NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
July 2008 New Zealand Severe Storm
(
2008-07-29
)
20-30 years
The second storm of three in a one-week period. A depression hit the upper North Island, bringing heavy rain and high winds, then it spread down the country.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 11:50 am 28-Jul-2008: Another deep low approaching from north bringing further heavy rain. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty west of Kawerau and Gisborne Ranges north of Gisborne City.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:36 pm 28-Jul-2008: Another deep low approaching North Island Tuesday will bring further heavy rain to the north and east. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Northland, northern Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 9:45 am 29-Jul-2008: Major storm expected to bring adverse weather to much of the country. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Marlborough, Nelson and Canterbury; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupo, Taranaki, Taihape, Wanganui, Manawatu, Nelson, Marlborough and Westland.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 5:53 pm 29-Jul-2008: Major storm moving towards North Island will bring adverse weather to much of the country. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Marlborough, Nelson and Canterbury; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupo, Taranaki, Taihape, Wanganui, Manawatu, Nelson, Marlborough, Buller and Westland.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:29 pm 29-Jul-2008: Major storm moving towards North Island will bring adverse weather to much of the country. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Marlborough, Nelson and Canterbury; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupo, Taranaki, Taihape, Wanganui, Manawatu, Nelson, Marlborough, Buller and Westland.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:19 am 30-Jul-2008: Major storm spreading high winds and rain over North Island and northern South Island. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Marlborough, Nelson and Canterbury; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupo, Taranaki, Taihape, Wanganui, Manawatu, Nelson, Marlborough, Buller and Westland. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warning lifted for Northland; and Strong Wind Warning lifted for Waikato.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 12:47 pm 30-Jul-2008: Storm over North Island moving slowly south, severe gales for a time in Northland and returning to Taranaki. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, eastern Wellington, eastern Marlborough, Canterbury, Richmond Ranges and the northwest ranges of Nelson; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: Northland, Taranaki, Wanganui, Taihape, Manawatu, Marlborough, Nelson, Buller and Westland. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warning lifted for Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and Western Bay of Plenty; and Strong Wind Warning lifted for Waitomo, Taupo and Taihape.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:41 pm 30-Jul-2008: Storm moving south bringing heavy rain to the east of the South Island, severe southeast gales in Buller and Westland should ease overnight, but northerly gales continuing over northern New Zealand through to Thursday morning. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Richmond Ranges, eastern Marlborough, Kaikoura Ranges and coast, Canterbury and eastern Otago; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: Nelson, Marlborough, Buller, Westland, Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and the central North Island high country. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warning lifted for Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, eastern Wellington and the northwest ranges of Nelson; and Strong Wind Warning lifted for Taranaki, Wanganui and Manawatu.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:14 am 31-Jul-2008: Heavy rain in east from Kaikoura coast to North Otago today. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Kaikoura coast, Canterbury and eastern Otago hills and ranges. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warning lifted for Richmond Ranges and eastern Marlborough; and Strong Wind Warning lifted for: Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, the central North Island, Nelson, Marlborough and Buller.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 10:58 am 31-Jul-2008: Heavy rain in east from Kaikoura coast to eastern Otago today, showery weather in North Island could accumulate significant rainfall on Mt Taranaki, the central high country and the Tararua Ranges today and tomorrow. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Kaikoura coast, Canterbury, eastern Otago hills and ranges, Mt Taranaki and the hill country inland to Ruapehu, also the Tararua Ranges.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 5:19 pm 31-Jul-2008: Further heavy falls likely for South Canterbury and eastern Otago until early Friday morning, further significant rain possible on Mt Taranaki, the central North Island high country, eastern Bay of Plenty, and the Tararua Ranges over the next few days. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Canterbury south of the Rakaia River, eastern Otago, Mt Taranaki, the hill country inland to Ruapehu, including Waitomo, Taumarunui and the headwaters of the Whanganui River, eastern Bay of Plenty and the Tararua Ranges. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warning lifted for Kaikoura coast and Canterbury north of the Rakaia River.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:01 pm 31-Jul-2008: Rain has eased about the Kaikoura coast and North Canterbury, but further heavy falls for South Canterbury and eastern Otago until early Friday morning. Showery weather in North Island could accumulate significant amounts of rain on Mt Taranaki, the central high country, eastern Bay of Plenty, and the Tararua Ranges over the next few days. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Canterbury south of the Rakaia River, eastern Otago from Dunedin northwards, Mt Taranaki, the hill country inland to Ruapehu, including Waitomo, Taumarunui and the headwaters of the Whanganui River, eastern Bay of Plenty and the Tararua Ranges.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 7:57 am 01-Aug-2008: Rain has eased about the Kaikoura coast and North Canterbury, but further heavy falls for South Canterbury and eastern Otago until early Friday morning. Showery weather in North Island could accumulate significant amounts of rain on Mt Taranaki, the central high country, eastern Bay of Plenty, and the Tararua Ranges over the next few days. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Mt Taranaki and the hill country inland to Ruapehu, including Waitomo, Taumarunui and the headwaters of the Whanganui River. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warning lifted for Canterbury and eastern Otago between the Rakaia River and Dunedin, Bay of Plenty east of Kawerau and the Tararua Ranges.
73 weather warnings were issued in July, the fourth-highest monthly number since the warning service began in July 1992.
The storm was not intense as the extra-tropical cyclone of the 26th July but was much larger, covering an area "as large as the Tasman Sea". It was particularly damaging because it ran the length of the country and came hard on the heels of the earlier storm.
From 29th July to 1st August.
On the 28th, a weak ridge covered northern and central New Zealand, but a complex low pressure system developed over most of the Tasman Sea during the day. Late on the 29th, the deep low approached the Far North then moved south-east to lie east of the South Island on the 30th. By the 1st, the low had weakened, while a westerley flow covered northern and central New Zealand.
All mountains in the country - except in Wanaka and Queenstown's Coronet Peak - were closed to the public because of strong winds causing blizzard conditions.
Air New Zealand cancelled six domestic flights, and a number of regional ones, because of the weather.
CDEM emergency operations centres were operating in Thames Valley, Horowhenua, Hawkes Bay, Marlborough and throughout Canterbury.
The storms (26th-27th July and 29th July-1st August) were expected to result in about $50 million in insurance claims across the country.
More than 900 claims were made to the Earthquake Commision from throughout the country for the storms in late July.
The 900 claims totalled $17.8 million.
Insurance payments for the storm on 30th July and 1st August totalled $46,290,724.
The storm caused a lot of damage because it was slow moving, ran down the west side of the North Island, and in many places the wind came from a different direction to the prevailing winds.
Wet weather pushed up prices for winter vegetables such as lettuce and cucumber by around 30 per cent in July.
North Island
Multi Hazard
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North Island
High winds, slips, surface flooding and downed trees made for treacherous road conditions on the morning of the 30th as far south as Tauranga. The lower half of the North Island was also experiencing heavy rain and wind on the 30th.
Some Air New Zealand link flights between Gisborne, Tauranga, Napier and Wellington were cancelled on the 30th due to poor weather.
Nearly 20,000 Powerco customers had their power cut off after the storm hit on the morning of the 30th. Heavy rain combined with high winds caused a lot of trees and branches to crash over lines. Affected areas included Bunnythorpe, Linton, Mangamaire, Motorua, Te Matai, Hinuera, Kopu, Waihou, Mataroa, Ohakune, Tauranga and Wanganui. 10,000 customers were still without power in the afternoon. 500 were still without electricity on the morning of the 1st August, including homes in parts of the Hauraki Plains, central plateau, Wairarapa and Wanganui. Electra had 1000 rural customers without power in areas including Horowhenua, Tokomaru, Kapiti, Manakau and Ohau. Dozens of households on the East Coast (Gisborne) and in northern Hawke's Bay also lost power as a result of the storm, mostly around Ruatoria. Thousands of residents from Waikanae to Tokomaru near Shannon were without electricity.
Railway lines, including the North Island main trunk line near Te Kauwhata, were closed for long periods on the 30th due to downed trees and power lines, smashed barrier arms and slips. Other railway lines closed in the North Island included the Main Trunk line between Otaki and Waikanae, the Napier to Gisborne line, the Woodville to Hastings line and the Kinleith branch line. The Palmerston North to Gisborne line remained closed due to slips until the evening of the 31st.
Rain eased in Auckland and Northland around 9am on the 30th as the main frontal band shifted southwards. Overnight the rain had eased in much of the North Island but northerly gales were continuing in northern parts of the island.
Heavy lamb losses were expected in parts of the North Island hit by torrential rain and high winds.
Flooding
Rivers and streams overflowed their banks on the 30th and water gushed through farmland and over roads.
High Wind / Gust
The Napier-Taihape Rd was closed due to high winds on the 30th.
Heavy Rain
Areas along the east coast from Northland to Whakatane received up to two-thirds more rain than normal in July.
Damage from the rain would have been far greater if there had not been a dry summer and autumn.
Northland
Multi Hazard
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Northland
Fallen trees, slips and flooding blocked many roads in Northland on the 30th. All highways in Northland were affected by fallen trees, surface flooding, pot holes or slips. The biggest slip was on SH11 at Lemon's Hill, between Kawakawa and Opua, which was closed for most of the 30th.
On the morning of the 30th Northland was cut off from the south due to a huge slip on SH1 north of Warkworth and overnight flooding on the SH16 alternative route.
27 Northland schools released pupils as early as 11am on the 29th amid fears that flood waters would trap students, including Bay of Islands College and Opononi Area School. 24 schools, including those in Kerikeri, Kaikohe and Ruawai, were closed on the 30th based on the weather forecast. All schools except for Broadwood and Opononi area schools reopened on the 31st.
The highway chaos put business on the backburner for many Northlanders. Only a few Northliner Express coaches had been able to make their usual trips on the 30th.
The storms that battered Northland during the week (26th-27th July and 29th July-1st August) left the region with a $10 million road repair bill. The latter storm was believed to have caused between $1 million and $2 million worth of damage to Northland's highway network.
Damage to roads in the Far North district from the storms (26th-27th July and 29th July-1st August) was estimated at around $6 million.
The storms caused about $2 million of damage in the Whangarei district. About $2.5 million, including government subsidies, was diverted for storm repairs, leaving the Whangarei District Council short of cash for regular maintenance.
Around 150 Far North residents were without power after the rain on the night of the 29th caused trees to fall on power-lines. At one point around 400 customers were without power. Electricity was cut to homes in areas around the Bay of Islands and Kaeo. About 500 homes west of Whangarei were without power on the afternoon of the 30th when new faults developed as winds gusted to over 100 km/hr.
High Wind / Gust
In the Far North, homes were damaged in Kaikohe, Kerikeri, Mangonui and Russell.
Northland had winds of up to 130 km/hr in exposed coastal areas.
Heavy Rain
In Northland, rain fell over a much longer period than originally expected. Rain was falling over much of the region at midday on the 29th and there was already some localised surface flooding. Heavy rain began at 9pm.
There was some damage to roading infrastructure throughout the region. There was widespread minor damage from the overnight deluge on the 29th.
Landslide
Several slips occurred on Waikare Rd.
High Wind / Gust
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Aranga
Two barns at Aranga were scattered across neighbouring Proud Rd farms.
High Wind / Gust
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Baylys Beach
Some Baylys Beach residents said the winds on the night of the 30th were the worst they had known.
Landslide
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Broadwood
Broadwood Rd was closed by a slip by the Broadwood School. It was expected to take four hours to clear.
Landslide
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Brynderwyn
The intersection of SH1 and SH12 had a very large slip at the southern side of the Brynderwins on the 30th, with one lane open.
High Wind / Gust
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Donnellys Crossing
Doors and a wall were damaged at the Donnellys Crossing fire depot.
High Wind / Gust
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Doubtless Bay
Winds in the Doubtless Bay area on the afternoon of the 30th were stronger than at any time during the previous days, gusting to more than 100 km/hr.
Landslide
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Helena Bay
A slip at Helena Bay Hill would take up to two weeks to repair.
Flooding
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Kaeo
Kaeo escaped serious flooding overnight. There were many flooded paddocks and some minor roads were unpassable to smaller cars.
Heavy Rain
Kaeo received 68 mm (6.8 cm) of rain in the 28 hours to 4am on the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
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Kaikohe
Homes were in the process of losing their roofs in Kaikohe and a tree came down on the back of a utility vehicle.
Multi Hazard
Schools in Kaikohe closed early on the 29th and reopened on the morning of the 31st.
Heavy Rain
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Kaitaia
Kaeo received 32 mm (3.2 cm) of rain in the 28 hours to 4am on the 30th.
Flooding
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Kawakawa
Mill Rd at Kawakawa was closed after heavy flooding earlier in the afternoon on the 30th.
Multi Hazard
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Kerikeri
There was surface flooding in two places between Bulls Gorge and Cottle Hill on SH10 at Kerikeri on the 30th and a slip at Hayes Hill.
High Wind / Gust
Homes were in the process of losing their roofs in Kerikeri.
Flooding
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Kokopu
Knight Road, one kilometre from Kokupu Rd, was impassable near the bridge due to floodwater on the 30th.
Landslide
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Mangamuka Gorge
SH1 south of the Mangamuka Gorge was partially blocked by a slip on the 30th, with one lane open.
High Wind / Gust
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Mangonui Harbour
In the Mangonui Harbour, yachts were wrenched from their moorings late on the afternoon of the 30th and the famous Mangonui fish and chips shop had parts of its roof ripped away. One yacht was pushed on to rocks below Beach Road and suffered significant damage.
The Mangonui fire brigade was called to deal with a number of fallen trees, from Mangonui to Lake Ohia, to lifting roofs at Taipa, Cable Bay and at Matthews' Vintage Collection at Aurere, cleared a slip on Beach Road, outside the fish shop, and referred sparking power lines to Top Energy for repairs.
Flooding
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Maromaku
Towai Road at Maromaku was closed after heavy flooding earlier in the afternoon on the 30th.
Flooding
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Marua
Otonga Road was blocked by flooding 2km from Marua on the 30th.
Flooding
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Maungakaramea
Tauraroa Road, near the school, and Hayward Road were blocked by flooding on the 30th.
Flooding
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McLeod Bay
Torrential rain had already caused flooding in Mcleod Bay on the morning of the 29th. The settlement was 'like a river' after torrential rain fell for at least two hours early in the morning.
Parts of the main road were barely passable due to the floodwaters.
Flooding
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Moerewa
The Otiria Stream flooded at Moerewa, making access limited on SH1 where the bridge was flooding at the base of Turntable Hill. Traffic banked up at Moerewa.
Flooding
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Omana
The Mangonui Bridge at Omana had both approaches flooded and was closed to traffic other than 4WDs and trucks on the 31st and 1st.
Multi Hazard
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Opononi
More than 200 students at Opononi Area School were sent home on the morning of the 29th.
High Wind / Gust
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Opua
A tree fell on to a road and pulled powerlines with it on Paihia Road (SH11) at Opua early on the 30th, closing the road while police and contractors removed them.
Flooding
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Otakairangi
In the Whangarei District, only Swamp Rd remained closed due to flooding on the 31st as the storm moved south.
Multi Hazard
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Paihia
SH11 at Paihia was reduced to one lane at Lemon Hill, with power lines down in this area and there had been a slip.
Flooding
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Parua Bay
There was also flooding in Parua Bay.
Heavy Rain
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Pipiwai
A fresh drop-out took out half of Patutahi Rd in Pipiwai on the 31st but one lane was still open.
Flooding
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Tangiteroria
The flooded Pukehuia Rd was accessible only from the Tangiteroria side on the 31st.
Multi Hazard
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Te Kao
The road was reduced to one lane at Te Kao on the 30th.
Flooding
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Te Wharau
There was flooding on SH14 near Te Wharau on the 30th.
Flooding
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Tokatoka
There was flooding on SH12 at Tokatoka on the 30th.
Landslide
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Twin Bridges
A slip closed Mangakahia Road at Twin Bridges on the 30th.
Multi Hazard
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Waiere
Waiare Rd, which runs through the Puketi Forest from near Okaihau to just south of Kaeo, suffered major damage.
Flooding
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Waikare
A woman (49 years old) drowned in the swollen Waikare River in Waikare Valley Road after presumably trying to cross the river to get to her house. Her body was found at 11:15am on the 30th 1.5km downstream from a ford that crosses over to her house. The body of her partner (40 years old) was found at 1pm on the 4th August about 4km downstream from the ford.
Landslide
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Waiotira
A house in Waiotira started to slip down a bank while the couple were asleep, tearing a gaping hole in their bedroom. The couple had been living in their garage after the first storm washed away a chunk of their land, taking part of the house with it. After this storm their home was deemed too dangerous to live in.
Multi Hazard
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Waitangi Forest
A pig hunter spent the night of the 29th in the Waitangi Forest after he slipped down a gully while following his dogs and injured his ankle. He probably didn't hear the searchers' calls and whistles because of the strong wind and rain. He was found walking along a road about 7.30am on the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
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Whangarei
A large tree fell on a northbound lane of SH1 south of Whangarei.
About 500 homes west of Whangarei were without power on the afternoon of the 30th as new faults developed.
Landslide
There was a large slip on SH1, 2km north of the Dargaville turnoff, and a truck was stuck in mud. There was also a slip at Handforth St, near Whangarei Airport, which five trucks were used to clear. Fulton Hogan workers had been clearing a small slip there on the 30th when the rest of the bank gave way, closing the road. The slip had eaten into a few inches of airport land, leaving the fence dangling.
Heavy Rain
In the 28 hours to 4am on the 30th, Whangarei received up to 104.5 mm (10.5 cm) of rain.
Multi Hazard
Whangarei’s parks suffered damage running into hundreds of thousands.
Flooding
NorthTec classes were cancelled because of the storm that was threatening to flood the CBD.
Heavy Rain
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Whatoro
Trounson Park Rd was reduced to one lane by an 8m-long crack in the road.
Multi Hazard
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Wheki Valley
There was flooding on SH14 near Snooks Road and Wheki Valley on the 30th. A tree fell across the road between Snooks Rd and Old School Rd, with one lane open while it was being cleared.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
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Auckland
Auckland and Manakau got of lighter with this storm than with the storm the previous weekend.
Police in the North Shore and Rodney districts said an increasing number of roads were having to be closed on the morning of the 30th.
A trail of slips and flooding made SH16 between Wellsford and Kaukapakapa impassable for much of the morning on the 30th before roadworkers could open one lane in several places at 8am.
Auckland passenger trains ran about 30 minutes late for much of the morning on the 30th after an extreme-weather speed restriction of 40 km/hr was imposed.
A large area of Helensville and Kaipara lost power on the night of the 30th.
In the North Shore and Waitakere there were 21 homes and over 50 residents evacuated.
119 claims in the Auckland District had been made to the Earthquake Commision since the storms on July 26 and 30.
A car ended up submerged in an Auckland marina, after sliding off a slippery road on the 29th.
Heavy Rain
In Auckland, rain gauges showed a 60 per cent increase on an average July rainfall.
The Auckland region had 214 mm (21.4 cm) of rain in July - 65 percent above the average monthly rainfall.
Maritime / Coastal
The Pacific Sun cruise ship was returning from Vanuatu on the night of the 30th when it was battered in 7m swells and 50 knot (90 km/hr) winds 600 km north of Auckland. It rolled sharply just before 8pm, injuring 57 people on board (42 passengers were treated). Crockery, furniture and gaming machines were sent flying. More serious injuries reported included a fractured pelvis, broken arms and broken ribs, a lost foot, and lost fingers. Damage to the ship was superficial but delayed the departure of the next cruise, with a total of 3382 passengers affected across the two cruises.
High Wind / Gust
Some parts of Auckland experienced several wind gusts of 120 km/hr overnight on the 30th.
Flooding
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Albany
SH17 at Albany was closed due to flooding on the 30th. The bridge from the township to Paremoremo was underwater earlier on the 30th but reopened by 6.20am.
High Wind / Gust
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Avondale
Several trees were brought down in the storm including one in Avondale which also brought down nearby powerlines.
Landslide
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Birkenhead
An industrial site under development on Huka Rd in Birkenhead had slumped.
Multi Hazard
A more than 300-year-old rimu was toppled in Birkenhead’s Fernglen Gardens after being weakened by high winds and rain in July. It was discovered the week after the storms.
Multi Hazard
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Dairy Flat
Kaihikatea Road at Dairy Flat was flooded and slips kept occurring - four wheel drives were recommended.
Landslide
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Dome Valley
SH1 north of Warkworth at Dome Valley was closed for nearly 12 hours until the afternoon of the 30th after it was blocked by a large slip of trees, rocks and clay that was several feet high. The slip contained about 3000cu m of earth and occurred about 4am on the 30th. The slip blocked the road in three places but single lanes were cleared at two sites within hours.
Landslide
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Glenfield
On Mulberry Place in Glenfield, cracks in the road were causing concern and a house below the road shifted slightly overnight on the 31st. There was a landslide on the 1st August and two homes had sustained some damage. Very heavy rain over the past week had accelerated land creep.
The occupants of two homes built on poles at Mulberry Place were evacuated on the 1st and others had voluntarily evacuated earlier after being threatened by the landslide. The two homes ended up permanently vacated by their owners.
Landslide
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Helensville
Slips keep occurring in the Helensville area on the 30th.
Flooding
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Howick
The Howick fire station had taken only two calls by mid-morning on the 30th and both were minor; one of them was for a flooded house in Evelyn Rd.
High Wind / Gust
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Karekare
A few homes in Karekare were without power after a high voltage fault.
Maritime / Coastal
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Muriwai
The Muriwai Surf Life Saving Club's patrol tower was moved by a giant crane from a dune that was scoured away during the July storms. Part of the tower was hanging over a drop of 10m to the beach. Three big storms since the beginning of May had carved off 5m of dune from the front of the tower. Storms had also lowered the level of the beach by washing away a vast amount of sand.
Flooding
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Northcross
All lanes of Oteha Valley Road (a motorway feeder) were flooded on the eastern side of the motorway but the road was passable.
Landslide
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Pohuehue
A slip partially blocked SH1 at Pohuehue viaduct south of Warkworth on the 30th, but traffic was still flowing.
Landslide
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Swanson
On the 29th there was a landslide on a steep bank on a Church St property in Swanson, which blocked the Swanson Stream beside the Redwood Park Country Club. The slip measured 50m across and 30m deep and brought down some 1000 cubic metres of debris into the stream.
One house in Birdwood Rd in Swanson was evacuated on the morning of the 31st as a precaution after a landslip. The slip reached to within 8m of the house on the night of the 31st and was 4m away by the next morning. After further rain on the 31st, three other houses were vacated voluntarily.
The slip was caused by fill coming from the Church St property so would have to be cleared at the land-owners’ cost, which could be as high as $125,000.
There was a big split across the road on the corner of Sturgess and Candia roads in Swanson after a section of the road started to fall away.
Landslide
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Torbay
14 homes in Lingham Crescent and one in Morice Place in Torbay were evacuated late on the afternoon of the 30th as they were threatened by a slip after 24 hours of rain. The slip was about 4000 to 5000 square metres in area. Residents of 10 of the homes returned on the 1st and two more were found safe to return to on the 3rd.
The storm left a 12m split in the ground in Lingham Crescent. One home was written-off and later demolished after sliding 10 cm off its foundations and receiving severe damage with cracks in the foundations, major cracks in the driveway and the frame twisted and snapped in places. Three more houses showed signs of movement, with two of them badly damaged with severe cracks. The slip moved 700 mm on the 30th. Engineers drilled holes into the saturated hillside to drain water and on the 1st it was pouring out at 300 litres an hour. Another house, in Morice Pl, was being investigated as to how it could be pinned structurally and secured.
Glamorgan Drive off East Coast Road was closed to allow emergency services to operate on the landslip situation.
High Wind / Gust
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Waiheke Island
Auckland escaped lightly in terms of power outages with just one trip on Waiheke Island which was soon restored.
Multi Hazard
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Warkworth
Woodcocks Road in Warkworth was flooded near to the Helensville end and slips had resulted.
Flooding
SH1 at Warkworth was closed due to flooding on the 30th.
Waikato
Flooding
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Waikato
SH25 between Thames and Coromandel was closed due to flooding on the 30th and there was a lot of debris on the road north of Thames. The townships of Pauanui, Tairua, Whangamata, Whitianga and Coromandel were cut off by flood waters on the 30th. Whitianga, Tairua and Pauanui were worst hit in the Coromandel.
Parts of Hikuai and Pauanui on SH25 were under more than a metre of water.
In the Coromandel, around 20 schools closed on the 30th and freight trucks were unable to leave the area.
There was widespread flooding on the Hauraki Plains and the Coromandel on the 30th and 31st.
Some basements in the Coromandel were flooded on the 30th.
Heavy rain triggered flood alarms on a number of Coromandel and Hauraki Plains rivers, including the Lower Waihou and Piako Rivers, but river systems coped well. Early level alarms for the Waipa and Waikato rivers were triggered at a number of sites on the 31st including Te Kuiti, Otorohanga, Whatawhata, Hamilton, Ngaruwahia, Huntly and Rangiriri.
High Wind / Gust
Whitianga and Coromandel townships became isolated due to downed trees on the 30th.
Hundreds of homes through Thames and Coromandel lost power on the 30th and parts of the Coromandel were cut off with Vodafone coverage down in parts. Several hundred houses in smaller places like Hinuera, Kopu and Waihou were without power on the night of the 30th.
Landslide
SH25 between Coromandel and Whangapoua was closed due to a large slip until the 31st and the Kopu-Hikuai Gorge (SH25A) was closed on the 31st as road crews cleared eight slips and debris.
Heavy Rain
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Coromandel Range
Over 200mm (20 cm) of rain had fallen in parts of the Coromandel Ranges at 9am on the 30th.
Heavy Rain
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Golden Cross
As at 10am on the 30th, the Golden Cross rainfall monitoring station had recorded about 300 mm (30 cm) of rain over a 24-hour period.
Heavy Rain
at
Golden Valley
Golden Valley had the heaviest rainfall overnight on the 29th, with 161 mm (16.1 cm) of rain, falling at about 30 mm an hour.
