Homes destroyed as they plunge down hillside in Karekare on Auckland’s west Coast

A home in the seaside town of Karekare has been washed down a hill, semi-demolished, and is now resting on the roadway.

“What I’ve heard is they had to run for their lives,” said one local, who did not want to be named.

It is one of five homes and baches severely damaged by slips and heavy rains that have pounded the West Coast overnight.

Two of the homes seen by Stuff have been left at precarious angles.

READ MORE:
* ‘Crack and bang’ heard during landslide in Auckland’s Muriwai, firefighter missing
* In pictures: Cyclone Gabrielle cuts path of destruction
* Cyclone Gabrielle: Family of five trapped after trees fall

Locals said one house had been completely cut off and it’s understood a couple in their 70s were trapped inside overnight.

It was not until late morning that rescuers were able to make contact and bring the couple out.

The cluster of baches and houses that make up the rugged seaside settlement is now completely cut off, with both roads damaged by substantial slips or completely washed away.

Stuff came across a Ventia council contracting truck stuck in the slip. It is understood the workers in the truck were able to get out.

Garth Cunningham, a local, is holed-up in his house with ginger tabby Pod.

“We knew this thing was coming,” he said.

He built his house on a flood plain, but the water simply ran under his elevated home.

“I felt as confident as I could.”

He said some of the buildings damaged were original 1960s baches.

He said he got a knock on the door at about 9pm on Monday and was told to evacuate by local search and rescue authorities.

“We haven’t had anything like this before.”

He said watching the 70-year-old couple being rescued outside his window, and seeing them tearfully embracing neighbours was emotional.

Another local, who did not want to be named, said he understood at least three of the houses damaged had been evacuated before the slip came down.

The man said the roads would likely be out for days.

“We might be pack-horsing ourselves up and down…it’s a strangely wild place and sometimes strangely wild things happen.”

Diane Swain and Ken Begg, aged in their 70s, are visiting from Christchurch and staying at an Air BnB.

Swain said she watched as the water in the nearby river rose higher and higher.

“It was a bit hairy,” she said.

Begg said most people gathered at a nearby bach for about an hour, but then fears that a nearby hillside might collapse forced them to move to another bach.

“There were a dozen of us from a lot of different places,” Begg said.

He praised the local community who he said came together in the crisis and looked after each other.

“[The owner of the bach] was a great host, he put out mattresses and even gave up his own bed for Diane and me because we were the oldest.”

Begg said he and Swain were preparing for an unexpected stay of a few more days.

“We are fine, we are not freaked out.”

The settlement has no power, internet or water, which relies on pumps.

While Stuff was there the Westpac Trust helicopter landed in a nearby reserve.

Cunningham and Pod are also comfortable despite the lack of amenities, and despite the disaster the said his love for Karekare had not been affected.

When asked why he loved the area, Cunningham replied: “For a start, It’s not Piha.”

He said people from all over the world visit the wild and rugged west coast settlement.

“Karekare is an Academy Award-winning place,” he said, referring to the movie The Piano. “Whereas Piha is the reality TV,” referring to Piha Rescue.