Police emergency in southern Hawkes Bay

Federated Farmers is asking media not to make contact with affected properties for the next several hours.

The current priority is the safety of farmers, farm workers and the welfare of affected stock, which is of increasing concern.

The overwhelming priority is to keep landlines available for use by the Police as well as to Fonterra, Federated Farmers provincial teams and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

A further operational note or media release will be issued once the situation becomes clearer.