Heavy Rain
at
Hamilton
Hamilton received 26 mm (2.6 cm) of rain in 12 hours to the 30th.
Due to exceptionally high and concentrated rainfall, combined with saturated ground conditions, there were a number of localised wastewater flooding events in Hamilton.
Aberdeen School was evacuated an closed on the 1st because of the health and safety risk after raw sewage spewed from a low-lying manhole after heavy rain. The school remained closed over the weekend.
Landslide
at
Hikuai
SH25 at the junction with SH25a in Hikuai was closed due to slip on the 30th.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaimai Range
Conditions in the Kaimais were treacherous on the 30th.
Multi Hazard
at
Karangahake Gorge
The Karangahake Gorge (SH2) between Paeroa and Waihi was closed on the morning of the 30th until further notice due to slips and flooding, with water half a metre deep.
Flooding
The Ohinemuri River in Karangahake Gorge was described as a "large brown torrent" and waterfalls could be seen falling over paddocks in the area.
Heavy Rain
310 mm (31 cm) of rain was recorded near the Karangahake Gorge in the 24 hours to midday on the 30th.
The Karangahake Gorge recorded 265 mm (26.5 cm) of rain between the 30th and the 31st.
Flooding
at
Kopu
There was significant surface flooding at Kopu on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Manaia
The small settlement of Manaia, about 12 km south of Coromandel, was submerged with four feet (1.2 m) of water.
Flooding
at
Paeroa
SH26 at Paeroa was closed due to flooding on the 30th. There was 1 m of water over the main road.
Some locals reported water coming into their houses on the 30th.
Multi Hazard
Netherton School, on SH2 near Paeroa, was closed on the 30th, as the roads were hazardous in the wind and rain.
Heavy Rain
Paeroa recorded 125 mm (12.5 cm) of rain.
Paeroa had 416 mm (41.6 cm) of rain in the month of July - nearly three times the average. It was more than they had ever had since records began in 1912, exceeding their record by 70 mm.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Port Waikato
At Port Waikato, the Sunset Beach Surf Life Saving Club's patrol tower was in danger of falling from an eroded dune into the sea after three stormy weeks had taken five to eight metres of sandhill from the front. It had been there for 15 years.
Flooding
at
Tairua
A home about 5km south of Tairua was surrounded by floodwaters more than 2m deep in places after the Tairua River burst its banks.
High Wind / Gust
at
Taupo
Taupo had similar wind speeds to Rotorua (75 km/hr).
Heavy Rain
Taupo received 29 mm (2.9 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 4pm on the 30th.
Multi Hazard
No major storm problems were reported in Taupo, but a few trees had fallen and the Fire Service attended a couple of minor weather-related jobs such as loose roofing and signs.
Multi Hazard
at
Te Aroha
In the Waikato, Te Aroha bore the brunt of power outages on the 30th.
A house in Aroha View Ave had water and wind damage after part of the roof lifted off, exposing many rooms to strong winds and heavy rain.
Three families in Te Aroha were evacuated.
High Wind / Gust
Radio Network head weather analyst Philip Duncan estimated winds had reached 180-200 km/hr in Te Aroha. The downslope winds had picked up speed and become very violent.
In Te Aroha, almost every property suffered wind damage of some kind and 12 properties lost their roofs. Big trees up to 100 years old were completely uprooted.
Flooding
at
Thames
Thames Hospital reported that many staff were unable to get to work on the 30th because of road closures due to flooding. Some of those at work had to leave early to attend to family and property and also avoid being stranded.
Thames had three wastewater plants that had minor spills on the 30th.
After heavy rain the Thames Racecourse was completely submerged, causing extensive damage to the surface, running rail and some small buildings.
Landslide
Homes had to be evacuated because of slips in Thames on the 30th.
Landslide
at
Waihi
Homes had to be evacuated because of slips in Waihi on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Waitakaruru
The rising waters of the Waitakaruru River threatened the community of Waitakaruru on SH25. Hauraki District Council and Environment Waikato staff spent the night of the 31st sandbagging the river and water pumps were used to direct water into other waterways.
Flooding
at
Whitianga
SH25 south of Whitianga was flooded with water 1 m deep and was impassable on the 30th.
Landslide
Access in and out of Whitianga was closed with a massive slip enveloping the entire road between the town and Kuaotunu on the 30th.
Bay of Plenty
Landslide
at
Bay of Plenty
SH2 between Awakeri and Taneatua was closed due to slip on White Pine Bush Road on the 30th.
Heavy Rain
Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty received approximately 45 mm (4.5 cm) of rain from 9pm on the 29th to about 9am on the 30th.
Up to 40 mm (4 cm) of rain fell in the eastern ranges overnight on the 31st.
Flooding
Both the Mangorewa and Waimana rivers had reached the first warning level by lunchtime on the 30th.
Many of the sports fields and playgrounds around the region resembled miniature lakes.
Multi Hazard
The storms in the Western Bay in July (26th-27th and 29th-1st August) damaged up to 48 homes. The Earthquake Commission (dealing with land slips and storm flooding to residential land) said 13 properties in the Western Bay had been damaged - worth $242,000.
35 claims across the Bay of Plenty were made to the Insurance Council (dealing with claims relating to commercial property, land and buildings and residential buildings).
Heavy Rain
at
Kaimai Range
Parts of the Kaimai ranges received up to 250 mm (25 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 4pm on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Matata
The streams around Matata were 200mm above normal on the morning of the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
The Fire Service attended two cases of damaged roofs in Matata on the morning of the 30th.
Just before 9am on the 30th a van was blown off the road on SH2 on its way to Matata. No one was hurt.
Tornado
at
Mount Maunganui
A small tornado snapped a power pole near Omanu Beach, then moved inland where it struck the suburb of Arataki at 9 or 10am on the 30th. It left a trail of destruction stretching from Eversham Rd through Gloucester Rd and Inverell Place, where it did the most damage. Several houses next to each other were damaged, with roof tiles ripped off, windows smashed, a carport damaged, a large tree pulled out of the ground and fences knocked over. Five damaged properties were secured with tarpaulins.
The tornado had been generated by strong wind off the coast. A man was forced to swerve in his car to avoid the tornado. He said the twister was about three-quarters of the width of the two-lane road, and was carrying letter boxes and rubbish.
Flooding
St Thomas Moore Catholic School in Mount Maunganui sent about 176 students home after opening briefly on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Ohope
There was some surface flooding at homes in Pohutukawa Ave in Ohope.
High Wind / Gust
Power was lost in some parts of Ohope around 8pm.
Landslide
at
Omokoroa Beach
After a night of rain driving into the side of the slope, land on Harbourview Rd in Omokoroa Beach gave way and gushed out a trail of mud and debris for more than 10m down the hillside at 8am on the 30th.
Three homes were evacuated at Omokoroa Beach, as the houses in Harbourview Rd were under threat from the slip.
Maritime / Coastal
A yacht fully capsized along the Omokoroa beachfront overnight on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Papamoa Beach
More than 400 students at Te Akau Ki Papamoa School were sent home about 9:30am on the 30th after flooding threatened children's safety.
Heavy Rain
at
Rotorua
Rotorua received approximately 14mm (1.4 cm) of rain from 9pm on the 29th to about 9am on the 30th.
Rotorua received 42 mm (4.2 cm) of rain in 24 hours to 4pm on the 30th.
10 mm ( 1 cm) of rain fell between 4pm and 5pm on the 30th.
Rotorua received 53 mm (5.3 cm) of rain in the 24 hour period to 7am on the 31st.
Rotorua had nearly twice its normal rainfall for the month of July with 263.8 mm (26.4 cm) of rain.
High Wind / Gust
Rotorua had wind gusts of up to 75 km/hr on the night of the 29th and the morning of the 30th.
Multi Hazard
High winds and saturated soil resulted in a tree falling from a neighbouring property on to the roof of a Lynmore property at 6am on the 30th. The tree fell through two fences and a washing line and came to rest on their roof, but little damage was done to the house, as a smaller tree broke the fall.
Three flights out of Rotorua were affected by the weather on the 30th.
Multi Hazard
at
Tauranga
A number of roads in Tauranga were closed due to flooding or trees down on the 30th, including Kennedy Road in Pyes Pa.
High Wind / Gust
Two 4.5m pine trees partially blocked SH29 near the Tauranga suburb of Greerton on the 30th.
The Fire Service attended a fallen tree at Matua.
Winds of around 80 km/hr hit Tauranga between 4am and 5am on the 30th.
Three planes managed to depart Tauranga Airport and one land on the morning of the 30th before things came to halt. The manager described the conditions as the worst conditions he had seen since the May 2005 floods.
A number of homes were damaged by fallen trees, and a skylight was blown away at a self-storage facility in Omanu at 3.10am on the 30th. The worst wind damage came between 5am and 6am. Just before 5am firefighters were called to help secure a piece of iron at the Caltex service station on Hewletts Rd. Shortly after, they attended a call from Moa St, where part of a fence had been blown into a driveway. Several road signs were blown over.
Flooding
There was extensive surface flooding in some places on the 30th. Low lying playing fields were flooded.
Travel to and from Tauranga Airport was disrupted and flooding on the Wairoa Bridge during the morning held up motorists.
Flooding
at
Waihi Beach
People were evacuated from two houses at Pio Shores in Waihi Beach by flooding and there were four evacuations at the nearby Beachhaven Holiday Park.
Multi Hazard
at
Whakatane
The Whakatane region was hammered as strong winds and rain ripped through. Fulton Hogan staff were busy clearing trees and slips from roads and dealing with surface flooding due to rainfall being heavier than the storm water system could deal with.
Several primary schools closed.
Heavy Rain
Whakatane received around 22mm (2.2 cm) of rain from 9pm on the 29th to about 9am on the 30th.
67.1 mm (6.7 cm) was recorded in Whakatane from 9pm on the 29th to 9pm on the 30th.
Whakatane received almost three quarters of its July rainfall in just 24 hours - 77 mm (7.7 cm) of rain to 4pm on the 30th.
Flooding
One Awatapu Dr property in Whakatane was hit by surface flooding overnight on the 30th.
Landslide
Large slips disrupted traffic on Ohope Rd between Whakatane and Ohope. One slip brought down two trees and covered the eastbound lane.
High Wind / Gust
Power supplies were lost to about 1000 homes in Whakatane around 4pm, when a tree fell on lines on Arawa Rd another outage occurred soon after in Kopeopeo.
High Wind / Gust
at
White Island
Winds around White Island reached up to 150 km/hr.
Gisborne
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne region
More than 100 mm (10 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to midday on the 30th between Te Puia Springs and Hicks Bay. Rain eased about 3.30pm on the 30th. The rain they had was not huge compared with other weather events.
The upper catchment areas of the Whakatane and Waimana rivers got a 180 mm (18 cm) soaking in about 24 hours.
Flooding
Rivers, stream and drains were still swollen on the morning of the 31st.
Most schools sent children home as roads threatened to close.
Some of the smaller tributaries had rises and falls of approximately one metre an hour.
SH35 between Hicks Bay and Gisborne was closed briefly due to surface flooding.
Multi Hazard
Many roads in the region were affected by slips, fallen trees, and minor damage to road surfaces.
The storm only caused minor disruptions to the power network. The main areas of concern were Tikitiki, rural parts around Ruatoria, part of Mahia Peninsula and Morere.
High Wind / Gust
Power lines and trees were the biggest casualties of some strong winds gusts that followed the rain. Firefighters were also stretched across the region responding to multiple callouts of roofs lifting in the wind.
Heavy Rain
at
East Cape
Torrential rain from the storm moved onto the East Cape during the morning of the 30th.
Flooding
at
Gisborne city
The Gladstone Road bridge, in Gisborne's city centre, had to be closed for a couple of hours on the night of the 30th to clear a backlog of debris tangled around the bridge piers. The closure in the peak 5pm rush hour created a traffic gridlock of Auckland proportions, with cars backing up for several blocks in all directions.
Surface flooding seeped into several Gisborne homes and buildings, including Te-Poho-o-Rawiri Marae just after lunchtime. Firefighters also pumped water from homes in Mackey St, Lyell Rd and Huxley Rd on the afternoon of the 30th.
Te Wharau school closed at 11.45am on the 30th after flooding and drainage issues affected the toilets. Te Hapara school closed at 12.15pm to give parents the chance to pick up their children before things got worse.
Landslide
A bank bordering a driveway on Sievwright Lane gave way and cut off access to four households just as the rain eased on the 30th. A resident had to wade through knee-deep sodden clay and remnants of flax bushes and trees to get home.
Heavy Rain
At 1pm on the 30th inner city Gisborne received rainfall of 16.5mm (1.7 cm) an hour.
High Wind / Gust
High winds caused a disruption to flights in and out of Gisborne Airport.
Heavy Rain
at
Hicks Bay
Hicks Bay received 181 mm (18.1 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to midday on the 30th.
Landslide
Slips blocked roads in Hicks Bay for much of the day on the 30th. SH35 between Te Araroa and Hicks Bay was closed.
Flooding
at
Hikuwai River
Hikuwai River at Willowflat rose to approximately 12 metres on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Kanakanaia
The Waipaoa River at Kanakanaia peaked at 6.943 metres at 6pm on the 30th.
Heavy Rain
at
Koranga
At Koranga, 176 mm (17.6 cm) was recorded in the 24 hours to 11am on the 31st.
Flooding
at
Mangatuna
12 people were evacuated from a Mangatuna home on the 30th as a precaution as the Uawa River rose at an alarming rate. They were allowed to return on the morning of the 31st.
Flooding
at
Motu
Motu School remained closed on the 31st.
On the morning of the 31st some roads were still closed due to surface flooding near the Motu Bridge and school: Motu Falls Road, Fraser Hill Road, Marumoko Road, Old Motu Road and Phillips Road.
Heavy Rain
at
Raukumara Range
The greatest amount of rain fell on the ranges inland from Ruatoria where 194 mm (19.4 cm) fell in the 24 hours to midday on the 30th - almost twice the amount that fell on the ranges inland from Gisborne and Tolaga Bay.
Flooding
at
Ruatoria
The Waiapu River at Ruatoria reached 6.15metres at 2.30pm on the 30th.
Multi Hazard
About 250 students at Ngati College in Ruatoria were forced to stay at home on the 30th as the roads were too treacherous for bus drivers to negotiate due to flooding and slips.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Araroa
Te Araroa received the most intense rainfall between 7am and 8am on the 30th when 35mm (3.5 cm) was recorded.
Landslide
at
Tiniroto
On the 31st Parikanapa Road was partially closed by several slips.
Flooding
at
Tokomaru Bay
An East Coast camping ground, Tokomaru Bay Mayfair Store and Cabins, was under water and closed on the 30th. The property was like a river, with only one dry spot where their six sheep and lamb were hiding. The owners blamed Gisborne District Council rather than the weather as they had been asking council to re-dig the area's drains for months.
The Waiotu River south of Tokomaru Bay broke its banks early on the 30th and temporarily closed SH35 south of the township.
Heavy Rain
at
Tolaga Bay
In Tolaga Bay 162 mm (16.2 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to midday on the 30th.
Multi Hazard
SH35 near Tolaga Bay was closed to anything other than trucks or four wheel drives on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Waimata River
At 3pm on the 30th the Waimata River level at Goodwins was recorded at 6.06 metres.
Flooding
at
Waingake
The Te Arai River at Pykes got up to 3.1 metres at 1.45pm on the 30th.
Landslide
at
Wharekopae
On the morning of the 31st Tahora Road near Tahora Settlement Road was partially closed by slips.
Hawke's Bay
Landslide
at
Hawke's Bay
Several small slips occurred on highways.
Flooding
Minor to moderate surface flooding was reported in suburban areas of Napier and Hastings.
In Central Hawke's Bay, surface flooding forced the closures of Taylor, Hiranui, Argyll, Argyll East, Great North, Northumberland and Clarence roads.
Residents in central Hawke's Bay were told to boil their drinking water from the 29th July till the 4th August due to concern that flooding may have contaminated the water supply to Waipukurau and Waipawa.
Multi Hazard
Highways were blocked, streets and paddocks flooded, schools closed, trees down and buildings damaged. There was a lot of storm damage right through down to Ocean Beach and Waimarama.
In the Hastings District, SH50 at Roy’s Hill, SH2 at Poukawa Road and some parts of Te Mata Road all experienced surface flooding on the 30th. SH2 opposite the Guthrie Smith Centre was closed due to a land slip.
High Wind / Gust
There were only minor isolated power outages, mainly in rural areas where only a small number of consumers were affected. They were mainly the result of trees hitting lines.
Flooding
at
Clifton
At Clifton, 18 inches (45.7 cm) of rain came through one part of the motorcamp.
Landslide
at
Devils Elbow
There was a slip at the Devil's Elbow on SH2.
High Wind / Gust
at
Elsthorpe
About eight children and three teachers were trapped at Elsthorpe School until about 2pm on the 30th after floodwaters on Elsthorpe Rd rose to car rooftop levels and the alternative route along Kahuranaki Rd had a tree knocked over, which brought down powerlines. The rest of the children had been sent home by bus during the morning.
Landslide
at
Eskdale
There was a slip at the SH5 turn-off at Eskdale.
Flooding
About 60 of Eskdale School's 180 students were sent home about midday when Seafield Rd was threatened by rising floodwaters. The school also had a narrow escape from flood damage when water draining off Hill Rd swept down through the school. Hukarere Girls' College was forced to close about 11am when the storm rendered the school's toilets unusable.
High Wind / Gust
at
Hastings
A branch crashed through a house window in Stortford Lodge.
Heavy Rain
30.2 mm (3.0 cm) of rain fell in Hastings in 24 hours up to the 30th.
Hastings received 47.2 mm (4.7 cm) of rain in the 24 hours until 7am on the 31st.
Multi Hazard
Hastings Boys' High School sent boys home on mini buses to outlying areas such as Omahu, Bridge Pa and Te Awanga about 1.30pm on the 30th.
Multi Hazard
at
Haumoana
High seas and rain hammered the coastal town of Haumoana and neighbouring Te Awanga and Clifton on the 30th, causing a lot of surface flooding.
Maritime / Coastal
In Haumoana, at least four beachfront properties were damaged by high seas and another was threatened. One house was partly submerged by large waves at high tide about 3pm. The sea smashed the house's concrete seawall and tore away the front room, which fell into the sea.
There were 4m swells at Haumoana on the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Havelock North
A house in Havelock North was hit by a falling tree.
Landslide
at
Mahia
There was a minor slip near Mahia.
Landslide
at
Maraekakaho
There was a serious slip with the collapse of Whakapirau Bluff just south of Kereru on SH50. It partially blocked the road but one lane was kept open.
Multi Hazard
Maraekakaho School was evacuating students on the afternoon of the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Maraetotara Lodge
A Maraetotara farmer had a three-hour power cut on the 30th.
Landslide
at
Matahorua Viaduct
There was a major slip at Matahoura Gorge on SH2. Both lanes were blocked mid-afternoon on the 30th.
Heavy Rain
at
Napier
31.5 mm (3.2 cm) of rain fell in Napier in 24 hours up to the 30th.
Napier received 41.1 mm (4.1 cm) of rain in the 24 hours until 7am on the 31st.
Multi Hazard
Ahuriri's Landcorp Farm lost the end of one of the sheds, had a couple of windows blown out in the office and had atrocious flooding. The waters were nearly a metre deep in some areas.
The manager of Ahuriri's Landcorp Farm estimated that hundreds of lambs had been lost.
In Napier, a huge macrocarpa tree, on an exposed slab of hillside behind a Karaka Rd home, fell onto the garage and across the roof of the house in high winds and driving rain. Water poured through shattered ceilings into the kitchen, bathroom and lounge. A hotrod being built in the garage was also left badly damaged.
High Wind / Gust
High winds caused a disruption to flights in and out of Hawke's Bay Airport.
Landslide
A slip was reported on Puketapu Road.
Landslide
at
Nuhaka
There was a minor slip near Nuhaka.
Heavy Rain
at
Poukawa
Poukawa recorded 71.5 mm (7.2 cm) of rainfall since the afternoon of the 29th.
Multi Hazard
at
Pukehou
Pukehou School began sending children home about midday on the 30th when floodwaters and high winds made some surrounding roads treacherous.
Multi Hazard
at
Puketapu
Due to the wild weather and expected sewerage problems, Puketapu School closed at 8.30am on the 30th. Children already at the school were sent home on buses.
Heavy Rain
at
Tareha homestead
A farm at Kaiwaka Rd, north of Napier, had 80 mm (8 cm) of rain fall on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Waipawa
Waipawa and Otane residents were asked to conserve water when the Tikokino Rd bore was flooded, and a back-up bore provided only half the normal supply.
Heavy Rain
at
Waipukurau
14.6 mm (1.5 cm) of rain fell in Waipukurau in 24 hours up to the 30th.
Waipukurau received 36 mm (3.6 cm) of rain in the 24 hours until 7am on the 31st.
Heavy Rain
at
Wairoa
9.4 mm (0.9 cm) of rain fell in Wairoa in 24 hours up to the 30th.
Wairoa received 14.2 mm (1.4 cm) of rain in the 24 hours until 7am on the 31st.
Taranaki
Heavy Rain
at
Taranaki
Heavy rain fell in North Taranaki on the morning of the 31st, but by afternoon had begun to ease.
Taranaki had between 148 per cent and 222 per cent of its normal July rainfall totals.
Heavy Rain
at
Inglewood
Inglewood was Taranaki's wettest town in July, recording 467.5 mm (46.8 cm) of rainfall.
Maritime / Coastal
at
New Plymouth
Raging seas moved 13-tonne concrete akmons metres out of position at the lee breakwater, with two tossed up on to the breakwater itself, and spewed rocky debris along New Plymouth's walkway on the 31st. Walls of water also poured across the boat ramp carpark, tearing up large sections of the seal. Both the parking area and the walkway were closed all day.
Mammoth drifts of sand were dumped in to the harbour entrance, forcing Port Taranaki officials to reduce the official draft from 12.5m to 11.2m for shipping traffic.
Heavy Rain
New Plymouth recorded 209 mm (20.9 cm) of rain in July. It normally receives around 169 mm (16.9 cm).
Heavy Rain
at
North Egmont
North Egmont recorded 1473 mm (147.3 cm) of rain in July - twice its normal July rainfall.
Heavy Rain
at
Stratford
Stratford received 466.5 mm (46.7 cm) of rainfall in July.
Multi Hazard
at
Tatu
SH43 at Tatu Flats was closed on the 31st.
Manawatu-Wanganui
High Wind / Gust
at
Manawatu-Wanganui
Police received a large volume of calls reporting trees across roads and big wind gusts in the Manawatu and Horowhenua areas right up to Waiouru.
About 25,000 (Radio NZ reported 30,000) Horowhenua households were without power from the 29th for up to 17 hours, after gale-force winds uprooted trees and took out power lines. 18,200 Powerco customers around Wanganui and Manawatu lost power. Waikawa Beach, Manakau, Tokomaru and parts of Foxton were still without power on the 31st, causing havoc for dairy farmers trying to milk. Nearly 200 homes faced their fourth consecutive night without power on the 2nd.
An emergency team was sent to Horowhenua by Fonterra to help farmers milk their cows after the power had been down since the morning of the 29th. Farmers were forced to share generators. Most of the dairy farmers in Horowhenua and Kapiti had their power restored by the 4th.
Shortly before 4pm on the 30th, Manawatu District Council reported that 11 roads had been blocked by fallen trees - Arapata Rd, Campbell Rd (near Bunnythorpe), Colyton Rd, Kellow Rd, Main South Rd (near Apiti), No 1 Line (Pohangina), Ridge Rd, Short Rd, Taonui Rd, Tutaki Rd and Ulysses Rd. Some of the roads were still closed at 2pm on the 31st.
Flooding
The Manawatu River was extremely high on the morning of the 31st and the Rangitikei River was also running high.
14 of the Horizon Regional Council's drainage pumping stations were still without power on the 1st, meaning it could be some days before ponded water could be cleared from some of its drainage scheme areas on the Manawatu Plains. Floodwater was creeping over paddocks.
Multi Hazard
A number of Horowhenua homes had to be evacuated until further notice, so that building inspectors could assess the damage.
The weather closed schools in the Horowhenua district on the 30th - Levin East School, Horowhenua College, Waiopehu College, Taitoko School, St Josephs School, Fairfield School, Manakau School, Tokomaru School and Aokautere School.
As the storm swept through northern Manawatu, it lashed the region with heavy rain and gale-force winds - the worst in memory, according to locals. The weather peaked about 1pm in Palmerston North and 2pm in Levin.
New Zealand Post cancelled some mail deliveries in Manawatu due to the heavy rain and strong winds. No mail got through in Levin, Foxton, Foxton Beach, Ashhurst and Pahiatua.
High Wind / Gust
at
Apiti
Apiti had been largely without power since early on the morning on the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Ashhurst
Trees went down across the Palmerston North-Gisborne railway line near Ashhurst.
At Ashhurst there were reports of a trampoline blowing along a street.
Heavy Rain
at
Dannevirke
19.3 mm (1.9 cm) of rain fell in Dannevirke in 24 hours up to the 30th.
Dannevirke received 24.5 mm (2.5 cm) of rain in the 24 hours until 7am on the 31st.
Multi Hazard
at
Gladstone
A small rural Levin community around Gladstone Rd, at the foothills of the Tararuas, was without power for six days and the road was impassable. They had not had any contact from support agencies or civil defence services. After a couple of days, one family had to dig a hole in the ground to use as a toilet.
High Wind / Gust
at
Kakatahi
SH4 between Wanganui and Raetihi was closed at Kakatahi due to fallen trees on the 30th.
Multi Hazard
at
Levin
There were numerous road closures around Levin on the 30th. SH1 north and south of Levin briefly closed and reopened several times as emergency services grappled with downed trees and power lines.
The Levin fire station had around 35 callouts on the morning of the 30th, mostly relating to roofs lifting or fences and trees being blown across properties.
Trains were delayed by fallen trees and slips. Power lines were knocked down near railway lines in Levin, and several level- crossing barrier arms were damaged in Levin.
