Update, 3.50pm: Rangitaiki residents can now drink water without having to boil it after the Whakatane District Council has given the all clear.
People in the Rangitaiki Plains were urged to boil this water following the 7.1 magnitude earthquake this morning. However Public affairs manager Ross Boreham said the precautionary ‘boil water notice’ for the plains water supply had been lifted.
"Tests undertaken throughout the Plains reticulation system have confirmed that the effects on water quality from this morning’s East Cape earthquake did not create any health risk. The Whakatāne District Council thanks Plains water consumers for their patience and advises that they can now resume their normal usage."
1.10pm: Horizon Energy says that following a car accident this morning a power cut on Matata Road from Edgecumbe to Awaiti Road, including Awaiti Road North and Sutherlands Road, will now not be repaired until 3pm. Following the 7.1 magnitude earthquake at 4,39am Horizon has also received further reports of outages and remaining faults are expected to be restored by 3pm.
12.20pm: New Zealand Transport agency is warning drivers to in the Eastern Bay to be aware of the risk of rock-falls and slips after the earthquake and aftershocks this morning.
Waikato and Bay of Plenty region media manager Natalie Mankelow said contractors had been out monitoring and surveying the highway network in the area but no damage or rock-falls had been reported.
However she warned drivers to remain vigilant with aftershocks increasing the risk of rock-fall and slips on SH2 Waioeka Gorge, SH2 Waimana Gorge, SH35 Maraenui, SH35 Motu Bluffs and SH35 Hawai to Te Kaha.
10am - People in the Rangitaiki Plains area are being warned to boil water before consuming it but power is expected to be restored to 58 houses in the White Pine Bush Road following the 7.1 magnitude earthquake this morning.
Civil Defence has cancelled the tsunami warning following this morning's earthquake but advised some areas on the coastline may still experience unusual, strong currents and sea level fluctuations.
Whakatane District Council public relations manager Ross Boreham said those in the Rangitaiki Plains area were advised to boil water before consuming it until further notice.
He said it was is a precautionary advisory due to high amounts of sediment in the aquifers as result of the earthquake
“The plains water supply was effected by turbidity where sediment was stirred up as a result of the earthquake.”
Mr Boreham said those in Te Teko were asked to conserve water because of low levels in the reservoir. He said the council was working on identifying the cause of the problem, which occurred after the earthquake.
Initially 1000 homes were without power following the earthquake but the majority of the houses had power restored by 5am. A Horizon Energy spokesman said power to the remaining 58 houses was expected to be restored by 10am.
Additionally a car accident this morning also resulted in 47 houses on in Matata Road from Edgecumbe to Awaiti Road including Awaiti Road North and Sutherlands Road will be without power until approximately 2pm.