A race is on to save a historic boating club behind New Zealand's first bid to contest the America's Cup.

Overnight storm surges have chewed away the land under the Mercury Bay Boating Club headquarters in Whitianga.

Thames Coromandel District Council officials yesterday rejected pleas to put blocks on the coastline to protect the building.

But Mayor Len Salt told Tim Dower the council is doing what it can to help the club remove the deck from the building, and will work with the club to move the building back from the shore.

A state of emergency remains in effect in the Gisborne District where several homes around Hikuwai River have been evacuated, and many properties have been cut off.

Tolaga Bay Civil Defence controller Greg Shelton told Tim Dower he's been out surveying the damage.

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