High Wind / Gust
Gale force easterlies sent roofs flying loose on the 30th. The inside of one home was ruined when a gust blew the roof off. Pinks Batts and roofing iron were scattered around paddocks, a hay barn was obliterated and the roof was ripped off some horse stables.
Levin was without power for much of the day on the 30th after electricity was cut shortly after 8am. The Kawiu Rd substation was out and electricity wires and trees were down through Levin in Cambridge St, Gladstone Rd and Elizabeth St and outside the town. Around 50 rural properties in Levin were still without electricity on the 3rd.
Most shops simply closed down. The Horowhenua Health Centre stayed open, running on emergency generator power, but outpatients and routine work were postponed. Some farms were without power for two days or more, preventing cows from being milked.
There were wind gusts of over 120 km/hr in Levin. Some locals said it was possibly the worst blow they'd faced since the Wahine day storm 40 years ago.
Pressure was building up behind the Tararua ranges and then swooping down the mountain side, causing unpredictable wind gusts.
Heavy Rain
A boil water notice was issued in Levin after the week's heavy rain affected the town's water treatment plant.
High Wind / Gust
at
Makerua
SH57 at Makerua was closed due to fallen trees on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Makuri
An elderly man was driving to his home near Makuri on the Pahiatua-Pongaroa Rd when his car was sucked under a fence and swept into a field by floodwaters on the afternoon of the 30th. When he was rescued, three quarters of his car was under water.
High Wind / Gust
at
Manakau
SH1 was closed near Manakau, south of Levin, after trees fell onto the road on the 30th.
Landslide
at
Manawatu Gorge
Rocks rained down through the Manawatu Gorge.
High Wind / Gust
at
Mangaweka
A tree had blown across SH1 at Mangaweka, blocking the road on the 30th.
Heavy Rain
The Rangitikei River level peaked at 7.2 m at Mangaweka at about 4.30pm on the 30th.
Multi Hazard
at
Mt Ruapehu
Weather conditions closed the Ruapehu skifields on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Opiki
SH56 between Opiki and Alve Road was closed by flooding on the 31st.
High Wind / Gust
at
Palmerston North
A huge tree blew over in College St, landing on two cars and blocking the road near the primary school at lunchtime for nearly 3 hours. One car was severely dented but driveable, the other wasn't so lucky.
Wind lifted iron on the roof of the Barber Hall on Waldegrave St, a tree toppled in Ruamahanga Crescent and at least 18 mature trees blew over in the Kelvin Grove cemetery. Palmerston North Airport reported that wind gusts blew in hangar doors. Signs blew down throughout the city and Tax Link, at the corner of Rangitikei and Walding streets, had a large plate glass window blow out in a gust of wind about 10am.
Atawhai Rd, near Massey University, was closed by fallen trees and Palmerston North City Council closed the Victoria Esplanade and the Ashhurst Domain because of the risks from flying debris.
Heavy Rain
at
Pipiriki
The Whanganui River peaked at 7.7 m at Pipiriki on the night of the 31st.
Multi Hazard
at
Pohangina
Pohangina Valley was hit hard by wind, with trees down, slips and roofs lifting. A house at the top of No 1 Line off Pohangina Rd was destroyed, a woolshed was blown apart and old trees were smashed to smithereens. Weights were holding roofs down, but many haysheds had the backs blown out by the swirling easterly winds and some fertiliser bins were also lost. A dog was blown off a quad bike.
High Wind / Gust
Power and phone lines were down in Pohangina Valley on the 30th and the road was blocked by trees.
A heifer was killed when a tree landed on its head.
Multi Hazard
at
Shannon
All roads to Shannon were blocked by flooding on the 30th. SH57 was closed between Shannon and Opiki due to a slip and trees on the road.
Lightning
A lightning strike took out a pump at the Shannon water treatment plant and Shannon and Tokomaru residents were asked to conserve water. Shannon and Tokomaru residents also had to boil drinking and cooking water because of problems at the water treatment plants.
High Wind / Gust
Around 8am on the 30th, the wind ripped a trailer unit in half on SH57 near Shannon. The driver pulled over and got out when the wind's shaking became too strong. The wind in Shannon and Tokomaru was so strong people could barely stand up against it.
Flooding
at
Tangimoana
Properties in Aru St, Tangimoana, were flooded by stinking water contaminated with diesel and septic tank overflows after drains failed to cope with stormwater. One resident said they had not been able to use their toilet for three weeks. Residents were unable to wash clothes or take showers at home. One property was still under 20 cm of smelly water.
High Wind / Gust
at
Tokomaru
There was an accident on SH57 (Makerua Rd) near Tokomaru at around 8am on the 30th. Very strong wind gusts caught a truck and trailer and it veered off the left hand side of the road and crashed through a fence. The trailer unit spun across the road, blocking both lanes.
Flooding
at
Wanganui
For the first time the lower parts of the new boardwalk near the Waimarie were inundated by the Whanganui River with the high tides on the 1st.
High Wind / Gust
at
Weraroa
A resident of Kimberley Rd, Weraroa, lost 2000 pine trees in the storm, which were not covered by his insurance.
Wellington
Multi Hazard
at
Wellington
Akatarawa Road (between Upper Hutt and Waikanae) was closed on the 30th and 31st.
Train passenger services from Wellington, including the main trunk line, reopened on the 31st after disruptions on the 30th. The Main Trunk Line was closed between Otaki and Waikanae. A tree blocked the Upper Hutt line north of Waterloo, halting services to and from Wairarapa for a short time from about 6am on the 30th.
Weather-related events cut power to about 700 Powerco customers in Gordon St in Masterton and in Annedale Rd near Tinui from late morning on the 30th.
Rain flooded roads, felled trees and moved hillsides in the Wairarapa on the 30th in areas ranging from Ngawi in South Wairarapa to Ngaumu Road east of Masterton.
Flooding
In the Wairarapa, high river levels closed floodway roads, including Jenkins Dip near Martinborough and Kahutara Road at Oporua, on the 31st and several floodway roads were also closed on the 1st.
There were high river levels in many Wairarapa rivers. The lower Ruamahanga River tripped a lower level alarm on the 30th.
Heavy Rain
at
Angle Knob
Angle Knob in the Tararuas received 100 mm (10 cm) of rain on the 31st.
Heavy Rain
at
Carterton
Carterton recorded 186 mm (18.6 cm) of rain for July on an unofficial rainfall recorder.
Heavy Rain
at
Castle Hill
At Castle Hill, the Tauweru River catchment, 51.5 mm (5.2 cm) of rain fell in 24 hours to the night of the 30th.
Heavy Rain
at
Castlepoint
Castlepoint recorded 123.5 mm (12.4 cm) of rain for July on an unofficial rainfall recorder.
Heavy Rain
at
Featherston
Featherston received 50 mm (5 cm) of rain on the 31st.
Heavy Rain
at
Mangatarere Hill
Mangatarere recorded 265 mm (26.5 cm) of rain for July on an unofficial rainfall recorder.
Flooding
at
Martinborough
SH53 between Martinborough and Tauherenikau was closed briefly due to flooding on the 31st.
At Waihenga (bridge), the Ruamahanga River was 4.8 m on the 31st, having risen 3 m by the 31st from 1.8 m on the morning of the 30th.
Heavy Rain
at
Masterton
In Masterton 27 mm (2.7 cm) of rain fell in 24 hours to the night of the 30th.
Masterton received 30 mm (3 cm) of rain on the 31st.
Masterton recorded a rainfall of 140 mm (14 cm) in July.
Multi Hazard
at
Mataikona
Flooding and slips threatened to close Mataikona Road on the afternoon of the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Mt Kaukau
Some fairly big wind gusts were recorded at Mt Kaukau on the morning of the 30th.
Landslide
at
Ngawi
There were slips at Ngawi on the 30th after heavy rain. A hillside wound behind Ngawi village was reopened overnight, forcing road-clearing crews to work until dawn repairing a blocked culvert beneath the road in to the settlement and removing about 800 cubic metres of shingle from near a cliffside in Seaview Ave that had inundated four properties in May.
Heavy Rain
at
Pirinoa
Pirinoa recorded 189.8 mm (19.0 cm) of rain for July on an unofficial rainfall recorder.
Flooding
at
Porirua
Surface flooding hit Porirua on the 31st, with some homes and streets partially underwater. A number of homes were particularly badly affected in the Titahi Bay area. Water levels were waist high in one Owhiti St house.
Maritime / Coastal
Titahi Bay Rd between Te Hiko St and Onepoto Rd was closed around midday due to sea water flooding over the road. Warspite Ave and Corinna St in Cannons Creek were also affected.
Landslide
at
The Summit
SH2 at the Rimutaka Summit had the south-bound lane blocked on the morning of the 31st after two slips.
Heavy Rain
at
Tanawa Hut
117 mm (11.7 cm) of rain fell at Tanawa Hut, northeast of Masterton, on the 31st.
Heavy Rain
at
Tararua Range
In July, the Tararuas recorded rainfall 76 per cent higher than average.
Heavy Rain
at
Tauherenikau
In July, Tauherenikau recorded rainfall 63 per cent higher than average.
Flooding
at
Tauweru
The land east of Taueru was basically under water on the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Te Marua
SH2 near Te Marua was closed on the 30th due to trees falling across the road, blocking motorists from using the Rimutaka Hill Road.
In Te Marua, a falling tree destroyed a three-month-old garage and games room worth $70,000.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Ore Ore
At Te Weraiti Rd 34.5 mm (3.5 cm) of rain fell in 24 hours to the night of the 30th.
Heavy Rain
at
Tinui
Rainfall in the Tinui Valley was 113.5 mm (11.4 cm) in 24 hours to the night of the 30th.
In July, Tinui recorded rainfall 62 per cent higher than average.
High Wind / Gust
at
Upper Hutt
Falling trees damaged houses in Upper Hutt. One house under construction was destroyed.
Flooding
Heavy rain caused flooding in Upper Hutt.
High Wind / Gust
at
Waikanae
SH1 was closed at Waikanae due to fallen power cables on the 31st.
High Wind / Gust
at
Wainuioru
Trees were felled trees near Ngaumu Rd on the 30th and others that were in danger of toppling onto the road were removed..
A Masterton motorist hit a tree across Ngaumu Rd while it was falling at about 5:30am on the 30th.
Heavy Rain
at
Waiorongomai Hill
Waiorongomai recorded 290 mm (29.0 cm) of rain for July on an unofficial rainfall recorder.
Multi Hazard
at
Wellington City
Wellington city filed the most claims with EQC for the storms in late July, with 150 claims.
The 150 claims totalled $2.6 million.
High Wind / Gust
at
Wellington International Airport
More than 20 flights, mainly of smaller aircraft, in and out of Wellington International Airport were cancelled on the 30th due to high winds
Landslide
at
Whareama
There was a fairly major slip at Whareama on the 30th.
Multi Hazard
at
Whitemans Valley
Whitemans Valley east of Upper Hutt experienced serious flooding and other weather related issues that caused road blockages and loss of power.
South Island
Multi Hazard
at
South Island
There were multiple cases of surface flooding on SH1 between Blenheim and Kaikoura on the afternoon of the 30th. In the early morning of the 31st SH1 between Blenheim and Kaikoura was closed due to a storm surge throwing debris on the road as well as rain creating flooding and slips. During the 31st SH1 was closed from as far north as Blenheim to as far south as Woodend in Canterbury by severe flooding and swollen rivers.
Rail services between Christchurch and Picton were disrupted. There were 14 separate problems on the line from flooding, slips and debris, in areas north of Kaikoura, near Sefton and between Picton and Blenheim, causing cancellations from the 31st. The line was expected to reopen on the 5th. About 40 services were affected and there was a week's worth of freight backlogged.
Telecom and Vodafone had some local outages, particularly in Auckland, Manawatu, Marlborough and Canterbury.
Much of the railway line between Christchurch and Invercargill was closed on the 31st. Flooding between Glenavy and Studholm and at Herbert closed the Main South Line between Studholme and Dunedin on the night of the 31st. Main rail and road links remained closed in the South Island on the 3rd.
Trucks became stuck when the road north of Christchurch was closed by flooding, preventing them from using the inland route via Lewis Pass.
$1.5 million damage was caused to State Highway 1 from Marlborough south.
AMI received 1500 South Island claims totalling $3.2m from the July 31 storm. Most related to flood and wind damage to homes.
Heavy Rain
The storm hit the top half of the South Island overnight on the 30th. There was a lot of rain overnight from Picton right through to Christchurch, causing surface flooding.
During the month of July, Marlborough, Canterbury and eastern Otago were soaked with more than twice as much rain as normal for July.
Marlborough
Flooding
at
Marlborough
Marlborough declared a state of Civil Defence Emergency at 3pm on the 30th after surface flooding threatened some homes and the Alexanders Holiday park. It was lifted on the afternoon of the 31st.
Marlborough roads faced months of repairs after damage from the floods. Transit's Marlborough Roads division said the flood impact on roads was the worst for 10 to 15 years.
High Wind / Gust
Fallen trees made sections of the state highway impassable.
Multi Hazard
Parts of Marlborough had power cuts. Between 5pm and 6pm on the 31st, the last large areas cut off from power had electricity restored, with just a couple of customers left to go. In some areas there were so many trees blowing down, Marlborough Lines did not send staff in until the wind abated.
Water carpeted local roads. There were still some roads closed around the district on the 4th August. Queen Charlotte Drive and Port Underwood Road were down to a single lane in places on the 4th, due to slips.
The Picton, Blenheim, and Renwick volunteer fire brigades and RNZAF Woodbourne fire brigade had about 60 calls between 8am on the 30th and early on the 31st, and also attended "running calls" which were not officially logged. The Blenheim Volunteer Fire Brigade received about half the calls.
All sports parks in Marlborough remained closed on the 5th but were all reopened by the 12th. Also, Blenheim Golf Course, Esson's Valley, Picton's South Terrace walkway and some tracks on the Wither Hills Farm Park were still closed, while Waitohi Domain had sewage contamination. Some walkways and tracks in the region were still closed on the 12th due to the effects of the storm.
60 people were evacuated in Marlborough.
Flooding and slips in Marlborough had so far cost the New Zealand Transport Agency nearly $500,000 this winter.
Marlborough had an estimated $1.3 million in flood damage to roads.
Heavy Rain
Marlborough received more than double its usual rainfall for the month of July.
Flooding
at
Blenheim
Four houses in Blenheim were being evacuated because of sewage problems on the night of the 30th.
There was flooding out of the Waitohi Stream, which comes out of a valley above Picton.
Flooding closed several roads around Blenheim on the 30th.
24 Air New Zealand flights in and out of Blenheim were cancelled on the 30th.
In the Taylor Dam Reserve, strong winds and flood water ripped trees out of the ground, blocking off the car park, destroying the roof of the toilet, knocking over picnic tables and throwing debris everywhere. It would cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair the reserve. About 30 trees had fallen over, with a cost of $1500 for removal of each tree and the toilet roof would cost about $20,000 to fix.
Sections of the Taylor River reserve were still closed to the public on 5th August because of subsidence and scouring from the flood, including the Taylor Dam Reserve. The Taylor Dam Reserve was closed for months due to unstable ground, the threat of falling trees and the possibility of sewage contamination in the area. It was re-opened in mid December, except for the toilet block and playground, which were not epected to re-open before March 2009 due to repair work.
The Taylor River reached 3.5m above its normal height during the storm, coming to within 80 cm of breaching its banks.
High Wind / Gust
High winds were also blowing quite a lot of debris around Blenheim.
High Wind / Gust
at
Canvastown
Marlborough Lines company dealt with power outages in Canvastown.
Multi Hazard
at
Elevation
Slips and flooding blocked most of the Elevation.
Multi Hazard
at
Havelock
On SH6 at Havelock, surface flooding caused a headache for motorists and the road was closed briefly due to highwind on the 31st.
Flooding
at
Koromiko
At the Koromiko Motel, a guest woke up at 8am on the 30th to see water at the back door. In three hours it had seeped in to the unit, covering the floors and soaking carpets. The unit next door was also flooded.
Floodwaters submerged most paddocks at Koromiko, threatening farmhouses.
Flooding
at
Para
Floodwaters submerged most paddocks at Para, threatening farmhouses.
Multi Hazard
at
Picton
Picton was the worst-hit area in Marlborough, lashed by wind and rain on the 30th. Gale-force winds were still being reported on the night of the 30th.
Queen Charlotte Drive was closed with slips and tree falls on the night of the 30th.
Queen Charlotte Drive was badly affected, with the collapse of a 45m-long and 3m-wide section tallied at $220,000 alone.
The Picton fire brigade was left running from one emergency to another as gale force winds and driving rain ripped through the township.
Flooding
Low-lying areas of Picton were under water on the 30th and a handful of houses were threatened by heavy rain and flooding rivers.
37 people in Picton were evacuated on the night of the 30th from Alexanders Holiday Park and houses near a flooded creek. Overnight 40 people registered at Queen Charlotte College as having left their homes as a precaution as the Waitohi Stream rose, threatening to flood lower residences in Scotland St. Most people found refuge with family and friends but about 15 stayed at the evacuation centre at the college. Three families were still unable to return to their homes as at the 2nd August.
A Picton family's Broadway home was severely damaged after a big surge of water burst through their house from a nearby creek. At one point, the water was more than 30cm high. Much of the house needed to be rebuilt, which was expected to cost $150,000. They also lost up to $100,000 of personal possessions. The property and their neighbours' back yard were tainted with sewage. As at the 6th September they had been waiting five weeks for the insurer to bring in the builders.
Many houses were flooded in the Buller St area. Brown torrents were pouring down a creek from the hills behind the neighbourhood, missing some homes narrowly but pouring straight through others.
There was a toxic stormwater contamination notice out for Picton on the 31st.
Picton's Cook Strait ferry terminal was shut because of flooding and the weather delayed ferry sailings, but there were no cancellations.
High Wind / Gust
By 5pm on the 30th, Nelson Square looked as if it had been hit by a tornado. Huge trees were disintegrating, creating so much flying debris that police were forced to stop getting out of their cars to assess the damage. A house on the square lost half its roof and a wall was left buckled and an elderly woman's shed started blowing away. Large signs on the road leading into Picton were snapped at the poles.
High Wind / Gust
at
Rai Saddle
A tree blocked SH6 between Nelson and Picton, near the Rai Saddle, on the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Rai Valley
Marlborough Lines company dealt with power outages in the Rai Valley.
Flooding
at
Renwick
Old Renwick Road, leading to the state highway at Renwick, remained closed due to flooding on the 4th.
Low-lying parts of the Highfield Estate winery near Renwick were inundated as the small Mill Stream burst its banks the first time for more than 10 years.
Flooding
at
Seddon
The Vavasour Winery area lost power when a pole in the riverbed disappeared.
Multi Hazard
at
Tuamarina
Wairau Bridge on SH1 was reduced to one lane on the 31st.
Flooding
at
Waihopai River
On the Waihopai Valley Road a transformer disappeared in the river, cutting power to a customer.
Flooding
at
Ward
About 20 to 30 trucks were held up at Ward on the morning of the 31st.
Multi Hazard
at
Wither Hills
The Sounds FM radio station was off air intermittently from the "wee small hours" until about 7am on the 31st after the wild weather affected the transmitter on the Wither Hills.
Flooding
at
Woodbourne
Two men were travelling south on Jacksons Rd, toward Old Renwick Rd, when their ute became stuck in a flooded dip in the road and stalled, with water up to the bottom of the headlights, just after 5pm on the night of the 30th. They had to be rescued by the Blenheim Volunteer Fire Brigade.
Tasman-Nelson
High Wind / Gust
at
Nelson
10,000 homes and businesses lost power at the peak of the storm. Power was out in the Atawhai area as far as Lud Valley on the 30th. 500 homes were still without power on the morning of the 31st, mainly in the Wakapuaka-Hira area, and on the morning of the 1st, 430 homes were still without power - in Hira, Lud, Collins and Teal valleys, the Glen, Cable Bay, and the upper reaches of the Todd's and Lee valleys.
Winds reached hurricane force at the storm's peak between 3pm and 4pm on the 30th.
Numerous homes throughout Nelson, Stoke and Richmond had trees crashing on to or through them. There was extensive damage to power lines, particularly in the Hira, Teal Valley and Lud Valley areas.
The region's forest owners had an estimated 2000 hectares of wind-damaged trees. The damage was wide-ranging, with wind-throw affecting forests in the Richmond Ranges from the Whangamoa Hills to St Arnaud, and it would take months and months of clearing. The cost in the Nelson region would be at least $5 million. 100ha of Nelson Pine Industries' 2000ha forest in Aniseed Valley was damaged by the storm, which would probably cost about $100,000 in damaged trees.
Multi Hazard
Nelson firefighters were called out 87 times, Stoke firefighters 53 times, and Richmond 21 times.
A number of schools were closed due to damage and power outages caused by the storm, including Hira School and Independent Middle School in Stoke. Tantragee Recreation Area, Andrews Farm Reserve, Wakapuaka Cemetery, Isel Park, Murphy St Reserve and Seaview Cemetery were closed for safety reasons until further notice.
AMI claims from the top of the South Island - which so far amounted to 45-50 percent of the 1000 calls received nationally - would be in the millions of dollars. Damage ranged from houses having roofs smashed in or ripped off to fences falling over.
The New Zealand Transport Agency's usual three-month winter maintenance budget of $480,000 for Nelson, Motueka and Golden Bay increased to more than $800,000 this year.
The Earthquake Commission paid out $200,000 to people in the Nelson region for claims made after storms in late July. The largest claim in Nelson city was for $30,000.
121 claims were made to the EQC from the Nelson region.
Multi Hazard
at
Tasman
Damage in the Tasman district was mainly confined to the east of the district.
On the morning of the 31st, the Kerr Hill Rd from Belgrove to St Arnaud was closed, along with the Korere to Top House Rd and the Lee Valley and Quail Valley Rds.
High Wind / Gust
at
Gentle Annie Saddle
After experiencing Cyclone Bola first-hand in 1988, a Gentle Annie resident said this storm was far stronger.
High Wind / Gust
at
Hira
Hira School closed on the 30th because it had no power, so there was no running water and no heating. Trees had also fallen at neighbouring Hira Rural Kindergarten, which closed. The school and kindergarten remained closed through to the 1st. The Hira Stopover store was closed on the 31st but managed to open the next day, running on a generator.
High Wind / Gust
at
Kikiwa
Fallen trees over about 2km of Korere-Tophouse Rd at Kerrs Hill closed the road.
High Wind / Gust
at
Maitai River
Nelson City Council workers clearing trees in the Maitai Valley closed the road because of fears that other trees might fall.
High Wind / Gust
at
Nelson city
A major Nelson water pipeline (the Maitai pipeline under Tantragee treatment plant) was damaged by falling trees and broken in three places. Residents in the Brunner St, Princes Drive, Brook Valley and Davies Drive areas were without water on the morning of the 31st. Nelson residents were asked to cut back on water use by up to 80%. More than 1000 homes were without water on the night of the 31st. Water returned the next afternoon, but a storage tank lost its roof, adding to water supply problems. The supply returned to full operation on the 4th.
Numerous roads around Nelson, and the road up the Maitai Valley, were closed by falling trees.
The winds caused havoc, toppling hundreds of trees, bringing down powerlines, buckling street signs, smashing windows and lifting roofing iron off homes. About 300 trees were felled by winds on council land alone - some of which were significant heritage trees. On the corner of Hardy and Collingwood Sts, a protected Weeping Cyprus crashed to the ground, just missing a car that had somehow got through the police cordon and drove under the tree at the exact moment it started falling. The liquor store on the corner by the tree had been evacuated.
The wind tore off half of the roof of a new house on St Lawrence St, leaving a gaping hole in to the living room. Businesses at Wakatu Estate were hammered by gusts of wind that blew in roller doors in some premises and ripped off huge windows at Tasman Glass. The Nelson North area suffered some major losses from wind damage.
All Nelson City Council parks in Nelson were closed on the 30th because trees were being blown over, some causing damage to buildings. All sports grounds, the York Valley landfill and the Pascoe St transfer station were also closed that morning.
Some students were sheltering under a big tree by Waimea College when it came crashing down on top of them on the 30th. About six students needed help to get out from under the tree. One girl received a sprained ankle, another had her arm in a sling and another was sore, with lots of cuts and a bruised elbow, shoulder and knee.
There were gusts up to 151 km/hr at Observatory Hill on Princes Drive.
There gusts up to 102 km/hr on Blackwood St in Tahunanui.
There were gusts up to 93 km/hr on St Vincent St.
The gale averaged 74 km/hr.
Nelson Airport closed on the 30th until 9pm. 51 Air Nelson flights were cancelled on the 30th, 13 of which were scheduled to fly in and out of Nelson.
There were gusts 119 km/hr at Nelson Airport.
Heavy Rain
Only 20 mm (2 cm) of rain was recorded in Nelson on the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Richmond
At Waimea College, trees were uprooted, cars damaged and doors blown in.
High Wind / Gust
at
Stoke
Independent Middle School asked its 31 students to stay home because the school building could not be heated after a skylight was ripped off by the wind.
A 25m-tall historic tree crashed through the roof of a house in Sequoia Way, Stoke, destroying a bedroom and leaving chaos throughout the house. The tree had been at a dangerous lean but the residents had been assured by the council that it was perfectly safe. Another large sequioa tree damaged a house in Covent Drive - a large branch crashed through the roof into the master bedroom and another branch fell into the kitchen, smashing a window. At Omaio Village retirement home, a tree crashed into a resident's bedroom and left debris all over the bed. That wing suffered fairly extensive damage, including about 10 rooms being affected by water after the sprinkler system went off.
Some historic trees of Isel Park were destroyed in the storm. A 39-m giant redwood was severely damaged and a 43-m torrey pine was snapped at the base, falling across a creek and into a neighbouring backyard, just shaving the side of a house. Other trees were also damaged, some with their entire canopies blown out. Maybe one-third of Isel's heritage specimens were destroyed in the worst loss there sicne Cyclone Alison in 1975. The devastation peaked at 2.45pm when a huge gust tore through.
