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National | Earthquake

Native Affairs - Goose Bay evacuated

Goose Bay residents are frantically evacuating their homes after being warned a dam built up by the recent earthquake could breach and threaten their community.

Native Affairs reporter Oriini Kaipara is with residents as they hurriedly pack trailers and move as much as they can.

Residents were warned by the Civil Defence at an urgent public meeting at 2.30pm today their homes were in danger and they had to evacuate immediately.

Civil Defence also told residents they may not be able to return to their homes for ten days while the situation is monitored.

Radio New Zealand reports, Police and the rural fire brigade are helping move people either south or north depending on their preferences.

Civil Defence said the dam was about 5m high, and forecast bad weather meant there was a risk it could breach.

Goose Bay is a 45-minute drive from Kaikōura, accessible via a 7km 4WD track through private land.

Controller Murray Sinclair said residents were told to stay with family and friends if possible, otherwise they could stay at the Recovery Assessment Centre in Kaikōura. The evacuations were expected to take two hours.

Reporter Oriini Kaipara will have more on this developing story on Te Kāea at 5.30pm on Māori Television.