Kaikōura has officially moved out of a state of emergency and into the recovery phase, though certain emergency powers will remain in place for the next 28 days as a precaution.

Kaikōura District Council said its recovery focus would be on rural communities, social needs, people, the environment and infrastructure, with a team of local and remote support established to steer the district through the recovery.

Access remains a major challenge following the severe weather event. Work is continuing on State Highway 1 at the Conway site, where the road has significantly eroded.

Cribb Creek Bridge is still undergoing repairs, with a ford being created for smaller 4WD vehicles and an upgrade planned later this week to allow truck access to farms.

The council stressed this would not provide access to Waiau or Christchurch, as Hurunui District roads to the south are still under repair and closed to the public, with several slips and broken road surfaces.

The only route to Christchurch and points south for the general public remains the long way around via Marlborough.

Puhi Puhi Road has been cleared for 4WD access but is in poor condition and open to residents only. Safety improvements are under way, but full repairs are expected to take some time.

Innovative Waste Kaikōura will be at capacity by the end of Monday and will close on Tuesday 14 July to remove rubbish and free up space.

On the water front, the Kincaid Water Scheme is close to restarting after being topped up by tanker, and the Fernleigh Water Scheme is operational with two properties still waiting for pressure to rebuild. Testing to lift the boil water notice for Peketa begins today, with three days of clean results required before the notice can be removed.

The council is working with the Ministry for Primary Industries and the Rural Support Trust to help farmers facing stock water and feed problems.

Residents are also being urged to stay alert for signs of landslides, with prolonged rainfall having destabilised slopes across the district. Warning signs include small slips or sinking ground at the base of slopes, doors and windows that suddenly stick, new cracks or bulges in the ground, tilting trees or fences, and water unexpectedly flowing from a slope. Anyone who suspects a landslide should move out of its path immediately and call 111.

Welfare teams are continuing to check on the community, and anyone needing support can contact the council’s recovery team on 03 319 5026. Free mental health support is available by calling or texting 1737.

A community event will be held this Thursday 16 July for anyone affected by the weather event, with a coffee cart at Farmlands on Beach Road from 9am to 2pm and a barbecue from 11am to 1pm, sponsored by Farmlands and Property Brokers. Representatives from the council, FMG Insurance and Kaikōura Health will be on hand to answer questions.

“Continue to look out for one another, Kaikōura. Stay alert, vigilant, and positive. We are all in this together as we move towards the recovery phase of this journey,” the council said.