Multi Hazard
at
Takaka
Motupipi School in Takaka was closed due to the storm.
Multi Hazard
at
Wangapeka River
A group of tramping students and their tutor was trapped during the storm at the swollen Wangapeka River west of Nelson overnight on the 30th. They were rescued at 2am on the 31st in conditions that were so bad the rescue helicopter could not fly. The students were wet, cold, and starting to develop hypothermia.
High Wind / Gust
at
Whangamoa homestead
High winds closed SH6 at Whangamoa, between Nelson and Havelock.
West Coast
Multi Hazard
at
West Coast
Tornadoes and gale force wind gusts caused thousands of dollars worth of damage in Northern Buller on the 30th. Trees were blown down throughout the district.
The storm affected the Northern Buller district from Karamea to Waimangaroa. Westport was unaffected.
High Wind / Gust
Exhausted fire crews on the West Coast were reduced to responding only to call outs involving danger to life on the morning of the 31st because of fatigue and the danger of flying roofing iron.
The Grey District Mayor believed damage from the storm would cost the area about $1 million.
The Grey District Council estimated the wind damage to council property at $50,000.
Many houses in the Grey district were damaged, with roofs and chimneys lifted.
Massive trees were blown over throughout the West Coast. The gales destroyed about 100ha of Timberlands West Coast's trees, in the Hochstetter and Nemona forests in the Grey district and in the Mahinapua forest in Westland. Later it was discovered that the storm had also felled most of the trees in the 570ha Seddonville plantation (see Seddonville).
There were power outages across the West Coast, from Barrytown to Bruce Bay. Electricity was cut to homes from Hokitika to Fox Glacier from 7am on the 30th and power supplies in North Westland surged throughout the morning. Westpower attended to blackouts at Greymouth, Runanga, Taramakau Settlement and Lake Kaniere, mostly due to trees blowing across power lines.
Whataroa, Harihari and Franz Josef Glacier schools were all closed and the children sent home as driving conditions worsened. The bus route from Ross to Franz Josef was too dangerous to attempt, as trees had fallen along the road and strong winds made it difficult to drive. At South Westland Area School in Harihari, there were also a few sheds and fences blown down.
Townships on the outskirtsof Greymouth, including Taylorville, Runanga and Rapahoe, also had powerful winds, which ripped off roofs and blew trees over.
SH7 was closed between Springs Junction and Reefton due to high winds on the 31st. In the Buller district, De Malmanches Rd, on the Karamea side of the Mokihinui River, was closed on the morning of the 31st and Seddonville Rd was closed after trees cam down at about 3pm on the 30th. Karamea Bluff Highway had about 14 one-lane sections due to fallen trees.
Tornado
Small tornadoes were reported in Buller on the morning of the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Barrytown
At Barrytown School, the outside activities shed blew down and much of the play equipment stored in it disappeared.
High Wind / Gust
at
Birchfield
At Birchfield, south of Granity, the storm uprooted at least a dozen large trees.
High Wind / Gust
at
Coal Creek
The Coal Creek track was littered with fallen trees and would stay closed until it could be cleared.
High Wind / Gust
at
Gentle Annie Point
In Gentle Annie the wind gusted to well over 100 km/hr on the 30th. The gale wound up at 11am and peaked between 2pm and 3pm. It was the worst a resident had experienced in 32 years living there, with a noise like “100 trains at a railway station”. At times the wind was like a tornado, switching direction from the hills to the seaside.
At Gentle Annie Lodge, hurricane force gales flattened or shredded at least 800 20-year-old eucalyptus trees and flattened a large part of a 5ha pine plantation behind the lodge. The family left their house for fear of falling trees, taking shelter behind a hedge and parked cars for three hours as the wind torpedoed down the Mokihinui Valley. Trees also fell on a house next door and wiped out 200 metres of 30-year-old shelterbelt trees along Gentle Annie Rd near the lodge. The falling trees and debris damaged about a kilometre of fencing around the lodge grounds and six fallen trees struck the roof of the manager’s accommodation building, causing substantial damage. Fallen trees also damaged a ride on mower.
The gale snapped power poles and flung trees across the access road to Gentle Annie. Gentle Annie Lodge was using a generator for power on the 31st. Road access was restored on the afternoon of the 31st. Fallen trees also crushed a water tank, which cut off the lodge’s water supply.
High Wind / Gust
at
Granity
In the Granity township the wind ripped tiles off several house roofs on New Rd and felled a number of trees near the railway crossing on the 30th. It also blew over two caravans at the Big Fish tavern and damaged several others. One fo the caravans was damaged beyond repair. The roof of a farm shed just south of Granity was blown off and dumped 5-10 metres away and a nearby shipping container was lifted off its foundations.
High Wind / Gust
at
Greymouth
Winds in Greymouth gusted up to 140 km/hr on the 30th.
The storm force winds that ripped through Cobden peaked at an unofficial record of 154 km/hr, recorded by a resident on the wind gauge at his Ashmore Ave home at 3.31pm on the 30th.
The average wind speed for the day was 95.4 km/hr.
The winds howled down the Grey River and through the ‘gap’ into the suburb of Cobden with such velocity that they shook brick buildings and could be heard across the river in Greymouth as a loud roar that did't let up until about 7pm on the 30th. A resident who had lived in Cobden for more than 60 years said he had never heard the wind “screaming” through the Cobden gap like it did all day. The 16-hour storm was the fiercest easterly to hit the town in 35 years.
The Greymouth suburb of Cobden received the worst of the weather on the West Coast. It looked like a war zone after terrifying high winds swept through on the 31st. The Chief Fire Officer had been in Cobden 51 years and had never seen anything like it before. The Cobden Volunteer Fire Brigade attended its first roofing problem at 4.20am and from then on rushed from street to street as more roofs lifted, sheds flew apart, debris went flying, huge trees were uprooted and there were reports of windows imploding with the force of the wind. Few parts of Cobden were untouched, with damage on Ward, Lynch, Monro, Fitzgerald and Hall streets, Domett Esplanade, Barkley Place and North Beach Road. 67 Housing NZ homes were damaged.
Winds blew off roofs in central Greymouth and the seaside suburb of Blaketown from 3pm onwards. One house lost part of the roof but suffered structural damage that twisted the house and could lead to its demolition. The West Coast Cricket Association heavy practice nets at Messenger Park in Blaketown were overturned, the mini-golf course and putting range was damaged as well as buildings at the adjoining Victoria Park raceway, and a giant Phoenix palm tree in Tainui St was snapped off at the base.
Well over 100 homes, mostly in Cobden and a few in Blaketown, were damaged.
At 11.40am the roof lifted from the Mark Jones Paint and Panel shop and wrapped itself around a power pole, cutting electricity to several streets in central Greymouth. By 2.30pm Electronet cut all power to Cobden as the situation had deteriorated so much it was considered unsafe.
Cobden School was closed at midday on the 30th to ensure the children’s safety as the winds were not expected to peak until 3pm. A few hours later the swimming pool roof was blown off.
High winds led to about 15 homes being evacuated.
Greymouth emergency services received over 100 wind-related callouts.
Tornado
Several small water spouts were whipped up by the winds but fizzled out before developing into damaging tornadoes.
High Wind / Gust
at
Heaphy Track
A major clean-up operation had to be done on the Heaphy Track. There were a lot of trees down on the track between McKay and Lewis huts and two large trees also came down on the Kohaihai section of the track.
High Wind / Gust
at
Karamea
Karamea’s power lines went down about 6.30am on the 30th. Buller Electricity was forced to use emergency generators which chewed through about $9000 worth of diesel. Power was restored at 6pm on the 31st.
Multi Hazard
at
Lewis Pass
The storm toppled trees on the Lewis Pass (SH7), closing the road on the 30th. There was a minor slip that morning but it had been cleared.
Landslide
at
Lower Buller Gorge
A slip in the Buller Gorge closed the Stillwater-Westport railway line, which reopened on the 31st.
High Wind / Gust
at
Mokihinui
A resident of Mokihinui had his back porch blown off at about 10am on the 30th and high winds also flattened a staff building under construction near Mokihinui’s Rough and Tumble Lodge and damaged hundreds of their trees. The wind also appeared to have felled or damaged many trees in the Department of Conservation land around the lodge.
High Wind / Gust
at
Point Elizabeth Walkway
Swathes of trees were flattened on the popular Point Elizabeth track. The track was closed at the Rapahoe end while crews cleared away the fallen trees.
High Wind / Gust
at
Seddonville
A tractor shed roof was blown off, causing about $10,000 damage and another man's hay shed was blown away. A pine plantation near Seddonville was decimated in the storm, with at least 1000 damaged trees needing to be removed.
Seddonville was without power from midday on the 30th until late afternoon on the 31st.
Charming Creek Rd was closed due to debris on the 30th and 31st. The section of road closed didn't serve any residential property.
The storm felled most of the trees in Timberlands' 570ha Seddonville plantation. The gales cost it a year’s worth of logs from trees due for harvest from 2011-2017. Their loss would cost Timberlands between $750,000 and $1 million, not including potential clean-up costs.
Tornado
A Seddonville resident saw one tornado coming through the hills, felling pine trees as it went.
High Wind / Gust
at
Stockton
A digger and a light vehicle parked close to the ridgeline at Stockton opencast mine had windows either sucked or blown out on the afternoon of the 30th. A chained-down instrument shelter also blew away.
High Wind / Gust
at
Wangapeka Track
The Wangapeka Track was hit by the storm but had less fallen trees than on the McKay to Lewis section of the Heaphy Track.
High Wind / Gust
at
Westport
Gale force winds ripped through properties in Westport on the morning of the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Whataroa
High winds toppled a heavy truck at Whataroa.
Canterbury
Multi Hazard
at
Canterbury
North Canterbury bore the brunt of what local forecasters described as one of the worst storms in the past 30 years.
Damage in North Cantebrury from the storm included tracks being wiped out, slips, livestock losses and damaged fences. An estimated 80 farms were badly affected in North Canterbury with some losing all their flood gates. There was a tremendous amount of work to be done in the Cheviot, Omihi and Waiau regions including kilometres of fencing that had to be cleared of debris. Debris left behind by flood waters covered 70% of one 190-hectare property.
The inland road from SH1 at Parnassus to Waiau was closed because of flooding and the risk of slips at about 7pm. The Inland road from Kaikoura to Waiau was also closed, taking months to be fully operational again after the devastation of heavy rains. It had major slips and cracking to the surface of the road in several sections and the main cause of the closure was about 100,000 cubic metres of dirt and debris that had slipped on to the road at the Whale Bone, about 28km east of Waiau. As at the 14th August it was gated, with only landowners and those working on the road provided with keys. From 3pm on the 12th September, a single lane was opened, operated by traffic lights. It was expected to be open to two lanes of traffic in mid-November.
The Hurunui District Council had estimated the floods in July to cost $1.5 million.
The early-August rains in North Canterbury caused slips and flooding that cost the New Zealand Transport Agency nearly $1 million.
Flooding
There was extensive surface flooding in the Kaikoura district and the Waimakariri district on the 31st. The Waimakariri district was particularly hard hit. Leithfield Beach, Amberley, Amberley Beach and Rangiora were among those affected by flooding.
More than 150 people in settlements in the Waimakariri and Hurunui districts, including Amberley Beach, Sefton, Woodend and Waikuku, were evacuated with rising floodwaters on the 31st. Most of them had returned home by the morning of the 1st.
Severe flooding and swollen rivers closed SH1 between Blenheim and Woodend north of Christchurch on the 31st. The Hurunui Rd bridge on SH1 was under water. Many roads in urban and rural areas in Canterbury were closed on the 31st. Roads around the Waimakariri river were all flooded. Roading contractors were running short on signs to cover the extent of flooding and road closures all over Canterbury.
All Selwyn River fords were closed on the 1st and there was still some surface water on roads.
Small creeks in the Omarama and Kurow areas burst their banks on the 31st.
The Mid Canterbury plains were saturated and steady rain caused ponding in many areas on the 31st.
In the Waimate district, many roads had surface water and fords were closed.
Schools throughout North Canterbury, including Rangiora High School, were shut on the 31st. Several schools around the Ashburton district were closed for the day and others sent children home early, concerned at the deteriorating condition of roads.
Canterbury was dealing with contaminated water supplies after the flooding.
In the Waimakariri District, about four to six properties were badly damaged.
High Wind / Gust
There were also trees and debris being blown across roads in the North Canterbury area.
Heavy Rain
Heavy rain continued on the Kaikoura Coast and in Canterbury on the morning of the 31st.
The storm swelled streams and rivers from Kaikoura to Amberley.
Canterbury received more than double its usual rainfall for the month of July.
Snow / Ice
Snow closed SH8 between Fairlie and Twizel on the 31st. There were reports of several vehicles leaving the road at Burkes Pass. It reopened just before 1pm on the 31st.
SH8 from Omarama to Tarras was closed due to snow on the morning of the 1st.
Flooding
at
Akaroa
A unit in Akaroa was flooded overnight on the 30th, forcing the residents to leave their home.
Flooding
at
Amberley
Some houses were flooded in Amberley and others had water right up to their front doors after steady heavy rain throughout the night of the 30th. About a dozen houses had severe flood damage.
Up to 20 people were evacuated in the Amberley area after houses were flooded.
About half of the town's businesses were shut as well as the schools and pre-schools.
Roads around Amberley were affected by surface flooding.
Locals said the Kowai River was running at its highest level since 1975.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Amberley Beach
More than 60 Amberley Beach residents were evacuated on the afternoon of the 31st ahead of the high tide at 3:20pm, which was expected to flood the settlement, although it didn't. One-third of the residents in the evacuated area had refused to budge. 30 people were allowed to return home on the night of the 31st.
A lagoon near the Amberley Beach settlement flooded 20 homes on the western side of Grierson Ave. One resident had about 8 cm of water flowing around her house when she left.
Flooding
at
Ashburton
SH1 was closed between Rakaia and Ashburton by flooding run-off from paddocks from early morning on the 31st until late afternoon.
South-east of Ashburton, paddocks were awash, with every divot and compression turned into a puddle or a pond. The Ashburton River was well up.
Carters Creek had created flooding problems.
Seafield Creek and the Tuarangi Drain poured water onto Tuarangi Road properties on the 31st.
Multi Hazard
at
Banks Peninsula
A number of roads on Banks Peninsula were affected by slips and debris, including parts of the Akaroa Summit Road, Bossu Road, and Pipers Valley Road. There was severe flooding in the Akaroa Inner harbour with Alymers Valley Rd and Takamatua Bay Rd closed due to slips, and Beach Road partially closed due to slips.
Snow / Ice
at
Burkes Pass
There was 5 to 7.5 cm of snow through the Rollesby Valley near Burkes Pass on the 31st.
Flooding
at
Cheviot
There was flooding on roads around Cheviot.
Multi Hazard
Doug Archbold, a retired Cheviot farmer who's taken weather readings in the area for more than 40 years, assessed the storm as a 1-in-20 or 1-in-30 year event.
Heavy Rain
at
Christchurch
Christchurch received 50 mm (5 cm) of rain in the 12 hours to 9am on the 31st.
Flooding
The Avon and Heathcote Rivers in Christchurch city were full to the brim. There was flooding from the Avon River on one section of Avonside Drive near Robson Ave on the 31st and surface flooding on northern Christchurch roads at Northwood, William Pickering Dr, Pound Rd, Orions Rd and Hussey Rd. There was also some flooding in Karamu St in Ilam and a number of streets around the Heathcote River in the Beckenham/ Opawa/ Woolston area.
Flooding damaged a Hoon Hay Valley Road property in the suburb of Kennedys Bush overnight on the 31st.
Ilam School in Christchurch was shut because of surface flooding.
Flooding
at
Dromore
Water was across the highway at Dromore on the 31st.
Flooding
at
Dry Creek
Dry Creek had created flooding problems.
Flooding
at
Geraldine
The Waihi River in Geraldine was full on the morning of the 31st, and low-lying paddocks were under water between Geraldine and Orari Bridge.
Heavy Rain
at
Greta Valley
304 mm (30 cm) of rain fell in 24 hours on a Greta Valley farm on the south side of the SH1 Hurunui River bridge.
Flooding
On the farm, floods took out fences, floodgates and pumps, caused slips and damaged new pasture.
Flooding
at
Hanmer Springs
There was surface flooding around the town of Hanmer Springs on the 30th.
Heavy Rain
Hanmer Springs had 284 mm (28.4 cm) of rain in the month of July.
Flooding
at
Hawarden
There was flooding on roads around Hawarden.
Flooding
at
Hinds
Farrells Crossing over the Hinds River was washed out. The sunshine bridge was expected to be out at least a week, meaning school buses and locals that use the crossing would have to use alternative routes.
Flooding
at
Hinds River
Options for crossing the Hinds River were reduced by mid morning on the 31st when access roads to river bridges at Boundary, Winslow and Hackthorn Roads washed out. The bridges were likely to be out for at least a week, as river levels would have to drop significantly before work could begin on reconstructing the approaches.
The Hinds River was in full flood on the 1st, with reports of one motorist attempting to cross and having to abandon his vehicle.
Multi Hazard
at
Kaikoura
There were slips and localised flooding in Kaikoura. The Kaikoura Volunteer Fire Brigade had 10 weather-related callouts, including one evacuation because of flooding and about five callouts to divert water on properties.
A major slip occurred at 5:30pm on the 31st at Billy Goat Bay, 10 kilometres south of Kaikoura, adding to problems on SH1. It was still closed from south of Kaikoura to Cheviot on the 1st August. One lane was opened for brief periods on the 2nd but the road wasn't fully reopened until the 5th. Some cars were stranded along the highway after their motors were flooded.
Rural schools closed early on the 30th and Kaikoura High School and St Joseph's Primary School were closed on the 31st because of surface water flooding.
Maritime / Coastal
The main road at each end of the town was closed on the 31st. It had seaweed on it that morning after the high tide washed across the road way.
Flooding
Roads had been scoured out and two culverts were washed out. Two bridges were closed after their approaches were washed away - Greenbone Bridge on Scotts Rd, and Smiths Bridge on Dairy Farm Rd.
One occupant from an Old Beach Rd house was evacuated by the fire brigade on the night of the 30th as water had entered his house.
Heavy Rain
Heavy rain had hammered Kaikoura since noon on the 30th.
Farmers had 190 mm (19 cm) and 140 mm (14 cm) of rain by 9.30pm on the 30th.
Kaikoura received 143.8 mm (14.4 cm) of rain on the 30th - almost 75 percent of the months' rainfall.
Around 240 mm (24 cm) of rain had fallen on the Kaikoura coast up till the 31st.
There was around 80 mm (8 cm) of rain along the Kaikoura Coast in the 12 hours to 9am on the 31st.
One farm in the Puhipuhi Valley recorded 350 mm (35 cm) in a 30-hour period beginning on the 30th.
Kaikoura had 208 mm (20.8 cm) of rain in the month of July.
Flooding
at
Kimbell
Roads around Kimbell were running with water on the 31st.
Snow / Ice
at
Lake Tekapo
There was 20 cm of snow at Tekapo on the 31st.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Leithfield Beach
Some residents at Leithfield Beach were also told to leave their homes.
Landslide
at
Lyttelton
Numerous roads around the Port Hills and Lyttelton inner harbour were badly affected by slips.
Landslide
at
Mangamaunu
There were slips north of Mangamaunu on SH1.
Snow / Ice
at
Meikleburn Saddle
There was about 15 cm of snow on the Meikleburn Saddle inland from Fairlie on the 31st.
Heavy Rain
at
Methven
Since 9am on the 31st, 60 mm (6 cm) of rain had fallen in Methven .
163 mm (16.3 cm) of rain had fallen in Methven in the month of July by 4pm on the 31st. Rain had fallen on 10 of the last 12 days.
Flooding
at
Mount Cass homestead
At the Kate Valley landfill, about 11,000cu m of tainted water triggered monitoring equipment at the landfill on the 4th August, four days after torrential rain and flooding. Trucks took the tainted water from Kate Valley to the Bromley sewage treatment plant, with the total cost of moving the contaminated water believed to be about $220,000.
Snow / Ice
at
Mt Hutt Skifield
A snowboarder got lost on Mt Hutt in shocking weather on the night of the 29th and suffered cuts, bruises and hypothermia. It was below bad visibility conditions on Mt Hutt. He was found and airlifted off the mountain at 9:30am on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Overdale
Water was across the highway at Overdale on the 31st.
Flooding
at
Rakaia
Water was across the highway on Thompson’s Track near Rakaia on the 31st and one end of the Rakaia Rugby Club’s main field was under water.
Flooding
at
Rangiora
Rangiora’s Northbrook Museum had 6-8 cm of water running through it.
Flooding
at
Sefton
One house suffered severe flooding in Upper Sefton. The couple stepped out of bed to find the carpets floating, the blankets that had slipped off the bed were sodden and personal items were floating around the rooms. Water was also flowing through garages at a Railway St home.
12 people were evacuated from eight Sefton houses to the school hall at about 3am on the 30th. They were allowed to return home at 8:30am the next morning.
Landslide
at
Sign of the Kiwi
A slip just below the Sign of the Kiwi closed part of Dyers Pass Road on the Port Hills on the 1st August.
Heavy Rain
at
Timaru
All sports grounds in the Timaru district were closed until further notice. A number of secondary schools closed at lunchtime on the 31st as a precautionary measure - they were Mountainview High School, Timaru Boys and Girls high schools and Roncalli College. Bus students at Opihi College were sent home about mid-day.
Heavy rainfall on the 31st inundated Timaru's sewer system and saw water supplies cut off at their intakes. Stormwater infiltrated the town's sewer system in known problem areas such as Grasmere St.
Flooding
South Canterbury's firefighters only had two flood-related calls - on Poplar St in Timaru.
Heavy Rain
at
Winchmore
With one day still to go in the month, rainfall at Winchmore was two and a half times the normal July rainfall, with 154.2 mm (15.4 cm) at 9am on the 31st.
Otago
Flooding
at
Otago
SH1 between Oamaru and Maheno and between Waitaki and Pukeuri Junction was closed due to flooding with detours in place on the 31st. The section between Maheno and Oamaru was closed at 3:50pm. The section between Waitaki and Pukeuri Junction was still closed on the 2nd.
First alarms were activated by the rising Kakanui River, Shag River and Silverstream on the morning of the 31st.
Surface flooding closed roads in the Waiareka and Kakanui Valleys, around Herbert, Dunback, Duntroon, Waikouaiti and Waihola and on the outskirts of Dunedin and Milton on the 31st. Roads still closed on the 1st included Portobello Rd, part of Highcliff Rd, the Braeside intersection with Quarry Road, Silverstream Valley Road, Three Mile Hill Road and McGrath Road in Waikouaiti.
Multi Hazard
The Main South Line just north of Dunedin was closed on the 31st.
Pupils at schools in East Taieri, Oamaru and Palmerston were sent home early on the 31st.
Heavy Rain
Otago endured its 12th straight day of rain on the 1st August. More rain fell on parts of Otago in less than 24 hours during the storm than usually falls during the whole of July. A couple of rain gauges in north Otago had between 70 mm - 110 mm during the storm.
The rain led to early cancellations of some Saturday sports events.
Maritime / Coastal
The storm brought large waves along the North Otago coast at high tide.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Allanton
The main railway line was closed south of Dunedin on the night of the 1st because of a 900 m area of tidal flooding from the Taieri River, south of Allanton.
Flooding
at
Clifton Falls homestead
The Kakanui River at Clifton Falls Bridge peaked at nearly 100 cumecs at 4pm on the 31st.
Landslide
at
The Cove
Portobello Rd was closed overnight on the 31st by a large slip that was a couple of metres deep. The slip dislodged a large tree from a bank on to a ditchdigger, just before the driver started working, near The Cove about 10.30pm. The digger was left balanced on a 45degree angle on the edge of the sea wall near Challis Point and a truck beside it had its front window smashed by the tree. Portobello Rd reopened at about 6pm on the 1st.
Flooding
at
Deborah
A detour was put in place when a blocked drain under the railway overbridge at Deborah closed SH1 between the Oamaru boundary and Deborah about 3.50pm on the 31st.
Flooding
at
Dunedin
A number of homes in Dunedin needed assistance from the Fire Service on the night of the 31st as water began coming up through the floor boards.
Several homes in Manor Place lost power after an underground substation was flooded on the 1st. Twenty or 30 homes in Arthur St, central Dunedin, were affected by a weather-related transformer failure on the morning of the 1st.
Heavy Rain
1.2 mm (0.1 cm) of rain fell on Dunedin in the hour between 3pm and 4pm on the 31st.
40.2 mm (4 cm) of rain fell in Dunedin from 4am to 8pm (16 hours) on the 31st.
About 24 mm (2.4 cm) of rain fell in Dunedin overnight on the 31st.
4.2 mm (0.4 cm) of rain fell in Dunedin in the hour between 10pm and 11pm on the 31st.
Heavy Rain
at
Dunedin Airport
30.4 mm (3 cm) of rain fell at Dunedin International Airport from 4am to 8pm (16 hours) on the 31st.
Flooding
at
East Taieri
East Taieri School was closed at 11am on the 31st when the Owhiro Stream, which runs through the school grounds, rose to the top of its banks.
Flooding
at
The Grange homestead
The Shag River at The Grange was flowing at 141 cumecs at 5pm on the 31st, compared with only 5 cumecs at 8am.
Flooding
at
Macandrew Bay
The pump house at Macandrew Bay School was flooded overnight on the 31st.
Landslide
Numerous slips between Company and Macandrew Bays closed Portobello Rd in places between Castlewood Rd and Dunedin.
Landslide
Some Macandrew Bay residents were without water on the night of the 1st after the water main was crushed in two places by moving earth.
Flooding
at
Milton
On the afternoon of the 1st, parts of Shakespeare and Dryden streets were closed to traffic due to surface flooding. Other roads in the Milton/Bruce area closed to flooding were North Branch Rd, Butts Rd, Table Hill Rd, Toko Mouth Rd and Akatore Rd.
Flooding
at
Mosgiel
The Silver Stream peaked at 78 cumecs at 4pm on the 31st and started to drop, but the sustained rain saw it remain at about 75-77 cumecs.
