“When we visited Te Araroa yesterday we saw evidence of landslides in close proximity to houses and the potential risk to life is too great, until we understand what the geotech assessments come back with.”

The evacuations, which are being led by police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ), are being supported by the community civil defence teams.

Civil Defence said evacuees will either be relocated to friends and whānau, or housed or within the community.

“Te Araroa FENZ are inside the risk zone and will be moving their appliance and equipment to an alternate site,” Green said.

The evacuations come as a recovery mission continues in Mount Maunganui after a massive landslide saw a campground devastated.

Police today released the names of six people unaccounted for, saying following the discovery of human remains, it had turned from a rescue mission to a recovery operation.

Whangārei district remains under a state of emergency after torrential rain on Sunday, followed by a storm on Wednesday, caused slips and flooding on the northeast coast.

The settlements of Ōakura, Mokau, Helena Bay and Teal Bay were some of the worst affected by the two storms, with the area cut off by a huge slip on Helena Bay hill on Russell Rd and a washout at Ngaiotonga Bridge on Rawhiti Rd.