive rainfall hit the area. (Source: Other)
The ambulance crew, supported by police, assessed the situation and determined waiting for a larger slip to be cleared would take too long. They chose to turn back to New Plymouth.
Contractors continued working through the night and were able to clear a smaller slip, allowing the ambulance and police to safely exit the gorge.
Haines said an air ambulance was able to be dispatched to airlift the patient to Waikato Hospital once conditions improved.
He thanked Potroz for her support and praised the efforts of all those involved.
“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who played a part in the care of our young patient.”
Acting area commander Inspector Darin Haenga acknowledged the efforts of Potroz to help all those trapped by the slips to “feel safe and be safe”.
“It’s a privilege to see dedicated officers working alongside health and emergency services, road crews and members of the public, getting stuck in and helping them, all before breakfast.”
Several state highways across northern Taranaki and Waikato remain closed today as rising river levels threaten roads already damaged by yesterday’s heavy rainfall.
There were no remaining active MetService weather alerts in the central North Island.
Communities were cut off in parts yesterday due to torrential rain, which caused widespread road closures.
Some Taranaki highways remain closed
New Zealand Transport Agency said some sections of state highways in northern Taranaki would remain closed until 8pm on Friday.
While rainfall has stopped, the ground was still thoroughly sodden, and new slips have opened up, it said.
- State Highway 3 north of New Plymouth remains closed at Awakino between Mokau and Piopio. There are multiple, smaller slips further south towards New Plymouth. SH3 at Tongapōrutu is down to one lane and under stop/go with a 30km temporary speed limit in place in place.
- State Highway 4 remains closed between Eight Mile Junction (the intersection between SH3 and SH4) and Taumarunui
- State Highway 43 Forgotten World Highway remains closed from Whangamōmona to Taumarunui. Access remains open from Stratford to Whangamōmona.
In Waikato, State Highway 30 is closed from Te Kuiti and Benneydale. It will open later this evening. State Highway 31 is closed between Ngutunui to Oparau, and will remain closed overnight.
Meanwhile, Ruapehu District Council stepped down its emergency operations centre to a level one response as it transitioned into a recovery mode.
The council said water levels have dropped but were still hampering hampering roading repair crews and some welfare delivery with five households in Maitere, Ohura, and Waimiha.
“If driving around the district, people are asked to continue to take extra care and not take any risks as the road network is in a fragile state with water still covering roads in some places, cracked roads, multiple slips, and other issues.”