Heavy Rain
at
Oamaru
3 mm (0.3 cm) of rain fell on Oamaru in the hour between 3pm and 4pm on the 31st.
52 mm (5.2 cm) of rain fell in Oamaru from 4am to 8pm (16 hours) on the 31st.
One person had to be evacuated to a neighbour's property by Oamaru's fire service on the night of the 31st after a retaining wall in Douglas Tce started to collapse.
Landslide
at
Otago Peninsula
The two main access roads to the Otago Peninsula were cut off on the morning of the 1st by multiple slips caused by persistent rain over the last 24 hours. The sodden Otago Peninsula was described as 'very unstable'.
Multi Hazard
at
Papakaio
Papakaio School was closed all day on the 31st.
Multi Hazard
at
Portobello
The settlement of Portobello was without power on the morning of the 1st. About 200 residents were affected.
Flooding
at
Purakaunui
Two homes in the coastal settlement of Purakaunui had floodwater lapping up to their floorboards and had to be evacuated.
Landslide
at
Sandymount
There were slips in Sandymount and Seal Point Rd overnight on the 31st. A major slip brought down a power line and closed Highcliff Rd between Portobello and Pukehiki until about 6pm on the 1st.
Power was disrupted to about 200 customers after the power line came down on Highcliff Rd.
Flooding
at
Waikouaiti
The alternative route from Waikouaiti to Hawksbury via McGrath Rd was closed due to flooding on the 31st.
References
- Headline: Weather problems begin in Northland.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: RadioLIVE, 30 July 2008, 5:45am.
- Headline: Storm causes disruption in the north, now on its way south.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: NZPA and RadioLIVE, 30 July 2008, 1:30pm.
- Headline: Tornado takes Mount Maunganui residents by surprise.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 30 July 2008, 5:34pm.
- Headline: Homes evacuated as slip threatens properties.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 30 July 2008, 5:46pm.
- Headline: Wild weather turns its sights on Levin.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 30 July 2008, 6:02pm.
- Headline: Landslip threatens to destroy Auckland homes.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 30 July 2008, 11:32pm.
- Headline: Wild weather hits South Island.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 30 July 2008, 11:34pm.
- Headline: Extreme weather leaves big cleanup and cuts water supply.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 31 July 2008, 6:58pm.
- Headline: Families evacuated after slip threatens to destroy homes.
- www.3news.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 8:21pm.
- Headline: 57 passengers injured on cruise ship following rough seas.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 31 July 2008, 11:31pm.
- Headline: Slip damaged home owners may have to stay away six months.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: RadioLIVE, 1 August 2008, 7:21am.
- Headline: Quieter night for emergency services, country cleaning up.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: RadioLIVE, 1 August 2008, 7:46am.
- Headline: Homeowners near slip face uncertain future.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 1 August 2008, 10:12am.
- Headline: Residents begin heading home after storm enforced evacuation.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 1 August 2008, 5:47pm.
- Headline: MetService warns more bad weather on the way.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 1 August 2008, 7:10pm.
- Headline: Third storm in a week batters the country.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 2 August 2008, 5:50pm.
- Headline: Rainy weather causing slips across Auckland region.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 26 August 2008, 6:39pm.
- Headline: Cold night on the mountain.
- www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Floods hit roads, rivers.
- www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Tuarangi flooding woes continue.
- www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: What slides beneath?
- www.theaucklander.co.nz, 13 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm batters Bay of Plenty.
- www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: Mini tornado 'sounded like a train'.
- www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Slip puts Bay homes on the brink.
- www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Millions claimed for storm-damaged houses.
- www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz, 12 August 2008.
- Headline: Tree crashes on to home.
- www.dailypost.co.nz, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: 21 locals stuck on terrifying cruise.
- www.dailypost.co.nz, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: July's weather cold, wet, windy in Rotorua.
- www.dailypost.co.nz, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Coast cops it as the storm blows through.
- www.gisborneherald.co.nz, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Some roads still closed or marginal.
- www.gisborneherald.co.nz, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Heavy rain swells river levels.
- www.gisborneherald.co.nz, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Collapse of bank causes problems on accessway.
- www.gisborneherald.co.nz, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Wild, windy Wednesday.
- www.greystar.co.nz, Source: Greymouth Star, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: Wild winds pack punch.
- www.greystar.co.nz, Source: Greymouth Star, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Cobden folk tell of terror.
- www.greystar.co.nz, Source: Greymouth Star, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Volunteers bus in for cleanup.
- www.greystar.co.nz, Source: Greymouth Star, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Coastal areas on alert as storm hits.
- www.hbtoday.co.nz, Source: Hawke's Bay Today, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: Bay soaked.
- www.hbtoday.co.nz, Source: Hawke's Bay Today, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Flooding traps kids at school.
- www.hbtoday.co.nz, Source: Hawke's Bay Today, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Huge tree turns home invader.
- www.hbtoday.co.nz, Source: Hawke's Bay Today, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Dream-cruise nightmare II.
- www.hbtoday.co.nz, Source: Hawke's Bay Today, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm cost $46m.
- Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 January 2009.
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.). (2008). Climate summary for Winter 2008. Newsletter 114, September 2008. 9-10
- Headline: Tornadoes hit N. Buller.
- The News, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: 'It came through like a hurricane'.
- The News, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Winds flatten new building.
- The News, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Big clean-up continues.
- The News, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Tree owners assess storm cost.
- The News, 5 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm cost TWC a year's harvest.
- The News, 12 August 2008.
- Headline: Clean-up continues.
- The News, 12 August 2008.
- Headline: Heavy rain warning for North.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 29 July 2008, 12:28pm.
- Headline: Storm wreaks havoc in Northland.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 7:36am.
- Headline: Road closure lists.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 8:48am.
- Headline: Storm lashes Tauranga; road closure info.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 10:28am.
- Headline: Tornado hits Mount Maunganui.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 12:08pm.
- Headline: Woman's body found in Far North river.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 1:16pm.
- Headline: Woman likely drowned trying to cross river.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 2:00pm.
- Headline: Thousands without power.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 3:32pm.
- Headline: Around 10,000 still without power.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 4:20pm.
- Headline: Civil Defence Emergency in Marlborough.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 5:08pm.
- Headline: Slip threatens homes in Torbay.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 5:08pm.
- Headline: Storm drenches Canterbury area.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 2:12am.
- Headline: Weather clean up continues after storm.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 5:48am.
- Headline: Evacuations as storm continues to bite.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 9:15am.
- Headline: Weather woes continue.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 10:52am.
- Headline: Gisborne CD surprised at level of damage.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 11:48am.
- Headline: 5000 homes still without power.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 12:36pm.
- Headline: 40 people injured on cruise ship in storm.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 12:40pm.
- Headline: Fourteen houses on North shore at risk.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 12:56pm.
- Headline: Greymouth looks like war zone.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 1:20pm.
- Headline: Clean-up in Horowhenua; flood threat for Waikato.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 2:56pm.
- Headline: Clean up after storm underway.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 6:12am.
- Headline: Heavy rain warning for Tararua Ranges.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 8:08am.
- Headline: Far North storm damage estimate - $6m.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 10:32am.
- Headline: Slips and power lines cause problems.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 12:20pm.
- Headline: Trip was not a "cruise" for many passengers.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 1:00pm.
- Headline: Water back for Nelson homes.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 2:00pm.
- Headline: Fate of homes remains unknown.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 2 August 2008, 8:16am.
- Headline: Storm bill could reach $50m.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 2 August 2008, 10:28am.
- Headline: Storms continue to cause problems.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 2 August 2008, 11:36am.
- Headline: Electricity returning to Kapiti Coast homes.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 2 August 2008, 12:08pm.
- Headline: Levin water warning.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 2 August 2008, 4:16pm.
- Headline: Power still off for 50.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 3 August 2008, 5:08pm.
- Headline: Rural Report for Tuesday, August 12, 2008.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 12 August 2008, 11:44am.
- Headline: Help at hand from Taskforce Green.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 16 August 2008, 12:20pm.
- Headline: Waiau/ Kaikoura inland road to open today.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 12 September 2008, 11:12am.
- Headline: Storm closes 24 schools - Northland spared the worst.
- www.northernadvocate.co.nz, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: Woman dies in flood - search continues for second body.
- www.northernadvocate.co.nz, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Cut off! Masses of mud moved off highways.
- www.northernadvocate.co.nz, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Rescuers soldier on as storm takes toll.
- www.northernadvocate.co.nz, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Fears grow for man swept away in flood.
- www.northernadvocate.co.nz, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Man's home wrecked by gale.
- www.northernadvocate.co.nz, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm victim's body recovered.
- www.northernadvocate.co.nz, 5 August 2008.
- Headline: $10m and counting - costs are mounting after the storms.
- www.northernadvocate.co.nz, 6 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm damage curbs plans.
- www.northernadvocate.co.nz, 18 August 2008.
- Headline: Missing hunters safe and well.
- northnz.co.nz, Source: Northland Age, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: A parting shot from the weather gods.
- northnz.co.nz, Source: Northland Age, 7 August 2008.
- Headline: Tornado hits Mount Maunganui.
- home.nzcity.co.nz, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: More homes evacuated on North Shore.
- home.nzcity.co.nz, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Stay home warning as storm powers up.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 30 July 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Floods, slips and debris block roads.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 30 July 2008, 8:58am.
- Headline: Latest storm updates.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald, NZPA and Newstalk ZB, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: Tornado hits Tauranga, Mt Maunganui as storm blocks roads.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 30 July 2008, 11:35am.
- Headline: Slip destroys house, threatens others as storm wreaks havoc.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 30 July 2008, 5:43pm.
- Headline: A disaster waiting to happen.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Coromandel due for short respite.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Mini-tornado causes major damage.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Forty treated after ship rolls in heavy weather.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 31 July 2008, 12:13pm.
- Headline: Latest storm updates.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald, NZPA and Newstalk ZB, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: 42 injured after cruise liner hit by NZ storm.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB, 31 July 2008, 3:31pm.
- Headline: Canterbury coastal town evacuated.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 31 July 2008, 3:45pm.
- Headline: P and O may pay storm-hit passengers.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Missing man presumed drowned.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 1 August 2008, 10:31am.
- Headline: Landslips leave house owners up in the air.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 2 August 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Insurance costs spiral as third storm nears.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB, 2 August 2008, 12:51pm.
- Headline: Swanson slip could be catastrophic, says mayor.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 4 August 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Up and away ... beach tower dodges the waves.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 8 August 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Relief on way as food costs set to ease.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 26 August 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Two Auckland homes abandoned after slips.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 14 October 2008, 4:14pm.
- Headline: Heavy rain to continue.
- www.odt.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 4:27pm.
- Headline: Heavy rain and flooding hamper motorists.
- www.odt.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 5:58pm.
- Headline: Evacuees head home, rain to continue.
- www.odt.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 8:59pm.
- Headline: Otago Peninsula 'very unstable'.
- www.otd.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 5:02am.
- Headline: Flood of emergency work.
- www.odt.co.nz, 2 August 2008, 5:02am.
- Headline: Police identify body of man in creek.
- www.otd.co.nz, 5 August 2008, 6:50pm.
- Headline: Approaching storm promises more heavy rain.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 6:10am.
- Headline: Highway conditions.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 7:34am.
- Headline: Watch on rivers.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 8:25am.
- Headline: Storm moving south-east.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 9:00am.
- Headline: Watch being kept on Ohinemuri River.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 9:42am.
- Headline: SH1 in Dome Valley about to reopen.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 11:59am.
- Headline: Power cuts.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 12:54pm.
- Headline: Worst of Coromandel flooding now over.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 12:54pm.
- Headline: Mini tornado in Mt Maunganui.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 1:12pm.
- Headline: Wind warning in Levin - stay inside.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 1:45pm.
- Headline: Search launched for partner of dead woman.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 5:22pm.
- Headline: Storm's wrath felt from Northland to Nelson.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 5:32pm.
- Headline: Overnight watch by Civil Defence.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 6:53am.
- Headline: Storm: North Canterbury's turn.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 8:06am.
- Headline: Road and rail links disrupted.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 10:02am.
- Headline: Lower South Island braces for storm.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 10:31am.
- Headline: Torbay slip seen as accident waiting to happen.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 1:24pm.
- Headline: Flooding in Amberley.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 1:24pm.
- Headline: Treatment needed for cruise ship passengers.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 1:41pm.
- Headline: Torbay residents wait.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 7:14am.
- Headline: Otago rivers receding.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 7:36am.
- Headline: South Island main trunk line and SH1 closed.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 8:58am.
- Headline: Care advised on Otago Peninsula.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 9:38am.
- Headline: Houses in Waitakere evacuated.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 10:16am.
- Headline: Fonterra sends emergency team to no-power areas.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 10:58am.
- Headline: Storm rain exceeds July total for Otago.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 1:36pm.
- Headline: Storm-hit dairy farmers forced to share generators.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 2 August 2008, 1:48pm.
- Headline: More Torbay residents allowed back home after slip.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 3 August 2008, 2:12pm.
- Headline: Slips, road closures as stormy weather returns.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 4 August 2008, 7:42am.
- Headline: After the deluge.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 4 August 2008, 9:12pm.
- Headline: River management coping well with heavy rainfall.
- www.scoop.co.nz, Source: Environment Waikato, 30 July, 10:57am.
- Headline: Flooding across Hastings District.
- www.scoop.co.nz, Source: Hastings District Council, 30 July, 2:00pm.
- Headline: High tide could cause further flooding.
- www.scoop.co.nz, Source: Christchurch City Council, 31 July, 2:03pm.
- Headline: Heavy rainfall causes localised flooding.
- www.scoop.co.nz, Source: Hamilton City Council, 31 July, 2:56pm.
- Headline: Auckland people rise to the top.
- www.scoop.co.nz, Source: Civil Defence Emergency Management, 5 August, 11:35am.
- Headline: Swanson Stream Slip.
- www.scoop.co.nz, Source: Waitakere City, 12 August, 5:26pm.
- Headline: Flood warning: Stock up on food and water.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA and Whangarei Leader, 29 July 2008, 11:48am.
- Headline: Slip blocks off top of Northland.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: Severe storm drenching North Island.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 8.05am.
- Headline: Road closures.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: AA and NZ Police, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: Flooding pressure on Thames Hospital.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: Woman swept to death, partner missing.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Fairfax Media and NZPA, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: Storm hits South Island after North lashed.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Fairfax Media, Dominion Post, Waikato Times, The Press and NZPA, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: Storm turns its fury south.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Fairfax Media and NZPA, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: Road closures.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Emergency engineering as landslide threatens homes.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Nightmare at sea for cruise ship passengers.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 12:24pm.
- Headline: Big storm one people will remember - weather analyst.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Greymouth residents assess damage.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: No relief as more floods threaten.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, The Press and NZPA, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Foot, fingers lost in horror cruise.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 3:30pm.
- Headline: Vacated North Shore residents waiting out the rain.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Relief for stranded motorists near Kaikoura.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Fresh landslip threatens homes in Auckland.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 3 August 2008.
- Headline: Body found six days after pair drowned.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 4 August 2008.
- Headline: Near record rainfall in July.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 4 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm sweeps down country.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: Woman swept away in river, man missing.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Storm cuts swath of destruction.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Wait continues for anxious landslip residents.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Scramble to restore power as rain looms.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Levin community isolated without power, support.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, 5 August 2008.
- Headline: After the rains, the tornado.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, 5 August 2008.
- Headline: We `got off very lightly'.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Kaikoura Star, 6 August 2008.
- Headline: Gales hit power, trees, roofs.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Dangerous time for truckies.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Massive tree slams into cars.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Winds cause bedlam in valley.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Slow road to recovery.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Moxhan's muddy misery.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm plays havoc with electricity.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 4 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm clean-up begins.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 4 August 2008.
- Headline: Locals asked to save water.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 4 August 2008.
- Headline: Man's brush with death as car swept away by floods.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 4 August 2008.
- Headline: Power cut leaves land drenched.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 4 August 2008.
- Headline: Homes left flooded for weeks.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 19 August 2008.
- Headline: Long way to go, but smelly flood clearing.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 20 August 2008.
- Headline: Firemen rescue pair trapped in ute.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Health fears in wake of heavy flooding.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 31 July 2008, 2:35pm.
- Headline: Emergency services pleased with effort.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 31 July 2008, 2:35pm.
- Headline: Picton straight into the clean up.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 31 July 2008, 2:35pm.
- Headline: Slips on coastal road being cleared.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: House may be doomed.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 4 August 2008.
- Headline: Rail should finally reopen today.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 5 August 2008.
- Headline: Reserve, tracks still shut after July flooding.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 12 August 2008.
- Headline: Inland road fix to take months.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 14 August 2008.
- Headline: July flood victims still waiting to go home.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 10 September 2008.
- Headline: Taylor Dam reserve to open in a few months.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 26 September 2008.
- Headline: Roadwork to cost $3.2m.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 8 Octobert 2008.
- Headline: Students 'thought we were going to die' when tree fell.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Huge clean-up begins.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Historic tree smashes into home.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Hira may face third night with no power.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Weather creates unwelcome visitors.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm to cost millions.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Battle to fix water supply.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 4 August 2008.
- Headline: Thar she flows repaired water pipe eased into service.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 4 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm leaves foresters with massive bill.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 7 August 2008.
- Headline: Flattened trees a dicey job for loggers.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 9 August 2008.
- Headline: A living legacy uprooted.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 9 August 2008.
- Headline: Tree fears remain after big storm.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 19 August 2008.
- Headline: EQC pays out for July storm damage.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 25 November 2008.
- Headline: Happy people return to Taylor reserve.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 17 December 2008.
- Headline: Wicked weather kills big rimu.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: North Shore Times, 12 August 2008.
- Headline: Snowboarder safe and well after night on Mt Hutt.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: South Island battered by storm.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 30 July 2008, 8:15pm.
- Headline: Killer storm sweeps rain and chaos south.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Christchurch residents warned about driving.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 31 July 2008, 10:39am.
- Headline: Civil Defence says damage to continue for up to 17 hours.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 31 July 2008, 10:56am.
- Headline: Town evacuated as Canterbury drenched.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, Dominion Post and NZPA, 31 July 2008, 3:04pm.
- Headline: Tornado victims of 2005 suffer repeat of wind damage.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Tales of lucky escapes in wild weather.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Otago gets its turn as storm heads south.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: By turf, pipe, fence post, the water rose.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Rain warnings lifted as storm peters out.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press and NZPA, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Gales smash over 100 houses.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Third storm hits Taranaki.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Flood upsets quiet life.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Roads stay closed, rivers run high despite sun.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 4 August 2008.
- Headline: Questions beg answers in aftermath of flooding.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 4 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm bill in millions this winter.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 26 August 2008.
- Headline: Climate change not to blame for storms.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 27 August 2008.
- Headline: $3m flood bill expected in Canterbury.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 28 August 2008.
- Headline: No end in sight for flood-hit family.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 6 September 2008.
- Headline: Rains leave costly scars on couple's Greta Valley farm.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 20 September 2008.
- Headline: Dirty water taken from landfill site.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 28 October 2008.
- Headline: Storm tail lashes Mosgiel.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Southland Times, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Milton sighs relief as water levels recede.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Southland Times, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Nature's fury hits harbour.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Drilling rig seeks shelter from storm.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Soggy end to year after the big dry start.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Taranaki Daily News, 7 January 2009.
- Headline: Hut residents on evacuation alert.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Timaru Herald, 1 August 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Downpour troubles sewers.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Timaru Herald, 1 August 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: SC soaks up the storm.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Timaru Herald, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Worst over - and Waikato mops up.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Waikato Times, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Sewage shuts down city primary school .
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Waikato Times, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Flooding prompts higher floors.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Whangarei Leader, 5 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm the talk of the town.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Whangarei Leader, 5 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm begins battering North Island.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News and Newstalk ZB, 29 July 2008, 6:27pm.
- Headline: Slips cut off roads to Northland.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 30 July 2008, 8:17am.
- Headline: North Island lashed by new storm.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News and Newstalk ZB, 30 July 2008, 9:33am.
- Headline: BOP feels force of storm.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News and Newstalk ZB, 30 July 2008, 11:04am.
- Headline: Storm pounds lower North Is.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News and Newstalk ZB, 30 July 2008, 12:20pm.
- Headline: Storm pounds lower North Is.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News and Newstalk ZB, 30 July 2008, 12:20pm.
- Headline: Woman dead in swollen Far North river.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News and Newstalk ZB, 30 July 2008, 2:00pm.
- Headline: Storm lines up South Island.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: Newstalk ZB, 30 July 2008, 4:42pm.
- Headline: Storm lines up South Island.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: Newstalk ZB, 30 July 2008, 4:42pm.
- Headline: Mini tornado rips through Mt Maunganui.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: Newstalk ZB, 30 July 2008, 6:36pm.
- Headline: Worrying wait for evacuated residents.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 31 July 2008, 11:51am.
- Headline: Road, rail cut in South Is.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News and Newstalk ZB, 31 July 2008, 12:07pm.
- Headline: Homeowners wait for salvage news.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 1 August 2008, 11:23am.
- Headline: Minister inspects flood damage.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News and Newstalk ZB, 1 August 2008, 12:09pm.
- Headline: Third storm in a week to hit soon.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 2 August 2008, 6:20pm.
- Headline: House hit by slip demolished.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 7 August 2008, 10:21am.
- Headline: Volunteers arrive to help farmers.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 18 August 2008, 6:51pm.
- Headline: Storm leaves flooded roads, trees down and landslips.
- www.times-age.co.nz, Source: Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Rain bomb forces river warnings up a gear.
- www.times-age.co.nz, Source: Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Cold and wet taking toll on South Wairarapa lambs.
- www.times-age.co.nz, 18 August 2008.
- Headline: Nature's double whammy.
- www.times.co.nz, Source: Howick and Pakuranga Times, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Wairarapa welcomes winter wonderland.
- www.times-age.co.nz, 20 August 2008.
- Headline: New protection shields flood-prone communities.
- www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: New boardwalk awash as rain swells Whanganui River.
- www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Eastern Bay escapes brunt of storm - again.
- www.whakatanebeacon.co.nz, 1 August 2008.
- MetService Email Lists
July 2008 New Zealand Severe Storm
(
2008-07-29
)
20-30 years
The second storm of three in a one-week period. A depression hit the upper North Island, bringing heavy rain and high winds, then it spread down the country.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 11:50 am 28-Jul-2008: Another deep low approaching from north bringing further heavy rain. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty west of Kawerau and Gisborne Ranges north of Gisborne City.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:36 pm 28-Jul-2008: Another deep low approaching North Island Tuesday will bring further heavy rain to the north and east. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Northland, northern Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 9:45 am 29-Jul-2008: Major storm expected to bring adverse weather to much of the country. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Marlborough, Nelson and Canterbury; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupo, Taranaki, Taihape, Wanganui, Manawatu, Nelson, Marlborough and Westland.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 5:53 pm 29-Jul-2008: Major storm moving towards North Island will bring adverse weather to much of the country. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Marlborough, Nelson and Canterbury; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupo, Taranaki, Taihape, Wanganui, Manawatu, Nelson, Marlborough, Buller and Westland.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:29 pm 29-Jul-2008: Major storm moving towards North Island will bring adverse weather to much of the country. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Marlborough, Nelson and Canterbury; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupo, Taranaki, Taihape, Wanganui, Manawatu, Nelson, Marlborough, Buller and Westland.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:19 am 30-Jul-2008: Major storm spreading high winds and rain over North Island and northern South Island. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Marlborough, Nelson and Canterbury; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupo, Taranaki, Taihape, Wanganui, Manawatu, Nelson, Marlborough, Buller and Westland. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warning lifted for Northland; and Strong Wind Warning lifted for Waikato.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 12:47 pm 30-Jul-2008: Storm over North Island moving slowly south, severe gales for a time in Northland and returning to Taranaki. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, eastern Wellington, eastern Marlborough, Canterbury, Richmond Ranges and the northwest ranges of Nelson; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: Northland, Taranaki, Wanganui, Taihape, Manawatu, Marlborough, Nelson, Buller and Westland. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warning lifted for Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and Western Bay of Plenty; and Strong Wind Warning lifted for Waitomo, Taupo and Taihape.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:41 pm 30-Jul-2008: Storm moving south bringing heavy rain to the east of the South Island, severe southeast gales in Buller and Westland should ease overnight, but northerly gales continuing over northern New Zealand through to Thursday morning. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Richmond Ranges, eastern Marlborough, Kaikoura Ranges and coast, Canterbury and eastern Otago; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: Nelson, Marlborough, Buller, Westland, Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and the central North Island high country. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warning lifted for Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, eastern Wellington and the northwest ranges of Nelson; and Strong Wind Warning lifted for Taranaki, Wanganui and Manawatu.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:14 am 31-Jul-2008: Heavy rain in east from Kaikoura coast to North Otago today. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Kaikoura coast, Canterbury and eastern Otago hills and ranges. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warning lifted for Richmond Ranges and eastern Marlborough; and Strong Wind Warning lifted for: Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, the central North Island, Nelson, Marlborough and Buller.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 10:58 am 31-Jul-2008: Heavy rain in east from Kaikoura coast to eastern Otago today, showery weather in North Island could accumulate significant rainfall on Mt Taranaki, the central high country and the Tararua Ranges today and tomorrow. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Kaikoura coast, Canterbury, eastern Otago hills and ranges, Mt Taranaki and the hill country inland to Ruapehu, also the Tararua Ranges.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 5:19 pm 31-Jul-2008: Further heavy falls likely for South Canterbury and eastern Otago until early Friday morning, further significant rain possible on Mt Taranaki, the central North Island high country, eastern Bay of Plenty, and the Tararua Ranges over the next few days. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Canterbury south of the Rakaia River, eastern Otago, Mt Taranaki, the hill country inland to Ruapehu, including Waitomo, Taumarunui and the headwaters of the Whanganui River, eastern Bay of Plenty and the Tararua Ranges. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warning lifted for Kaikoura coast and Canterbury north of the Rakaia River.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:01 pm 31-Jul-2008: Rain has eased about the Kaikoura coast and North Canterbury, but further heavy falls for South Canterbury and eastern Otago until early Friday morning. Showery weather in North Island could accumulate significant amounts of rain on Mt Taranaki, the central high country, eastern Bay of Plenty, and the Tararua Ranges over the next few days. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Canterbury south of the Rakaia River, eastern Otago from Dunedin northwards, Mt Taranaki, the hill country inland to Ruapehu, including Waitomo, Taumarunui and the headwaters of the Whanganui River, eastern Bay of Plenty and the Tararua Ranges.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 7:57 am 01-Aug-2008: Rain has eased about the Kaikoura coast and North Canterbury, but further heavy falls for South Canterbury and eastern Otago until early Friday morning. Showery weather in North Island could accumulate significant amounts of rain on Mt Taranaki, the central high country, eastern Bay of Plenty, and the Tararua Ranges over the next few days. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Mt Taranaki and the hill country inland to Ruapehu, including Waitomo, Taumarunui and the headwaters of the Whanganui River. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warning lifted for Canterbury and eastern Otago between the Rakaia River and Dunedin, Bay of Plenty east of Kawerau and the Tararua Ranges.
