Convoys hit road between cyclone-hit Tokomaru Bay, Gisborne

Official convoys have kicked off today for people wanting to travel between Tokomaru Bay and Gisborne along the backroads.

The Tairāwhiti community of Tokomaru Bay about 90km north of Gisborne has been largely cut off ever since Cyclone Gabrielle last month.

The backroads definitely aren't for the faint hearted - it's a commute that needs an experienced driver leading the way.

The convoy takes about three hours to travel from Waimata Valley Road through to Tokomaru Bay.

RNZ is travelling with Fulton Hogan Traffic Controller Terianna Watene, who said it is really important to keep communication up while travelling this road.

"Definitely need someone with an RT (radio transmitter), just with these heavy vehicles using the roads it's not safe at all.

"If you're inexperienced with driving backroads, this is technically a logging road, a backroad and if you don't have that experience you could go down the cliff."

The majority of the way there is no mobile reception, and a number of blind corners.

Watene also highly recommends using a four-wheel drive, estimating about 30km of the road is gravel.

Tumaurirere Hania used this road a few days ago because he had to get his truck serviced at a garage.

He said this convoy provides an important lifeline for whanau living on the Coast.

He is advising everyone wanting to travel between Tokomaru Bay and Gisborne to do it through the convoy.

"This road is quite busy and you know, there's a lot of people other than us driving on this road, using this road.

"As you can see without the convoy I would have not known cars that are hitting blind corners and there's a lot of fullas going fast too, and we're just trying to get there and get home.

"Get our stuff and get out of there."

Tokomaru Bay resident Bobby Kennedy said the convoy is important for many essential services.

"Couple of appointments, dentist, picking up a generator and just a few groceries.

"It's important for the ones that do have four-wheel drives because we can make appointments that we've got.

"A lot of people at home they can't travel because they don't have four-wheel drives," said Kennedy.

The operation is very much trial and error, but miscommunication led to some confusion causing travellers to come through the roads without a pilot driver.

Being the first day, there were some teething issues between one of the contractors causing delays.

The last convoy was meant to leave at 2pm but didn't leave until just before 4pm, leaving whānau waiting with mixed reactions.

"Rung the council couple of times to see what they were saying and they reckon four o'clock was the latest," said Whetu Akuhata.

"We understand there was no communication to our pilot and she had been waiting for the second group to come through," said Kennedy.

"I'll just go with the flow, if it means it takes another hour or two so be it, long as I get home," said Peter Harrison.

Some of these drivers don't have a digital radio so unless they're travelling with a convoy the drive is very risky.

The convoys are planned to run from both ends at 8am, 11am and 2pm with the idea to meet in the middle at Tauwhareparae and Hokoroa intersection.

The convoy is organised through Gisborne District Council which has contractors and volunteers to make sure people using the road are safe.

Director of Community Lifelines David Wilson said contractors are leading the way for whānau.

"The patrol crews have been head of the convoy just to check there wasn't anything significant damaged that we didn't know about has been occurring.

"But we have got teams monitoring the situation across the road just to make sure it is still safe for people to be guided in and out."

He said land is still moving in the district, and the council is keeping an eye on the conditions.