Two Welcome Bay properties remain red‑placarded because of significant damage and safety risks following January 22’s severe weather.

The weather event caused multiple slips and flooding, including the massive landslide on Mauao at 9.31am on January 22 that claimed six lives.

Two other people, Yao Fang and her 10‑year‑old grandson Austin Keith Richardson, died in a large slip on Welcome Bay Rd in Pāpāmoa.

The Western Bay of Plenty District Council emergency operations centre controller, Peter Watson, said the district originally had six red‑placarded properties, but they were reassessed on Wednesday and four were downgraded to yellow placards.

Two were beside each other in Harbour View Rd, Ōmokoroa, and two were in Welcome Bay.

A further 12 properties across the district also have yellow-placard risk assessments under the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Rapid Building Assessment placard system.

This means they sustained moderate damage or posed a risk, so access is restricted.

The assessments included second‑stage geotechnical and structural assessments to understand ground conditions, land stability and any changes since the initial rapid assessments.

This and one other property in Harbour View Rd, Ōmokoroa, now has Y2 status.

Watson said the two Harbour View Rd properties now had “Y2″ status, meaning access was limited and must be supervised by a geotechnical professional engaged by the owner or their insurer.

Of the 16 total yellow-placarded buildings in the Western Bay district, eight were in Welcome Bay, four in Ōmokoroa, two in Ongare Point and one each in Kauri Point and Katikati.

The Katikati property would require decontamination before its owners could return.

Watson said the council understood that none of the affected properties had absentee owners.

The recovery pathway forward would differ for each property.

He said council staff and contractors had visited most district reserves since the weather event to identify hazards.

“The clean‑up work will be prioritised according to risk and will be ongoing for a period of time. Please take extra care in our reserves and on our trails and walkways at this time."

Falls, tracks, reserve closures

Multiple tracks and reserves remain closed or compromised because of slips and cracking across the Western Bay district.

• Kaiate Falls (Te Rerekawau) remains closed because of slips.
• The Ōmokoroa cycleway between Ridge Drive and Flounder Drive is closed after a major slip.
• The Kaimai Views track is shut between Traverse Lane and Carriage Close because of significant cracking above and on the track.
• An informal track at Sandleigh Drive Esplanade Reserve, Athenree, is closed because of a slip.
• Caution is also advised along the Ōmokoroa Esplanade–Beach Grove cycleway, where cracking has been taped off along the track edge.

Watson urged people to continue reporting issues via Antenno or by calling 0800 926 732.

“We’re prioritising urgent safety matters first and appreciate your patience.”

The state of emergency for the Western Bay of Plenty and Tauranga remains in place.

People should call 111 if in danger.

Sandra Conchie is a senior journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post who has been a journalist for 25 years. She mainly covers police, court and other justice stories, as well as general news. She has been a Canon Media Awards regional/community reporter of the year.