73 weather warnings were issued in July, the fourth-highest monthly number since the warning service began in July 1992.
The storm was not intense as the extra-tropical cyclone of the 26th July but was much larger, covering an area "as large as the Tasman Sea". It was particularly damaging because it ran the length of the country and came hard on the heels of the earlier storm.
From 29th July to 1st August.
On the 28th, a weak ridge covered northern and central New Zealand, but a complex low pressure system developed over most of the Tasman Sea during the day. Late on the 29th, the deep low approached the Far North then moved south-east to lie east of the South Island on the 30th. By the 1st, the low had weakened, while a westerley flow covered northern and central New Zealand.
All mountains in the country - except in Wanaka and Queenstown's Coronet Peak - were closed to the public because of strong winds causing blizzard conditions.
Air New Zealand cancelled six domestic flights, and a number of regional ones, because of the weather.
CDEM emergency operations centres were operating in Thames Valley, Horowhenua, Hawkes Bay, Marlborough and throughout Canterbury.
The storms (26th-27th July and 29th July-1st August) were expected to result in about $50 million in insurance claims across the country.
More than 900 claims were made to the Earthquake Commision from throughout the country for the storms in late July.
The 900 claims totalled $17.8 million.
Insurance payments for the storm on 30th July and 1st August totalled $46,290,724.
The storm caused a lot of damage because it was slow moving, ran down the west side of the North Island, and in many places the wind came from a different direction to the prevailing winds.
Wet weather pushed up prices for winter vegetables such as lettuce and cucumber by around 30 per cent in July.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
High winds, slips, surface flooding and downed trees made for treacherous road conditions on the morning of the 30th as far south as Tauranga. The lower half of the North Island was also experiencing heavy rain and wind on the 30th.
Some Air New Zealand link flights between Gisborne, Tauranga, Napier and Wellington were cancelled on the 30th due to poor weather.
Nearly 20,000 Powerco customers had their power cut off after the storm hit on the morning of the 30th. Heavy rain combined with high winds caused a lot of trees and branches to crash over lines. Affected areas included Bunnythorpe, Linton, Mangamaire, Motorua, Te Matai, Hinuera, Kopu, Waihou, Mataroa, Ohakune, Tauranga and Wanganui. 10,000 customers were still without power in the afternoon. 500 were still without electricity on the morning of the 1st August, including homes in parts of the Hauraki Plains, central plateau, Wairarapa and Wanganui. Electra had 1000 rural customers without power in areas including Horowhenua, Tokomaru, Kapiti, Manakau and Ohau. Dozens of households on the East Coast (Gisborne) and in northern Hawke's Bay also lost power as a result of the storm, mostly around Ruatoria. Thousands of residents from Waikanae to Tokomaru near Shannon were without electricity.
Railway lines, including the North Island main trunk line near Te Kauwhata, were closed for long periods on the 30th due to downed trees and power lines, smashed barrier arms and slips. Other railway lines closed in the North Island included the Main Trunk line between Otaki and Waikanae, the Napier to Gisborne line, the Woodville to Hastings line and the Kinleith branch line. The Palmerston North to Gisborne line remained closed due to slips until the evening of the 31st.
Rain eased in Auckland and Northland around 9am on the 30th as the main frontal band shifted southwards. Overnight the rain had eased in much of the North Island but northerly gales were continuing in northern parts of the island.
Heavy lamb losses were expected in parts of the North Island hit by torrential rain and high winds.
Flooding
Rivers and streams overflowed their banks on the 30th and water gushed through farmland and over roads.
High Wind / Gust
The Napier-Taihape Rd was closed due to high winds on the 30th.
Heavy Rain
Areas along the east coast from Northland to Whakatane received up to two-thirds more rain than normal in July.
Damage from the rain would have been far greater if there had not been a dry summer and autumn.
Northland
Multi Hazard
at
Northland
Fallen trees, slips and flooding blocked many roads in Northland on the 30th. All highways in Northland were affected by fallen trees, surface flooding, pot holes or slips. The biggest slip was on SH11 at Lemon's Hill, between Kawakawa and Opua, which was closed for most of the 30th.
On the morning of the 30th Northland was cut off from the south due to a huge slip on SH1 north of Warkworth and overnight flooding on the SH16 alternative route.
27 Northland schools released pupils as early as 11am on the 29th amid fears that flood waters would trap students, including Bay of Islands College and Opononi Area School. 24 schools, including those in Kerikeri, Kaikohe and Ruawai, were closed on the 30th based on the weather forecast. All schools except for Broadwood and Opononi area schools reopened on the 31st.
The highway chaos put business on the backburner for many Northlanders. Only a few Northliner Express coaches had been able to make their usual trips on the 30th.
The storms that battered Northland during the week (26th-27th July and 29th July-1st August) left the region with a $10 million road repair bill. The latter storm was believed to have caused between $1 million and $2 million worth of damage to Northland's highway network.
Damage to roads in the Far North district from the storms (26th-27th July and 29th July-1st August) was estimated at around $6 million.
The storms caused about $2 million of damage in the Whangarei district. About $2.5 million, including government subsidies, was diverted for storm repairs, leaving the Whangarei District Council short of cash for regular maintenance.
Around 150 Far North residents were without power after the rain on the night of the 29th caused trees to fall on power-lines. At one point around 400 customers were without power. Electricity was cut to homes in areas around the Bay of Islands and Kaeo. About 500 homes west of Whangarei were without power on the afternoon of the 30th when new faults developed as winds gusted to over 100 km/hr.
High Wind / Gust
In the Far North, homes were damaged in Kaikohe, Kerikeri, Mangonui and Russell.
Northland had winds of up to 130 km/hr in exposed coastal areas.
Heavy Rain
In Northland, rain fell over a much longer period than originally expected. Rain was falling over much of the region at midday on the 29th and there was already some localised surface flooding. Heavy rain began at 9pm.
There was some damage to roading infrastructure throughout the region. There was widespread minor damage from the overnight deluge on the 29th.
Landslide
Several slips occurred on Waikare Rd.
High Wind / Gust
at
Aranga
Two barns at Aranga were scattered across neighbouring Proud Rd farms.
High Wind / Gust
at
Baylys Beach
Some Baylys Beach residents said the winds on the night of the 30th were the worst they had known.
Landslide
at
Broadwood
Broadwood Rd was closed by a slip by the Broadwood School. It was expected to take four hours to clear.
Landslide
at
Brynderwyn
The intersection of SH1 and SH12 had a very large slip at the southern side of the Brynderwins on the 30th, with one lane open.
High Wind / Gust
at
Donnellys Crossing
Doors and a wall were damaged at the Donnellys Crossing fire depot.
High Wind / Gust
at
Doubtless Bay
Winds in the Doubtless Bay area on the afternoon of the 30th were stronger than at any time during the previous days, gusting to more than 100 km/hr.
Landslide
at
Helena Bay
A slip at Helena Bay Hill would take up to two weeks to repair.
Flooding
at
Kaeo
Kaeo escaped serious flooding overnight. There were many flooded paddocks and some minor roads were unpassable to smaller cars.
Heavy Rain
Kaeo received 68 mm (6.8 cm) of rain in the 28 hours to 4am on the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Kaikohe
Homes were in the process of losing their roofs in Kaikohe and a tree came down on the back of a utility vehicle.
Multi Hazard
Schools in Kaikohe closed early on the 29th and reopened on the morning of the 31st.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaitaia
Kaeo received 32 mm (3.2 cm) of rain in the 28 hours to 4am on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Kawakawa
Mill Rd at Kawakawa was closed after heavy flooding earlier in the afternoon on the 30th.
Multi Hazard
at
Kerikeri
There was surface flooding in two places between Bulls Gorge and Cottle Hill on SH10 at Kerikeri on the 30th and a slip at Hayes Hill.
High Wind / Gust
Homes were in the process of losing their roofs in Kerikeri.
Flooding
at
Kokopu
Knight Road, one kilometre from Kokupu Rd, was impassable near the bridge due to floodwater on the 30th.
Landslide
at
Mangamuka Gorge
SH1 south of the Mangamuka Gorge was partially blocked by a slip on the 30th, with one lane open.
High Wind / Gust
at
Mangonui Harbour
In the Mangonui Harbour, yachts were wrenched from their moorings late on the afternoon of the 30th and the famous Mangonui fish and chips shop had parts of its roof ripped away. One yacht was pushed on to rocks below Beach Road and suffered significant damage.
The Mangonui fire brigade was called to deal with a number of fallen trees, from Mangonui to Lake Ohia, to lifting roofs at Taipa, Cable Bay and at Matthews' Vintage Collection at Aurere, cleared a slip on Beach Road, outside the fish shop, and referred sparking power lines to Top Energy for repairs.
Flooding
at
Maromaku
Towai Road at Maromaku was closed after heavy flooding earlier in the afternoon on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Marua
Otonga Road was blocked by flooding 2km from Marua on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Maungakaramea
Tauraroa Road, near the school, and Hayward Road were blocked by flooding on the 30th.
Flooding
at
McLeod Bay
Torrential rain had already caused flooding in Mcleod Bay on the morning of the 29th. The settlement was 'like a river' after torrential rain fell for at least two hours early in the morning.
Parts of the main road were barely passable due to the floodwaters.
Flooding
at
Moerewa
The Otiria Stream flooded at Moerewa, making access limited on SH1 where the bridge was flooding at the base of Turntable Hill. Traffic banked up at Moerewa.
Flooding
at
Omana
The Mangonui Bridge at Omana had both approaches flooded and was closed to traffic other than 4WDs and trucks on the 31st and 1st.
Multi Hazard
at
Opononi
More than 200 students at Opononi Area School were sent home on the morning of the 29th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Opua
A tree fell on to a road and pulled powerlines with it on Paihia Road (SH11) at Opua early on the 30th, closing the road while police and contractors removed them.
Flooding
at
Otakairangi
In the Whangarei District, only Swamp Rd remained closed due to flooding on the 31st as the storm moved south.
Multi Hazard
at
Paihia
SH11 at Paihia was reduced to one lane at Lemon Hill, with power lines down in this area and there had been a slip.
Flooding
at
Parua Bay
There was also flooding in Parua Bay.
Heavy Rain
at
Pipiwai
A fresh drop-out took out half of Patutahi Rd in Pipiwai on the 31st but one lane was still open.
Flooding
at
Tangiteroria
The flooded Pukehuia Rd was accessible only from the Tangiteroria side on the 31st.
Multi Hazard
at
Te Kao
The road was reduced to one lane at Te Kao on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Te Wharau
There was flooding on SH14 near Te Wharau on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Tokatoka
There was flooding on SH12 at Tokatoka on the 30th.
Landslide
at
Twin Bridges
A slip closed Mangakahia Road at Twin Bridges on the 30th.
Multi Hazard
at
Waiere
Waiare Rd, which runs through the Puketi Forest from near Okaihau to just south of Kaeo, suffered major damage.
Flooding
at
Waikare
A woman (49 years old) drowned in the swollen Waikare River in Waikare Valley Road after presumably trying to cross the river to get to her house. Her body was found at 11:15am on the 30th 1.5km downstream from a ford that crosses over to her house. The body of her partner (40 years old) was found at 1pm on the 4th August about 4km downstream from the ford.
Landslide
at
Waiotira
A house in Waiotira started to slip down a bank while the couple were asleep, tearing a gaping hole in their bedroom. The couple had been living in their garage after the first storm washed away a chunk of their land, taking part of the house with it. After this storm their home was deemed too dangerous to live in.
Multi Hazard
at
Waitangi Forest
A pig hunter spent the night of the 29th in the Waitangi Forest after he slipped down a gully while following his dogs and injured his ankle. He probably didn't hear the searchers' calls and whistles because of the strong wind and rain. He was found walking along a road about 7.30am on the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Whangarei
A large tree fell on a northbound lane of SH1 south of Whangarei.
About 500 homes west of Whangarei were without power on the afternoon of the 30th as new faults developed.
Landslide
There was a large slip on SH1, 2km north of the Dargaville turnoff, and a truck was stuck in mud. There was also a slip at Handforth St, near Whangarei Airport, which five trucks were used to clear. Fulton Hogan workers had been clearing a small slip there on the 30th when the rest of the bank gave way, closing the road. The slip had eaten into a few inches of airport land, leaving the fence dangling.
Heavy Rain
In the 28 hours to 4am on the 30th, Whangarei received up to 104.5 mm (10.5 cm) of rain.
Multi Hazard
Whangarei’s parks suffered damage running into hundreds of thousands.
Flooding
NorthTec classes were cancelled because of the storm that was threatening to flood the CBD.
Heavy Rain
at
Whatoro
Trounson Park Rd was reduced to one lane by an 8m-long crack in the road.
Multi Hazard
at
Wheki Valley
There was flooding on SH14 near Snooks Road and Wheki Valley on the 30th. A tree fell across the road between Snooks Rd and Old School Rd, with one lane open while it was being cleared.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
Auckland and Manakau got of lighter with this storm than with the storm the previous weekend.
Police in the North Shore and Rodney districts said an increasing number of roads were having to be closed on the morning of the 30th.
A trail of slips and flooding made SH16 between Wellsford and Kaukapakapa impassable for much of the morning on the 30th before roadworkers could open one lane in several places at 8am.
Auckland passenger trains ran about 30 minutes late for much of the morning on the 30th after an extreme-weather speed restriction of 40 km/hr was imposed.
A large area of Helensville and Kaipara lost power on the night of the 30th.
In the North Shore and Waitakere there were 21 homes and over 50 residents evacuated.
119 claims in the Auckland District had been made to the Earthquake Commision since the storms on July 26 and 30.
A car ended up submerged in an Auckland marina, after sliding off a slippery road on the 29th.
Heavy Rain
In Auckland, rain gauges showed a 60 per cent increase on an average July rainfall.
The Auckland region had 214 mm (21.4 cm) of rain in July - 65 percent above the average monthly rainfall.
Maritime / Coastal
The Pacific Sun cruise ship was returning from Vanuatu on the night of the 30th when it was battered in 7m swells and 50 knot (90 km/hr) winds 600 km north of Auckland. It rolled sharply just before 8pm, injuring 57 people on board (42 passengers were treated). Crockery, furniture and gaming machines were sent flying. More serious injuries reported included a fractured pelvis, broken arms and broken ribs, a lost foot, and lost fingers. Damage to the ship was superficial but delayed the departure of the next cruise, with a total of 3382 passengers affected across the two cruises.
High Wind / Gust
Some parts of Auckland experienced several wind gusts of 120 km/hr overnight on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Albany
SH17 at Albany was closed due to flooding on the 30th. The bridge from the township to Paremoremo was underwater earlier on the 30th but reopened by 6.20am.
High Wind / Gust
at
Avondale
Several trees were brought down in the storm including one in Avondale which also brought down nearby powerlines.
Landslide
at
Birkenhead
An industrial site under development on Huka Rd in Birkenhead had slumped.
Multi Hazard
A more than 300-year-old rimu was toppled in Birkenhead’s Fernglen Gardens after being weakened by high winds and rain in July. It was discovered the week after the storms.
Multi Hazard
at
Dairy Flat
Kaihikatea Road at Dairy Flat was flooded and slips kept occurring - four wheel drives were recommended.
Landslide
at
Dome Valley
SH1 north of Warkworth at Dome Valley was closed for nearly 12 hours until the afternoon of the 30th after it was blocked by a large slip of trees, rocks and clay that was several feet high. The slip contained about 3000cu m of earth and occurred about 4am on the 30th. The slip blocked the road in three places but single lanes were cleared at two sites within hours.
Landslide
at
Glenfield
On Mulberry Place in Glenfield, cracks in the road were causing concern and a house below the road shifted slightly overnight on the 31st. There was a landslide on the 1st August and two homes had sustained some damage. Very heavy rain over the past week had accelerated land creep.
The occupants of two homes built on poles at Mulberry Place were evacuated on the 1st and others had voluntarily evacuated earlier after being threatened by the landslide. The two homes ended up permanently vacated by their owners.
Landslide
at
Helensville
Slips keep occurring in the Helensville area on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Howick
The Howick fire station had taken only two calls by mid-morning on the 30th and both were minor; one of them was for a flooded house in Evelyn Rd.
High Wind / Gust
at
Karekare
A few homes in Karekare were without power after a high voltage fault.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Muriwai
The Muriwai Surf Life Saving Club's patrol tower was moved by a giant crane from a dune that was scoured away during the July storms. Part of the tower was hanging over a drop of 10m to the beach. Three big storms since the beginning of May had carved off 5m of dune from the front of the tower. Storms had also lowered the level of the beach by washing away a vast amount of sand.
Flooding
at
Northcross
All lanes of Oteha Valley Road (a motorway feeder) were flooded on the eastern side of the motorway but the road was passable.
Landslide
at
Pohuehue
A slip partially blocked SH1 at Pohuehue viaduct south of Warkworth on the 30th, but traffic was still flowing.
Landslide
at
Swanson
On the 29th there was a landslide on a steep bank on a Church St property in Swanson, which blocked the Swanson Stream beside the Redwood Park Country Club. The slip measured 50m across and 30m deep and brought down some 1000 cubic metres of debris into the stream.
One house in Birdwood Rd in Swanson was evacuated on the morning of the 31st as a precaution after a landslip. The slip reached to within 8m of the house on the night of the 31st and was 4m away by the next morning. After further rain on the 31st, three other houses were vacated voluntarily.
The slip was caused by fill coming from the Church St property so would have to be cleared at the land-owners’ cost, which could be as high as $125,000.
There was a big split across the road on the corner of Sturgess and Candia roads in Swanson after a section of the road started to fall away.
Landslide
at
Torbay
14 homes in Lingham Crescent and one in Morice Place in Torbay were evacuated late on the afternoon of the 30th as they were threatened by a slip after 24 hours of rain. The slip was about 4000 to 5000 square metres in area. Residents of 10 of the homes returned on the 1st and two more were found safe to return to on the 3rd.
The storm left a 12m split in the ground in Lingham Crescent. One home was written-off and later demolished after sliding 10 cm off its foundations and receiving severe damage with cracks in the foundations, major cracks in the driveway and the frame twisted and snapped in places. Three more houses showed signs of movement, with two of them badly damaged with severe cracks. The slip moved 700 mm on the 30th. Engineers drilled holes into the saturated hillside to drain water and on the 1st it was pouring out at 300 litres an hour. Another house, in Morice Pl, was being investigated as to how it could be pinned structurally and secured.
Glamorgan Drive off East Coast Road was closed to allow emergency services to operate on the landslip situation.
High Wind / Gust
at
Waiheke Island
Auckland escaped lightly in terms of power outages with just one trip on Waiheke Island which was soon restored.
Multi Hazard
at
Warkworth
Woodcocks Road in Warkworth was flooded near to the Helensville end and slips had resulted.
Flooding
SH1 at Warkworth was closed due to flooding on the 30th.
Waikato
Flooding
at
Waikato
SH25 between Thames and Coromandel was closed due to flooding on the 30th and there was a lot of debris on the road north of Thames. The townships of Pauanui, Tairua, Whangamata, Whitianga and Coromandel were cut off by flood waters on the 30th. Whitianga, Tairua and Pauanui were worst hit in the Coromandel.
Parts of Hikuai and Pauanui on SH25 were under more than a metre of water.
In the Coromandel, around 20 schools closed on the 30th and freight trucks were unable to leave the area.
There was widespread flooding on the Hauraki Plains and the Coromandel on the 30th and 31st.
Some basements in the Coromandel were flooded on the 30th.
Heavy rain triggered flood alarms on a number of Coromandel and Hauraki Plains rivers, including the Lower Waihou and Piako Rivers, but river systems coped well. Early level alarms for the Waipa and Waikato rivers were triggered at a number of sites on the 31st including Te Kuiti, Otorohanga, Whatawhata, Hamilton, Ngaruwahia, Huntly and Rangiriri.
High Wind / Gust
Whitianga and Coromandel townships became isolated due to downed trees on the 30th.
Hundreds of homes through Thames and Coromandel lost power on the 30th and parts of the Coromandel were cut off with Vodafone coverage down in parts. Several hundred houses in smaller places like Hinuera, Kopu and Waihou were without power on the night of the 30th.
Landslide
SH25 between Coromandel and Whangapoua was closed due to a large slip until the 31st and the Kopu-Hikuai Gorge (SH25A) was closed on the 31st as road crews cleared eight slips and debris.
Heavy Rain
at
Coromandel Range
Over 200mm (20 cm) of rain had fallen in parts of the Coromandel Ranges at 9am on the 30th.
Heavy Rain
at
Golden Cross
As at 10am on the 30th, the Golden Cross rainfall monitoring station had recorded about 300 mm (30 cm) of rain over a 24-hour period.
Heavy Rain
at
Golden Valley
Golden Valley had the heaviest rainfall overnight on the 29th, with 161 mm (16.1 cm) of rain, falling at about 30 mm an hour.
Heavy Rain
at
Hamilton
Hamilton received 26 mm (2.6 cm) of rain in 12 hours to the 30th.
Due to exceptionally high and concentrated rainfall, combined with saturated ground conditions, there were a number of localised wastewater flooding events in Hamilton.
Aberdeen School was evacuated an closed on the 1st because of the health and safety risk after raw sewage spewed from a low-lying manhole after heavy rain. The school remained closed over the weekend.
Landslide
at
Hikuai
SH25 at the junction with SH25a in Hikuai was closed due to slip on the 30th.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaimai Range
Conditions in the Kaimais were treacherous on the 30th.
Multi Hazard
at
Karangahake Gorge
The Karangahake Gorge (SH2) between Paeroa and Waihi was closed on the morning of the 30th until further notice due to slips and flooding, with water half a metre deep.
Flooding
The Ohinemuri River in Karangahake Gorge was described as a "large brown torrent" and waterfalls could be seen falling over paddocks in the area.
Heavy Rain
310 mm (31 cm) of rain was recorded near the Karangahake Gorge in the 24 hours to midday on the 30th.
The Karangahake Gorge recorded 265 mm (26.5 cm) of rain between the 30th and the 31st.
Flooding
at
Kopu
There was significant surface flooding at Kopu on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Manaia
The small settlement of Manaia, about 12 km south of Coromandel, was submerged with four feet (1.2 m) of water.
Flooding
at
Paeroa
SH26 at Paeroa was closed due to flooding on the 30th. There was 1 m of water over the main road.
Some locals reported water coming into their houses on the 30th.
Multi Hazard
Netherton School, on SH2 near Paeroa, was closed on the 30th, as the roads were hazardous in the wind and rain.
Heavy Rain
Paeroa recorded 125 mm (12.5 cm) of rain.
Paeroa had 416 mm (41.6 cm) of rain in the month of July - nearly three times the average. It was more than they had ever had since records began in 1912, exceeding their record by 70 mm.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Port Waikato
At Port Waikato, the Sunset Beach Surf Life Saving Club's patrol tower was in danger of falling from an eroded dune into the sea after three stormy weeks had taken five to eight metres of sandhill from the front. It had been there for 15 years.
Flooding
at
Tairua
A home about 5km south of Tairua was surrounded by floodwaters more than 2m deep in places after the Tairua River burst its banks.
High Wind / Gust
at
Taupo
Taupo had similar wind speeds to Rotorua (75 km/hr).
Heavy Rain
Taupo received 29 mm (2.9 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 4pm on the 30th.
Multi Hazard
No major storm problems were reported in Taupo, but a few trees had fallen and the Fire Service attended a couple of minor weather-related jobs such as loose roofing and signs.
Multi Hazard
at
Te Aroha
In the Waikato, Te Aroha bore the brunt of power outages on the 30th.
A house in Aroha View Ave had water and wind damage after part of the roof lifted off, exposing many rooms to strong winds and heavy rain.
Three families in Te Aroha were evacuated.
High Wind / Gust
Radio Network head weather analyst Philip Duncan estimated winds had reached 180-200 km/hr in Te Aroha. The downslope winds had picked up speed and become very violent.
In Te Aroha, almost every property suffered wind damage of some kind and 12 properties lost their roofs. Big trees up to 100 years old were completely uprooted.
Flooding
at
Thames
Thames Hospital reported that many staff were unable to get to work on the 30th because of road closures due to flooding. Some of those at work had to leave early to attend to family and property and also avoid being stranded.
Thames had three wastewater plants that had minor spills on the 30th.
After heavy rain the Thames Racecourse was completely submerged, causing extensive damage to the surface, running rail and some small buildings.
Landslide
Homes had to be evacuated because of slips in Thames on the 30th.
Landslide
at
Waihi
Homes had to be evacuated because of slips in Waihi on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Waitakaruru
The rising waters of the Waitakaruru River threatened the community of Waitakaruru on SH25. Hauraki District Council and Environment Waikato staff spent the night of the 31st sandbagging the river and water pumps were used to direct water into other waterways.
Flooding
at
Whitianga
SH25 south of Whitianga was flooded with water 1 m deep and was impassable on the 30th.
Landslide
Access in and out of Whitianga was closed with a massive slip enveloping the entire road between the town and Kuaotunu on the 30th.
