Ohakune businesses hurting as water restoration still another 24 hours away

Residents and businesses in Ohakune, a small town in the central North Island of New Zealand, continue to face disruptions due to a prolonged water outage that has forced the closure of schools, eateries, and other local services. The Ruapehu District Council announced late Monday that the water supply would not return to normal until Tuesday evening, nearly 24 hours later than initially anticipated. This delay has placed additional strain on local businesses already struggling to cope with the initial impact of the crisis. The outage began earlier in the week when a fault was detected in the raw water pipeline serving the area. Initially, officials had projected that the system would be fully operational again by Monday evening. However, further technical assessments revealed that restoring pressure to the pipeline too quickly could lead to structural damage, potentially prolonging the outage even further. As a result, the council opted for a more cautious approach, prioritizing long-term stability over expediency. To mitigate the effects of the shortage, the council deployed several water tankers to provide essential supplies to residents. More than 5,500 water containers were distributed to meet the needs of the approximately 1,400 residents in Ohakune. Portable restrooms were set up along main roads, and a large water tank was stationed near the council offices to serve the public. Despite these efforts, the situation has created logistical challenges for both residents and businesses. Local motel managers described the impact on their operations as severe. At The Peaks Motor Inn, manager Remi Butler detailed how the lack of water had forced staff to rely on alternative methods for basic sanitation. “We’ve been bucketing water from the cold spa for flushing the toilets,” she said. “But we got bottled water from the council for washing the dishes.” She noted that the hotel had lost a significant booking for a group that had planned to arrive on Monday night, resulting in a financial setback that insurance likely would not cover. Similarly, employees at the Alpine Motel were seen filling containers from a council-provided water tank to ensure continued operation. Angelina Reyes, who works at the motel, learned of the issue when warnings were first posted online. “I thought maybe it was a normal glitch, but no, it’s for real,” she said. Her experience mirrored that of others in the community who had to adjust rapidly to the new reality of limited water access. While some businesses, such as the New World supermarket, remained open, owners acknowledged the need to adapt their operations. Owner Samuel Fletcher explained that his store was following strict food safety protocols and had suspended non-essential tasks, including deep cleaning, until the water supply stabilized. He emphasized the importance of maintaining hygiene standards while navigating the constraints imposed by the outage. Educational institutions were also affected, with Ruapehu College closing its doors to its 250 students. Principal Kris Vine stated that the decision was made out of concern for health and safety. “Ideally, we would be open for business and having our students here,” he said. “But health and safety has to come first.” The mayor of Ohakune has pledged to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, citing concerns over the management and communication surrounding the outage. A district councillor criticized the situation as an embarrassment, highlighting the need for improved preparedness and transparency in handling such emergencies. As the town awaits the restoration of its water supply, the focus remains on ensuring that all residents and businesses receive the necessary support during this challenging period. The council continues to monitor the progress of repairs and has assured the public that every effort is being made to restore normalcy as soon as possible.