Whakatane was affected by the 1987 Edgecumbe earthquake . Heavy rain struck the Bay of Plenty region between 16-18 July 2004 , resulting in severe flooding and a state of civil emergency being declared . Many homes and properties were flooded , forcing thousands of Whakatane residents to evacuate . The Rangitaiki River burst its banks , flooding large areas of farmland , and numerous roads were closed by floods and slips . A total of 245.8 mm of rain fell in Whakatane in the 48-hour period and many small earthquakes were also felt during this time , loosening the sodden earth and resulting in landslips that claimed two lives
1987 Edgecumbe earthquake
1987 Edgecumbe earthquake
Whakatane