Bay of Plenty
Landslide
at
Bay of Plenty
SH2 between Awakeri and Taneatua was closed due to slip on White Pine Bush Road on the 30th.
Heavy Rain
Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty received approximately 45 mm (4.5 cm) of rain from 9pm on the 29th to about 9am on the 30th.
Up to 40 mm (4 cm) of rain fell in the eastern ranges overnight on the 31st.
Flooding
Both the Mangorewa and Waimana rivers had reached the first warning level by lunchtime on the 30th.
Many of the sports fields and playgrounds around the region resembled miniature lakes.
Multi Hazard
The storms in the Western Bay in July (26th-27th and 29th-1st August) damaged up to 48 homes. The Earthquake Commission (dealing with land slips and storm flooding to residential land) said 13 properties in the Western Bay had been damaged - worth $242,000.
35 claims across the Bay of Plenty were made to the Insurance Council (dealing with claims relating to commercial property, land and buildings and residential buildings).
Heavy Rain
at
Kaimai Range
Parts of the Kaimai ranges received up to 250 mm (25 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 4pm on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Matata
The streams around Matata were 200mm above normal on the morning of the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
The Fire Service attended two cases of damaged roofs in Matata on the morning of the 30th.
Just before 9am on the 30th a van was blown off the road on SH2 on its way to Matata. No one was hurt.
Tornado
at
Mount Maunganui
A small tornado snapped a power pole near Omanu Beach, then moved inland where it struck the suburb of Arataki at 9 or 10am on the 30th. It left a trail of destruction stretching from Eversham Rd through Gloucester Rd and Inverell Place, where it did the most damage. Several houses next to each other were damaged, with roof tiles ripped off, windows smashed, a carport damaged, a large tree pulled out of the ground and fences knocked over. Five damaged properties were secured with tarpaulins.
The tornado had been generated by strong wind off the coast. A man was forced to swerve in his car to avoid the tornado. He said the twister was about three-quarters of the width of the two-lane road, and was carrying letter boxes and rubbish.
Flooding
St Thomas Moore Catholic School in Mount Maunganui sent about 176 students home after opening briefly on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Ohope
There was some surface flooding at homes in Pohutukawa Ave in Ohope.
High Wind / Gust
Power was lost in some parts of Ohope around 8pm.
Landslide
at
Omokoroa Beach
After a night of rain driving into the side of the slope, land on Harbourview Rd in Omokoroa Beach gave way and gushed out a trail of mud and debris for more than 10m down the hillside at 8am on the 30th.
Three homes were evacuated at Omokoroa Beach, as the houses in Harbourview Rd were under threat from the slip.
Maritime / Coastal
A yacht fully capsized along the Omokoroa beachfront overnight on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Papamoa Beach
More than 400 students at Te Akau Ki Papamoa School were sent home about 9:30am on the 30th after flooding threatened children's safety.
Heavy Rain
at
Rotorua
Rotorua received approximately 14mm (1.4 cm) of rain from 9pm on the 29th to about 9am on the 30th.
Rotorua received 42 mm (4.2 cm) of rain in 24 hours to 4pm on the 30th.
10 mm ( 1 cm) of rain fell between 4pm and 5pm on the 30th.
Rotorua received 53 mm (5.3 cm) of rain in the 24 hour period to 7am on the 31st.
Rotorua had nearly twice its normal rainfall for the month of July with 263.8 mm (26.4 cm) of rain.
High Wind / Gust
Rotorua had wind gusts of up to 75 km/hr on the night of the 29th and the morning of the 30th.
Multi Hazard
High winds and saturated soil resulted in a tree falling from a neighbouring property on to the roof of a Lynmore property at 6am on the 30th. The tree fell through two fences and a washing line and came to rest on their roof, but little damage was done to the house, as a smaller tree broke the fall.
Three flights out of Rotorua were affected by the weather on the 30th.
Multi Hazard
at
Tauranga
A number of roads in Tauranga were closed due to flooding or trees down on the 30th, including Kennedy Road in Pyes Pa.
High Wind / Gust
Two 4.5m pine trees partially blocked SH29 near the Tauranga suburb of Greerton on the 30th.
The Fire Service attended a fallen tree at Matua.
Winds of around 80 km/hr hit Tauranga between 4am and 5am on the 30th.
Three planes managed to depart Tauranga Airport and one land on the morning of the 30th before things came to halt. The manager described the conditions as the worst conditions he had seen since the May 2005 floods.
A number of homes were damaged by fallen trees, and a skylight was blown away at a self-storage facility in Omanu at 3.10am on the 30th. The worst wind damage came between 5am and 6am. Just before 5am firefighters were called to help secure a piece of iron at the Caltex service station on Hewletts Rd. Shortly after, they attended a call from Moa St, where part of a fence had been blown into a driveway. Several road signs were blown over.
Flooding
There was extensive surface flooding in some places on the 30th. Low lying playing fields were flooded.
Travel to and from Tauranga Airport was disrupted and flooding on the Wairoa Bridge during the morning held up motorists.
Flooding
at
Waihi Beach
People were evacuated from two houses at Pio Shores in Waihi Beach by flooding and there were four evacuations at the nearby Beachhaven Holiday Park.
Multi Hazard
at
Whakatane
The Whakatane region was hammered as strong winds and rain ripped through. Fulton Hogan staff were busy clearing trees and slips from roads and dealing with surface flooding due to rainfall being heavier than the storm water system could deal with.
Several primary schools closed.
Heavy Rain
Whakatane received around 22mm (2.2 cm) of rain from 9pm on the 29th to about 9am on the 30th.
67.1 mm (6.7 cm) was recorded in Whakatane from 9pm on the 29th to 9pm on the 30th.
Whakatane received almost three quarters of its July rainfall in just 24 hours - 77 mm (7.7 cm) of rain to 4pm on the 30th.
Flooding
One Awatapu Dr property in Whakatane was hit by surface flooding overnight on the 30th.
Landslide
Large slips disrupted traffic on Ohope Rd between Whakatane and Ohope. One slip brought down two trees and covered the eastbound lane.
High Wind / Gust
Power supplies were lost to about 1000 homes in Whakatane around 4pm, when a tree fell on lines on Arawa Rd another outage occurred soon after in Kopeopeo.
High Wind / Gust
at
White Island
Winds around White Island reached up to 150 km/hr.
Gisborne
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne region
More than 100 mm (10 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to midday on the 30th between Te Puia Springs and Hicks Bay. Rain eased about 3.30pm on the 30th. The rain they had was not huge compared with other weather events.
The upper catchment areas of the Whakatane and Waimana rivers got a 180 mm (18 cm) soaking in about 24 hours.
Flooding
Rivers, stream and drains were still swollen on the morning of the 31st.
Most schools sent children home as roads threatened to close.
Some of the smaller tributaries had rises and falls of approximately one metre an hour.
SH35 between Hicks Bay and Gisborne was closed briefly due to surface flooding.
Multi Hazard
Many roads in the region were affected by slips, fallen trees, and minor damage to road surfaces.
The storm only caused minor disruptions to the power network. The main areas of concern were Tikitiki, rural parts around Ruatoria, part of Mahia Peninsula and Morere.
High Wind / Gust
Power lines and trees were the biggest casualties of some strong winds gusts that followed the rain. Firefighters were also stretched across the region responding to multiple callouts of roofs lifting in the wind.
Heavy Rain
at
East Cape
Torrential rain from the storm moved onto the East Cape during the morning of the 30th.
Flooding
at
Gisborne city
The Gladstone Road bridge, in Gisborne's city centre, had to be closed for a couple of hours on the night of the 30th to clear a backlog of debris tangled around the bridge piers. The closure in the peak 5pm rush hour created a traffic gridlock of Auckland proportions, with cars backing up for several blocks in all directions.
Surface flooding seeped into several Gisborne homes and buildings, including Te-Poho-o-Rawiri Marae just after lunchtime. Firefighters also pumped water from homes in Mackey St, Lyell Rd and Huxley Rd on the afternoon of the 30th.
Te Wharau school closed at 11.45am on the 30th after flooding and drainage issues affected the toilets. Te Hapara school closed at 12.15pm to give parents the chance to pick up their children before things got worse.
Landslide
A bank bordering a driveway on Sievwright Lane gave way and cut off access to four households just as the rain eased on the 30th. A resident had to wade through knee-deep sodden clay and remnants of flax bushes and trees to get home.
Heavy Rain
At 1pm on the 30th inner city Gisborne received rainfall of 16.5mm (1.7 cm) an hour.
High Wind / Gust
High winds caused a disruption to flights in and out of Gisborne Airport.
Heavy Rain
at
Hicks Bay
Hicks Bay received 181 mm (18.1 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to midday on the 30th.
Landslide
Slips blocked roads in Hicks Bay for much of the day on the 30th. SH35 between Te Araroa and Hicks Bay was closed.
Flooding
at
Hikuwai River
Hikuwai River at Willowflat rose to approximately 12 metres on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Kanakanaia
The Waipaoa River at Kanakanaia peaked at 6.943 metres at 6pm on the 30th.
Heavy Rain
at
Koranga
At Koranga, 176 mm (17.6 cm) was recorded in the 24 hours to 11am on the 31st.
Flooding
at
Mangatuna
12 people were evacuated from a Mangatuna home on the 30th as a precaution as the Uawa River rose at an alarming rate. They were allowed to return on the morning of the 31st.
Flooding
at
Motu
Motu School remained closed on the 31st.
On the morning of the 31st some roads were still closed due to surface flooding near the Motu Bridge and school: Motu Falls Road, Fraser Hill Road, Marumoko Road, Old Motu Road and Phillips Road.
Heavy Rain
at
Raukumara Range
The greatest amount of rain fell on the ranges inland from Ruatoria where 194 mm (19.4 cm) fell in the 24 hours to midday on the 30th - almost twice the amount that fell on the ranges inland from Gisborne and Tolaga Bay.
Flooding
at
Ruatoria
The Waiapu River at Ruatoria reached 6.15metres at 2.30pm on the 30th.
Multi Hazard
About 250 students at Ngati College in Ruatoria were forced to stay at home on the 30th as the roads were too treacherous for bus drivers to negotiate due to flooding and slips.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Araroa
Te Araroa received the most intense rainfall between 7am and 8am on the 30th when 35mm (3.5 cm) was recorded.
Landslide
at
Tiniroto
On the 31st Parikanapa Road was partially closed by several slips.
Flooding
at
Tokomaru Bay
An East Coast camping ground, Tokomaru Bay Mayfair Store and Cabins, was under water and closed on the 30th. The property was like a river, with only one dry spot where their six sheep and lamb were hiding. The owners blamed Gisborne District Council rather than the weather as they had been asking council to re-dig the area's drains for months.
The Waiotu River south of Tokomaru Bay broke its banks early on the 30th and temporarily closed SH35 south of the township.
Heavy Rain
at
Tolaga Bay
In Tolaga Bay 162 mm (16.2 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to midday on the 30th.
Multi Hazard
SH35 near Tolaga Bay was closed to anything other than trucks or four wheel drives on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Waimata River
At 3pm on the 30th the Waimata River level at Goodwins was recorded at 6.06 metres.
Flooding
at
Waingake
The Te Arai River at Pykes got up to 3.1 metres at 1.45pm on the 30th.
Landslide
at
Wharekopae
On the morning of the 31st Tahora Road near Tahora Settlement Road was partially closed by slips.
Hawke's Bay
Landslide
at
Hawke's Bay
Several small slips occurred on highways.
Flooding
Minor to moderate surface flooding was reported in suburban areas of Napier and Hastings.
In Central Hawke's Bay, surface flooding forced the closures of Taylor, Hiranui, Argyll, Argyll East, Great North, Northumberland and Clarence roads.
Residents in central Hawke's Bay were told to boil their drinking water from the 29th July till the 4th August due to concern that flooding may have contaminated the water supply to Waipukurau and Waipawa.
Multi Hazard
Highways were blocked, streets and paddocks flooded, schools closed, trees down and buildings damaged. There was a lot of storm damage right through down to Ocean Beach and Waimarama.
In the Hastings District, SH50 at Roy’s Hill, SH2 at Poukawa Road and some parts of Te Mata Road all experienced surface flooding on the 30th. SH2 opposite the Guthrie Smith Centre was closed due to a land slip.
High Wind / Gust
There were only minor isolated power outages, mainly in rural areas where only a small number of consumers were affected. They were mainly the result of trees hitting lines.
Flooding
at
Clifton
At Clifton, 18 inches (45.7 cm) of rain came through one part of the motorcamp.
Landslide
at
Devils Elbow
There was a slip at the Devil's Elbow on SH2.
High Wind / Gust
at
Elsthorpe
About eight children and three teachers were trapped at Elsthorpe School until about 2pm on the 30th after floodwaters on Elsthorpe Rd rose to car rooftop levels and the alternative route along Kahuranaki Rd had a tree knocked over, which brought down powerlines. The rest of the children had been sent home by bus during the morning.
Landslide
at
Eskdale
There was a slip at the SH5 turn-off at Eskdale.
Flooding
About 60 of Eskdale School's 180 students were sent home about midday when Seafield Rd was threatened by rising floodwaters. The school also had a narrow escape from flood damage when water draining off Hill Rd swept down through the school. Hukarere Girls' College was forced to close about 11am when the storm rendered the school's toilets unusable.
High Wind / Gust
at
Hastings
A branch crashed through a house window in Stortford Lodge.
Heavy Rain
30.2 mm (3.0 cm) of rain fell in Hastings in 24 hours up to the 30th.
Hastings received 47.2 mm (4.7 cm) of rain in the 24 hours until 7am on the 31st.
Multi Hazard
Hastings Boys' High School sent boys home on mini buses to outlying areas such as Omahu, Bridge Pa and Te Awanga about 1.30pm on the 30th.
Multi Hazard
at
Haumoana
High seas and rain hammered the coastal town of Haumoana and neighbouring Te Awanga and Clifton on the 30th, causing a lot of surface flooding.
Maritime / Coastal
In Haumoana, at least four beachfront properties were damaged by high seas and another was threatened. One house was partly submerged by large waves at high tide about 3pm. The sea smashed the house's concrete seawall and tore away the front room, which fell into the sea.
There were 4m swells at Haumoana on the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Havelock North
A house in Havelock North was hit by a falling tree.
Landslide
at
Mahia
There was a minor slip near Mahia.
Landslide
at
Maraekakaho
There was a serious slip with the collapse of Whakapirau Bluff just south of Kereru on SH50. It partially blocked the road but one lane was kept open.
Multi Hazard
Maraekakaho School was evacuating students on the afternoon of the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Maraetotara Lodge
A Maraetotara farmer had a three-hour power cut on the 30th.
Landslide
at
Matahorua Viaduct
There was a major slip at Matahoura Gorge on SH2. Both lanes were blocked mid-afternoon on the 30th.
Heavy Rain
at
Napier
31.5 mm (3.2 cm) of rain fell in Napier in 24 hours up to the 30th.
Napier received 41.1 mm (4.1 cm) of rain in the 24 hours until 7am on the 31st.
Multi Hazard
Ahuriri's Landcorp Farm lost the end of one of the sheds, had a couple of windows blown out in the office and had atrocious flooding. The waters were nearly a metre deep in some areas.
The manager of Ahuriri's Landcorp Farm estimated that hundreds of lambs had been lost.
In Napier, a huge macrocarpa tree, on an exposed slab of hillside behind a Karaka Rd home, fell onto the garage and across the roof of the house in high winds and driving rain. Water poured through shattered ceilings into the kitchen, bathroom and lounge. A hotrod being built in the garage was also left badly damaged.
High Wind / Gust
High winds caused a disruption to flights in and out of Hawke's Bay Airport.
Landslide
A slip was reported on Puketapu Road.
Landslide
at
Nuhaka
There was a minor slip near Nuhaka.
Heavy Rain
at
Poukawa
Poukawa recorded 71.5 mm (7.2 cm) of rainfall since the afternoon of the 29th.
Multi Hazard
at
Pukehou
Pukehou School began sending children home about midday on the 30th when floodwaters and high winds made some surrounding roads treacherous.
Multi Hazard
at
Puketapu
Due to the wild weather and expected sewerage problems, Puketapu School closed at 8.30am on the 30th. Children already at the school were sent home on buses.
Heavy Rain
at
Tareha homestead
A farm at Kaiwaka Rd, north of Napier, had 80 mm (8 cm) of rain fall on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Waipawa
Waipawa and Otane residents were asked to conserve water when the Tikokino Rd bore was flooded, and a back-up bore provided only half the normal supply.
Heavy Rain
at
Waipukurau
14.6 mm (1.5 cm) of rain fell in Waipukurau in 24 hours up to the 30th.
Waipukurau received 36 mm (3.6 cm) of rain in the 24 hours until 7am on the 31st.
Heavy Rain
at
Wairoa
9.4 mm (0.9 cm) of rain fell in Wairoa in 24 hours up to the 30th.
Wairoa received 14.2 mm (1.4 cm) of rain in the 24 hours until 7am on the 31st.
Taranaki
Heavy Rain
at
Taranaki
Heavy rain fell in North Taranaki on the morning of the 31st, but by afternoon had begun to ease.
Taranaki had between 148 per cent and 222 per cent of its normal July rainfall totals.
Heavy Rain
at
Inglewood
Inglewood was Taranaki's wettest town in July, recording 467.5 mm (46.8 cm) of rainfall.
Maritime / Coastal
at
New Plymouth
Raging seas moved 13-tonne concrete akmons metres out of position at the lee breakwater, with two tossed up on to the breakwater itself, and spewed rocky debris along New Plymouth's walkway on the 31st. Walls of water also poured across the boat ramp carpark, tearing up large sections of the seal. Both the parking area and the walkway were closed all day.
Mammoth drifts of sand were dumped in to the harbour entrance, forcing Port Taranaki officials to reduce the official draft from 12.5m to 11.2m for shipping traffic.
Heavy Rain
New Plymouth recorded 209 mm (20.9 cm) of rain in July. It normally receives around 169 mm (16.9 cm).
Heavy Rain
at
North Egmont
North Egmont recorded 1473 mm (147.3 cm) of rain in July - twice its normal July rainfall.
Heavy Rain
at
Stratford
Stratford received 466.5 mm (46.7 cm) of rainfall in July.
Multi Hazard
at
Tatu
SH43 at Tatu Flats was closed on the 31st.
Manawatu-Wanganui
High Wind / Gust
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Manawatu-Wanganui
Police received a large volume of calls reporting trees across roads and big wind gusts in the Manawatu and Horowhenua areas right up to Waiouru.
About 25,000 (Radio NZ reported 30,000) Horowhenua households were without power from the 29th for up to 17 hours, after gale-force winds uprooted trees and took out power lines. 18,200 Powerco customers around Wanganui and Manawatu lost power. Waikawa Beach, Manakau, Tokomaru and parts of Foxton were still without power on the 31st, causing havoc for dairy farmers trying to milk. Nearly 200 homes faced their fourth consecutive night without power on the 2nd.
An emergency team was sent to Horowhenua by Fonterra to help farmers milk their cows after the power had been down since the morning of the 29th. Farmers were forced to share generators. Most of the dairy farmers in Horowhenua and Kapiti had their power restored by the 4th.
Shortly before 4pm on the 30th, Manawatu District Council reported that 11 roads had been blocked by fallen trees - Arapata Rd, Campbell Rd (near Bunnythorpe), Colyton Rd, Kellow Rd, Main South Rd (near Apiti), No 1 Line (Pohangina), Ridge Rd, Short Rd, Taonui Rd, Tutaki Rd and Ulysses Rd. Some of the roads were still closed at 2pm on the 31st.
Flooding
The Manawatu River was extremely high on the morning of the 31st and the Rangitikei River was also running high.
14 of the Horizon Regional Council's drainage pumping stations were still without power on the 1st, meaning it could be some days before ponded water could be cleared from some of its drainage scheme areas on the Manawatu Plains. Floodwater was creeping over paddocks.
Multi Hazard
A number of Horowhenua homes had to be evacuated until further notice, so that building inspectors could assess the damage.
The weather closed schools in the Horowhenua district on the 30th - Levin East School, Horowhenua College, Waiopehu College, Taitoko School, St Josephs School, Fairfield School, Manakau School, Tokomaru School and Aokautere School.
As the storm swept through northern Manawatu, it lashed the region with heavy rain and gale-force winds - the worst in memory, according to locals. The weather peaked about 1pm in Palmerston North and 2pm in Levin.
New Zealand Post cancelled some mail deliveries in Manawatu due to the heavy rain and strong winds. No mail got through in Levin, Foxton, Foxton Beach, Ashhurst and Pahiatua.
High Wind / Gust
at
Apiti
Apiti had been largely without power since early on the morning on the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Ashhurst
Trees went down across the Palmerston North-Gisborne railway line near Ashhurst.
At Ashhurst there were reports of a trampoline blowing along a street.
Heavy Rain
at
Dannevirke
19.3 mm (1.9 cm) of rain fell in Dannevirke in 24 hours up to the 30th.
Dannevirke received 24.5 mm (2.5 cm) of rain in the 24 hours until 7am on the 31st.
Multi Hazard
at
Gladstone
A small rural Levin community around Gladstone Rd, at the foothills of the Tararuas, was without power for six days and the road was impassable. They had not had any contact from support agencies or civil defence services. After a couple of days, one family had to dig a hole in the ground to use as a toilet.
High Wind / Gust
at
Kakatahi
SH4 between Wanganui and Raetihi was closed at Kakatahi due to fallen trees on the 30th.
Multi Hazard
at
Levin
There were numerous road closures around Levin on the 30th. SH1 north and south of Levin briefly closed and reopened several times as emergency services grappled with downed trees and power lines.
The Levin fire station had around 35 callouts on the morning of the 30th, mostly relating to roofs lifting or fences and trees being blown across properties.
Trains were delayed by fallen trees and slips. Power lines were knocked down near railway lines in Levin, and several level- crossing barrier arms were damaged in Levin.
High Wind / Gust
Gale force easterlies sent roofs flying loose on the 30th. The inside of one home was ruined when a gust blew the roof off. Pinks Batts and roofing iron were scattered around paddocks, a hay barn was obliterated and the roof was ripped off some horse stables.
Levin was without power for much of the day on the 30th after electricity was cut shortly after 8am. The Kawiu Rd substation was out and electricity wires and trees were down through Levin in Cambridge St, Gladstone Rd and Elizabeth St and outside the town. Around 50 rural properties in Levin were still without electricity on the 3rd.
Most shops simply closed down. The Horowhenua Health Centre stayed open, running on emergency generator power, but outpatients and routine work were postponed. Some farms were without power for two days or more, preventing cows from being milked.
There were wind gusts of over 120 km/hr in Levin. Some locals said it was possibly the worst blow they'd faced since the Wahine day storm 40 years ago.
Pressure was building up behind the Tararua ranges and then swooping down the mountain side, causing unpredictable wind gusts.
Heavy Rain
A boil water notice was issued in Levin after the week's heavy rain affected the town's water treatment plant.
High Wind / Gust
at
Makerua
SH57 at Makerua was closed due to fallen trees on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Makuri
An elderly man was driving to his home near Makuri on the Pahiatua-Pongaroa Rd when his car was sucked under a fence and swept into a field by floodwaters on the afternoon of the 30th. When he was rescued, three quarters of his car was under water.
High Wind / Gust
at
Manakau
SH1 was closed near Manakau, south of Levin, after trees fell onto the road on the 30th.
Landslide
at
Manawatu Gorge
Rocks rained down through the Manawatu Gorge.
High Wind / Gust
at
Mangaweka
A tree had blown across SH1 at Mangaweka, blocking the road on the 30th.
Heavy Rain
The Rangitikei River level peaked at 7.2 m at Mangaweka at about 4.30pm on the 30th.
Multi Hazard
at
Mt Ruapehu
Weather conditions closed the Ruapehu skifields on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Opiki
SH56 between Opiki and Alve Road was closed by flooding on the 31st.
High Wind / Gust
at
Palmerston North
A huge tree blew over in College St, landing on two cars and blocking the road near the primary school at lunchtime for nearly 3 hours. One car was severely dented but driveable, the other wasn't so lucky.
Wind lifted iron on the roof of the Barber Hall on Waldegrave St, a tree toppled in Ruamahanga Crescent and at least 18 mature trees blew over in the Kelvin Grove cemetery. Palmerston North Airport reported that wind gusts blew in hangar doors. Signs blew down throughout the city and Tax Link, at the corner of Rangitikei and Walding streets, had a large plate glass window blow out in a gust of wind about 10am.
Atawhai Rd, near Massey University, was closed by fallen trees and Palmerston North City Council closed the Victoria Esplanade and the Ashhurst Domain because of the risks from flying debris.
Heavy Rain
at
Pipiriki
The Whanganui River peaked at 7.7 m at Pipiriki on the night of the 31st.
Multi Hazard
at
Pohangina
Pohangina Valley was hit hard by wind, with trees down, slips and roofs lifting. A house at the top of No 1 Line off Pohangina Rd was destroyed, a woolshed was blown apart and old trees were smashed to smithereens. Weights were holding roofs down, but many haysheds had the backs blown out by the swirling easterly winds and some fertiliser bins were also lost. A dog was blown off a quad bike.
High Wind / Gust
Power and phone lines were down in Pohangina Valley on the 30th and the road was blocked by trees.
A heifer was killed when a tree landed on its head.
Multi Hazard
at
Shannon
All roads to Shannon were blocked by flooding on the 30th. SH57 was closed between Shannon and Opiki due to a slip and trees on the road.
Lightning
A lightning strike took out a pump at the Shannon water treatment plant and Shannon and Tokomaru residents were asked to conserve water. Shannon and Tokomaru residents also had to boil drinking and cooking water because of problems at the water treatment plants.
High Wind / Gust
Around 8am on the 30th, the wind ripped a trailer unit in half on SH57 near Shannon. The driver pulled over and got out when the wind's shaking became too strong. The wind in Shannon and Tokomaru was so strong people could barely stand up against it.
Flooding
at
Tangimoana
Properties in Aru St, Tangimoana, were flooded by stinking water contaminated with diesel and septic tank overflows after drains failed to cope with stormwater. One resident said they had not been able to use their toilet for three weeks. Residents were unable to wash clothes or take showers at home. One property was still under 20 cm of smelly water.
High Wind / Gust
at
Tokomaru
There was an accident on SH57 (Makerua Rd) near Tokomaru at around 8am on the 30th. Very strong wind gusts caught a truck and trailer and it veered off the left hand side of the road and crashed through a fence. The trailer unit spun across the road, blocking both lanes.
Flooding
at
Wanganui
For the first time the lower parts of the new boardwalk near the Waimarie were inundated by the Whanganui River with the high tides on the 1st.
High Wind / Gust
at
Weraroa
A resident of Kimberley Rd, Weraroa, lost 2000 pine trees in the storm, which were not covered by his insurance.
Wellington
Multi Hazard
at
Wellington
Akatarawa Road (between Upper Hutt and Waikanae) was closed on the 30th and 31st.
Train passenger services from Wellington, including the main trunk line, reopened on the 31st after disruptions on the 30th. The Main Trunk Line was closed between Otaki and Waikanae. A tree blocked the Upper Hutt line north of Waterloo, halting services to and from Wairarapa for a short time from about 6am on the 30th.
Weather-related events cut power to about 700 Powerco customers in Gordon St in Masterton and in Annedale Rd near Tinui from late morning on the 30th.
Rain flooded roads, felled trees and moved hillsides in the Wairarapa on the 30th in areas ranging from Ngawi in South Wairarapa to Ngaumu Road east of Masterton.
Flooding
In the Wairarapa, high river levels closed floodway roads, including Jenkins Dip near Martinborough and Kahutara Road at Oporua, on the 31st and several floodway roads were also closed on the 1st.
There were high river levels in many Wairarapa rivers. The lower Ruamahanga River tripped a lower level alarm on the 30th.
Heavy Rain
at
Angle Knob
Angle Knob in the Tararuas received 100 mm (10 cm) of rain on the 31st.
Heavy Rain
at
Carterton
Carterton recorded 186 mm (18.6 cm) of rain for July on an unofficial rainfall recorder.
Heavy Rain
at
Castle Hill
At Castle Hill, the Tauweru River catchment, 51.5 mm (5.2 cm) of rain fell in 24 hours to the night of the 30th.
Heavy Rain
at
Castlepoint
Castlepoint recorded 123.5 mm (12.4 cm) of rain for July on an unofficial rainfall recorder.
Heavy Rain
at
Featherston
Featherston received 50 mm (5 cm) of rain on the 31st.
Heavy Rain
at
Mangatarere Hill
Mangatarere recorded 265 mm (26.5 cm) of rain for July on an unofficial rainfall recorder.
Flooding
at
Martinborough
SH53 between Martinborough and Tauherenikau was closed briefly due to flooding on the 31st.
At Waihenga (bridge), the Ruamahanga River was 4.8 m on the 31st, having risen 3 m by the 31st from 1.8 m on the morning of the 30th.
Heavy Rain
at
Masterton
In Masterton 27 mm (2.7 cm) of rain fell in 24 hours to the night of the 30th.
Masterton received 30 mm (3 cm) of rain on the 31st.
Masterton recorded a rainfall of 140 mm (14 cm) in July.
Multi Hazard
at
Mataikona
Flooding and slips threatened to close Mataikona Road on the afternoon of the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Mt Kaukau
Some fairly big wind gusts were recorded at Mt Kaukau on the morning of the 30th.
Landslide
at
Ngawi
There were slips at Ngawi on the 30th after heavy rain. A hillside wound behind Ngawi village was reopened overnight, forcing road-clearing crews to work until dawn repairing a blocked culvert beneath the road in to the settlement and removing about 800 cubic metres of shingle from near a cliffside in Seaview Ave that had inundated four properties in May.
Heavy Rain
at
Pirinoa
Pirinoa recorded 189.8 mm (19.0 cm) of rain for July on an unofficial rainfall recorder.
Flooding
at
Porirua
Surface flooding hit Porirua on the 31st, with some homes and streets partially underwater. A number of homes were particularly badly affected in the Titahi Bay area. Water levels were waist high in one Owhiti St house.
Maritime / Coastal
Titahi Bay Rd between Te Hiko St and Onepoto Rd was closed around midday due to sea water flooding over the road. Warspite Ave and Corinna St in Cannons Creek were also affected.
Landslide
at
The Summit
SH2 at the Rimutaka Summit had the south-bound lane blocked on the morning of the 31st after two slips.
Heavy Rain
at
Tanawa Hut
117 mm (11.7 cm) of rain fell at Tanawa Hut, northeast of Masterton, on the 31st.
Heavy Rain
at
Tararua Range
In July, the Tararuas recorded rainfall 76 per cent higher than average.
Heavy Rain
at
Tauherenikau
In July, Tauherenikau recorded rainfall 63 per cent higher than average.
Flooding
at
Tauweru
The land east of Taueru was basically under water on the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Te Marua
SH2 near Te Marua was closed on the 30th due to trees falling across the road, blocking motorists from using the Rimutaka Hill Road.
In Te Marua, a falling tree destroyed a three-month-old garage and games room worth $70,000.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Ore Ore
At Te Weraiti Rd 34.5 mm (3.5 cm) of rain fell in 24 hours to the night of the 30th.
Heavy Rain
at
Tinui
Rainfall in the Tinui Valley was 113.5 mm (11.4 cm) in 24 hours to the night of the 30th.
In July, Tinui recorded rainfall 62 per cent higher than average.
High Wind / Gust
at
Upper Hutt
Falling trees damaged houses in Upper Hutt. One house under construction was destroyed.
Flooding
Heavy rain caused flooding in Upper Hutt.
High Wind / Gust
at
Waikanae
SH1 was closed at Waikanae due to fallen power cables on the 31st.
High Wind / Gust
at
Wainuioru
Trees were felled trees near Ngaumu Rd on the 30th and others that were in danger of toppling onto the road were removed..
A Masterton motorist hit a tree across Ngaumu Rd while it was falling at about 5:30am on the 30th.
Heavy Rain
at
Waiorongomai Hill
Waiorongomai recorded 290 mm (29.0 cm) of rain for July on an unofficial rainfall recorder.
Multi Hazard
at
Wellington City
Wellington city filed the most claims with EQC for the storms in late July, with 150 claims.
The 150 claims totalled $2.6 million.
High Wind / Gust
at
Wellington International Airport
More than 20 flights, mainly of smaller aircraft, in and out of Wellington International Airport were cancelled on the 30th due to high winds
Landslide
at
Whareama
There was a fairly major slip at Whareama on the 30th.
Multi Hazard
at
Whitemans Valley
Whitemans Valley east of Upper Hutt experienced serious flooding and other weather related issues that caused road blockages and loss of power.
South Island
Multi Hazard
at
South Island
There were multiple cases of surface flooding on SH1 between Blenheim and Kaikoura on the afternoon of the 30th. In the early morning of the 31st SH1 between Blenheim and Kaikoura was closed due to a storm surge throwing debris on the road as well as rain creating flooding and slips. During the 31st SH1 was closed from as far north as Blenheim to as far south as Woodend in Canterbury by severe flooding and swollen rivers.
Rail services between Christchurch and Picton were disrupted. There were 14 separate problems on the line from flooding, slips and debris, in areas north of Kaikoura, near Sefton and between Picton and Blenheim, causing cancellations from the 31st. The line was expected to reopen on the 5th. About 40 services were affected and there was a week's worth of freight backlogged.
Telecom and Vodafone had some local outages, particularly in Auckland, Manawatu, Marlborough and Canterbury.
Much of the railway line between Christchurch and Invercargill was closed on the 31st. Flooding between Glenavy and Studholm and at Herbert closed the Main South Line between Studholme and Dunedin on the night of the 31st. Main rail and road links remained closed in the South Island on the 3rd.
Trucks became stuck when the road north of Christchurch was closed by flooding, preventing them from using the inland route via Lewis Pass.
$1.5 million damage was caused to State Highway 1 from Marlborough south.
AMI received 1500 South Island claims totalling $3.2m from the July 31 storm. Most related to flood and wind damage to homes.
Heavy Rain
The storm hit the top half of the South Island overnight on the 30th. There was a lot of rain overnight from Picton right through to Christchurch, causing surface flooding.
During the month of July, Marlborough, Canterbury and eastern Otago were soaked with more than twice as much rain as normal for July.
Marlborough
Flooding
at
Marlborough
Marlborough declared a state of Civil Defence Emergency at 3pm on the 30th after surface flooding threatened some homes and the Alexanders Holiday park. It was lifted on the afternoon of the 31st.
Marlborough roads faced months of repairs after damage from the floods. Transit's Marlborough Roads division said the flood impact on roads was the worst for 10 to 15 years.
High Wind / Gust
Fallen trees made sections of the state highway impassable.
Multi Hazard
Parts of Marlborough had power cuts. Between 5pm and 6pm on the 31st, the last large areas cut off from power had electricity restored, with just a couple of customers left to go. In some areas there were so many trees blowing down, Marlborough Lines did not send staff in until the wind abated.
Water carpeted local roads. There were still some roads closed around the district on the 4th August. Queen Charlotte Drive and Port Underwood Road were down to a single lane in places on the 4th, due to slips.
The Picton, Blenheim, and Renwick volunteer fire brigades and RNZAF Woodbourne fire brigade had about 60 calls between 8am on the 30th and early on the 31st, and also attended "running calls" which were not officially logged. The Blenheim Volunteer Fire Brigade received about half the calls.
All sports parks in Marlborough remained closed on the 5th but were all reopened by the 12th. Also, Blenheim Golf Course, Esson's Valley, Picton's South Terrace walkway and some tracks on the Wither Hills Farm Park were still closed, while Waitohi Domain had sewage contamination. Some walkways and tracks in the region were still closed on the 12th due to the effects of the storm.
60 people were evacuated in Marlborough.
Flooding and slips in Marlborough had so far cost the New Zealand Transport Agency nearly $500,000 this winter.
Marlborough had an estimated $1.3 million in flood damage to roads.
Heavy Rain
Marlborough received more than double its usual rainfall for the month of July.
Flooding
at
Blenheim
Four houses in Blenheim were being evacuated because of sewage problems on the night of the 30th.
There was flooding out of the Waitohi Stream, which comes out of a valley above Picton.
Flooding closed several roads around Blenheim on the 30th.
24 Air New Zealand flights in and out of Blenheim were cancelled on the 30th.
In the Taylor Dam Reserve, strong winds and flood water ripped trees out of the ground, blocking off the car park, destroying the roof of the toilet, knocking over picnic tables and throwing debris everywhere. It would cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair the reserve. About 30 trees had fallen over, with a cost of $1500 for removal of each tree and the toilet roof would cost about $20,000 to fix.
Sections of the Taylor River reserve were still closed to the public on 5th August because of subsidence and scouring from the flood, including the Taylor Dam Reserve. The Taylor Dam Reserve was closed for months due to unstable ground, the threat of falling trees and the possibility of sewage contamination in the area. It was re-opened in mid December, except for the toilet block and playground, which were not epected to re-open before March 2009 due to repair work.
The Taylor River reached 3.5m above its normal height during the storm, coming to within 80 cm of breaching its banks.
High Wind / Gust
High winds were also blowing quite a lot of debris around Blenheim.
High Wind / Gust
at
Canvastown
Marlborough Lines company dealt with power outages in Canvastown.
Multi Hazard
at
Elevation
Slips and flooding blocked most of the Elevation.
Multi Hazard
at
Havelock
On SH6 at Havelock, surface flooding caused a headache for motorists and the road was closed briefly due to highwind on the 31st.
Flooding
at
Koromiko
At the Koromiko Motel, a guest woke up at 8am on the 30th to see water at the back door. In three hours it had seeped in to the unit, covering the floors and soaking carpets. The unit next door was also flooded.
Floodwaters submerged most paddocks at Koromiko, threatening farmhouses.
Flooding
at
Para
Floodwaters submerged most paddocks at Para, threatening farmhouses.
Multi Hazard
at
Picton
Picton was the worst-hit area in Marlborough, lashed by wind and rain on the 30th. Gale-force winds were still being reported on the night of the 30th.
Queen Charlotte Drive was closed with slips and tree falls on the night of the 30th.
Queen Charlotte Drive was badly affected, with the collapse of a 45m-long and 3m-wide section tallied at $220,000 alone.
The Picton fire brigade was left running from one emergency to another as gale force winds and driving rain ripped through the township.
Flooding
Low-lying areas of Picton were under water on the 30th and a handful of houses were threatened by heavy rain and flooding rivers.
37 people in Picton were evacuated on the night of the 30th from Alexanders Holiday Park and houses near a flooded creek. Overnight 40 people registered at Queen Charlotte College as having left their homes as a precaution as the Waitohi Stream rose, threatening to flood lower residences in Scotland St. Most people found refuge with family and friends but about 15 stayed at the evacuation centre at the college. Three families were still unable to return to their homes as at the 2nd August.
A Picton family's Broadway home was severely damaged after a big surge of water burst through their house from a nearby creek. At one point, the water was more than 30cm high. Much of the house needed to be rebuilt, which was expected to cost $150,000. They also lost up to $100,000 of personal possessions. The property and their neighbours' back yard were tainted with sewage. As at the 6th September they had been waiting five weeks for the insurer to bring in the builders.
Many houses were flooded in the Buller St area. Brown torrents were pouring down a creek from the hills behind the neighbourhood, missing some homes narrowly but pouring straight through others.
There was a toxic stormwater contamination notice out for Picton on the 31st.
Picton's Cook Strait ferry terminal was shut because of flooding and the weather delayed ferry sailings, but there were no cancellations.
High Wind / Gust
By 5pm on the 30th, Nelson Square looked as if it had been hit by a tornado. Huge trees were disintegrating, creating so much flying debris that police were forced to stop getting out of their cars to assess the damage. A house on the square lost half its roof and a wall was left buckled and an elderly woman's shed started blowing away. Large signs on the road leading into Picton were snapped at the poles.
High Wind / Gust
at
Rai Saddle
A tree blocked SH6 between Nelson and Picton, near the Rai Saddle, on the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Rai Valley
Marlborough Lines company dealt with power outages in the Rai Valley.
Flooding
at
Renwick
Old Renwick Road, leading to the state highway at Renwick, remained closed due to flooding on the 4th.
Low-lying parts of the Highfield Estate winery near Renwick were inundated as the small Mill Stream burst its banks the first time for more than 10 years.
Flooding
at
Seddon
The Vavasour Winery area lost power when a pole in the riverbed disappeared.
Multi Hazard
at
Tuamarina
Wairau Bridge on SH1 was reduced to one lane on the 31st.
Flooding
at
Waihopai River
On the Waihopai Valley Road a transformer disappeared in the river, cutting power to a customer.
Flooding
at
Ward
About 20 to 30 trucks were held up at Ward on the morning of the 31st.
Multi Hazard
at
Wither Hills
The Sounds FM radio station was off air intermittently from the "wee small hours" until about 7am on the 31st after the wild weather affected the transmitter on the Wither Hills.
Flooding
at
Woodbourne
Two men were travelling south on Jacksons Rd, toward Old Renwick Rd, when their ute became stuck in a flooded dip in the road and stalled, with water up to the bottom of the headlights, just after 5pm on the night of the 30th. They had to be rescued by the Blenheim Volunteer Fire Brigade.
Tasman-Nelson
High Wind / Gust
at
Nelson
10,000 homes and businesses lost power at the peak of the storm. Power was out in the Atawhai area as far as Lud Valley on the 30th. 500 homes were still without power on the morning of the 31st, mainly in the Wakapuaka-Hira area, and on the morning of the 1st, 430 homes were still without power - in Hira, Lud, Collins and Teal valleys, the Glen, Cable Bay, and the upper reaches of the Todd's and Lee valleys.
Winds reached hurricane force at the storm's peak between 3pm and 4pm on the 30th.
Numerous homes throughout Nelson, Stoke and Richmond had trees crashing on to or through them. There was extensive damage to power lines, particularly in the Hira, Teal Valley and Lud Valley areas.
The region's forest owners had an estimated 2000 hectares of wind-damaged trees. The damage was wide-ranging, with wind-throw affecting forests in the Richmond Ranges from the Whangamoa Hills to St Arnaud, and it would take months and months of clearing. The cost in the Nelson region would be at least $5 million. 100ha of Nelson Pine Industries' 2000ha forest in Aniseed Valley was damaged by the storm, which would probably cost about $100,000 in damaged trees.
Multi Hazard
Nelson firefighters were called out 87 times, Stoke firefighters 53 times, and Richmond 21 times.
A number of schools were closed due to damage and power outages caused by the storm, including Hira School and Independent Middle School in Stoke. Tantragee Recreation Area, Andrews Farm Reserve, Wakapuaka Cemetery, Isel Park, Murphy St Reserve and Seaview Cemetery were closed for safety reasons until further notice.
AMI claims from the top of the South Island - which so far amounted to 45-50 percent of the 1000 calls received nationally - would be in the millions of dollars. Damage ranged from houses having roofs smashed in or ripped off to fences falling over.
The New Zealand Transport Agency's usual three-month winter maintenance budget of $480,000 for Nelson, Motueka and Golden Bay increased to more than $800,000 this year.
The Earthquake Commission paid out $200,000 to people in the Nelson region for claims made after storms in late July. The largest claim in Nelson city was for $30,000.
121 claims were made to the EQC from the Nelson region.
Multi Hazard
at
Tasman
Damage in the Tasman district was mainly confined to the east of the district.
On the morning of the 31st, the Kerr Hill Rd from Belgrove to St Arnaud was closed, along with the Korere to Top House Rd and the Lee Valley and Quail Valley Rds.
High Wind / Gust
at
Gentle Annie Saddle
After experiencing Cyclone Bola first-hand in 1988, a Gentle Annie resident said this storm was far stronger.
High Wind / Gust
at
Hira
Hira School closed on the 30th because it had no power, so there was no running water and no heating. Trees had also fallen at neighbouring Hira Rural Kindergarten, which closed. The school and kindergarten remained closed through to the 1st. The Hira Stopover store was closed on the 31st but managed to open the next day, running on a generator.
High Wind / Gust
at
Kikiwa
Fallen trees over about 2km of Korere-Tophouse Rd at Kerrs Hill closed the road.
High Wind / Gust
at
Maitai River
Nelson City Council workers clearing trees in the Maitai Valley closed the road because of fears that other trees might fall.
High Wind / Gust
at
Nelson city
A major Nelson water pipeline (the Maitai pipeline under Tantragee treatment plant) was damaged by falling trees and broken in three places. Residents in the Brunner St, Princes Drive, Brook Valley and Davies Drive areas were without water on the morning of the 31st. Nelson residents were asked to cut back on water use by up to 80%. More than 1000 homes were without water on the night of the 31st. Water returned the next afternoon, but a storage tank lost its roof, adding to water supply problems. The supply returned to full operation on the 4th.
Numerous roads around Nelson, and the road up the Maitai Valley, were closed by falling trees.
The winds caused havoc, toppling hundreds of trees, bringing down powerlines, buckling street signs, smashing windows and lifting roofing iron off homes. About 300 trees were felled by winds on council land alone - some of which were significant heritage trees. On the corner of Hardy and Collingwood Sts, a protected Weeping Cyprus crashed to the ground, just missing a car that had somehow got through the police cordon and drove under the tree at the exact moment it started falling. The liquor store on the corner by the tree had been evacuated.
The wind tore off half of the roof of a new house on St Lawrence St, leaving a gaping hole in to the living room. Businesses at Wakatu Estate were hammered by gusts of wind that blew in roller doors in some premises and ripped off huge windows at Tasman Glass. The Nelson North area suffered some major losses from wind damage.
All Nelson City Council parks in Nelson were closed on the 30th because trees were being blown over, some causing damage to buildings. All sports grounds, the York Valley landfill and the Pascoe St transfer station were also closed that morning.
Some students were sheltering under a big tree by Waimea College when it came crashing down on top of them on the 30th. About six students needed help to get out from under the tree. One girl received a sprained ankle, another had her arm in a sling and another was sore, with lots of cuts and a bruised elbow, shoulder and knee.
There were gusts up to 151 km/hr at Observatory Hill on Princes Drive.
There gusts up to 102 km/hr on Blackwood St in Tahunanui.
There were gusts up to 93 km/hr on St Vincent St.
The gale averaged 74 km/hr.
Nelson Airport closed on the 30th until 9pm. 51 Air Nelson flights were cancelled on the 30th, 13 of which were scheduled to fly in and out of Nelson.
There were gusts 119 km/hr at Nelson Airport.
Heavy Rain
Only 20 mm (2 cm) of rain was recorded in Nelson on the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Richmond
At Waimea College, trees were uprooted, cars damaged and doors blown in.
High Wind / Gust
at
Stoke
Independent Middle School asked its 31 students to stay home because the school building could not be heated after a skylight was ripped off by the wind.
A 25m-tall historic tree crashed through the roof of a house in Sequoia Way, Stoke, destroying a bedroom and leaving chaos throughout the house. The tree had been at a dangerous lean but the residents had been assured by the council that it was perfectly safe. Another large sequioa tree damaged a house in Covent Drive - a large branch crashed through the roof into the master bedroom and another branch fell into the kitchen, smashing a window. At Omaio Village retirement home, a tree crashed into a resident's bedroom and left debris all over the bed. That wing suffered fairly extensive damage, including about 10 rooms being affected by water after the sprinkler system went off.
Some historic trees of Isel Park were destroyed in the storm. A 39-m giant redwood was severely damaged and a 43-m torrey pine was snapped at the base, falling across a creek and into a neighbouring backyard, just shaving the side of a house. Other trees were also damaged, some with their entire canopies blown out. Maybe one-third of Isel's heritage specimens were destroyed in the worst loss there sicne Cyclone Alison in 1975. The devastation peaked at 2.45pm when a huge gust tore through.
Multi Hazard
at
Takaka
Motupipi School in Takaka was closed due to the storm.
Multi Hazard
at
Wangapeka River
A group of tramping students and their tutor was trapped during the storm at the swollen Wangapeka River west of Nelson overnight on the 30th. They were rescued at 2am on the 31st in conditions that were so bad the rescue helicopter could not fly. The students were wet, cold, and starting to develop hypothermia.
High Wind / Gust
at
Whangamoa homestead
High winds closed SH6 at Whangamoa, between Nelson and Havelock.
West Coast
Multi Hazard
at
West Coast
Tornadoes and gale force wind gusts caused thousands of dollars worth of damage in Northern Buller on the 30th. Trees were blown down throughout the district.
The storm affected the Northern Buller district from Karamea to Waimangaroa. Westport was unaffected.
High Wind / Gust
Exhausted fire crews on the West Coast were reduced to responding only to call outs involving danger to life on the morning of the 31st because of fatigue and the danger of flying roofing iron.
The Grey District Mayor believed damage from the storm would cost the area about $1 million.
The Grey District Council estimated the wind damage to council property at $50,000.
Many houses in the Grey district were damaged, with roofs and chimneys lifted.
Massive trees were blown over throughout the West Coast. The gales destroyed about 100ha of Timberlands West Coast's trees, in the Hochstetter and Nemona forests in the Grey district and in the Mahinapua forest in Westland. Later it was discovered that the storm had also felled most of the trees in the 570ha Seddonville plantation (see Seddonville).
There were power outages across the West Coast, from Barrytown to Bruce Bay. Electricity was cut to homes from Hokitika to Fox Glacier from 7am on the 30th and power supplies in North Westland surged throughout the morning. Westpower attended to blackouts at Greymouth, Runanga, Taramakau Settlement and Lake Kaniere, mostly due to trees blowing across power lines.
Whataroa, Harihari and Franz Josef Glacier schools were all closed and the children sent home as driving conditions worsened. The bus route from Ross to Franz Josef was too dangerous to attempt, as trees had fallen along the road and strong winds made it difficult to drive. At South Westland Area School in Harihari, there were also a few sheds and fences blown down.
Townships on the outskirtsof Greymouth, including Taylorville, Runanga and Rapahoe, also had powerful winds, which ripped off roofs and blew trees over.
SH7 was closed between Springs Junction and Reefton due to high winds on the 31st. In the Buller district, De Malmanches Rd, on the Karamea side of the Mokihinui River, was closed on the morning of the 31st and Seddonville Rd was closed after trees cam down at about 3pm on the 30th. Karamea Bluff Highway had about 14 one-lane sections due to fallen trees.
Tornado
Small tornadoes were reported in Buller on the morning of the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Barrytown
At Barrytown School, the outside activities shed blew down and much of the play equipment stored in it disappeared.
High Wind / Gust
at
Birchfield
At Birchfield, south of Granity, the storm uprooted at least a dozen large trees.
High Wind / Gust
at
Coal Creek
The Coal Creek track was littered with fallen trees and would stay closed until it could be cleared.
High Wind / Gust
at
Gentle Annie Point
In Gentle Annie the wind gusted to well over 100 km/hr on the 30th. The gale wound up at 11am and peaked between 2pm and 3pm. It was the worst a resident had experienced in 32 years living there, with a noise like “100 trains at a railway station”. At times the wind was like a tornado, switching direction from the hills to the seaside.
At Gentle Annie Lodge, hurricane force gales flattened or shredded at least 800 20-year-old eucalyptus trees and flattened a large part of a 5ha pine plantation behind the lodge. The family left their house for fear of falling trees, taking shelter behind a hedge and parked cars for three hours as the wind torpedoed down the Mokihinui Valley. Trees also fell on a house next door and wiped out 200 metres of 30-year-old shelterbelt trees along Gentle Annie Rd near the lodge. The falling trees and debris damaged about a kilometre of fencing around the lodge grounds and six fallen trees struck the roof of the manager’s accommodation building, causing substantial damage. Fallen trees also damaged a ride on mower.
The gale snapped power poles and flung trees across the access road to Gentle Annie. Gentle Annie Lodge was using a generator for power on the 31st. Road access was restored on the afternoon of the 31st. Fallen trees also crushed a water tank, which cut off the lodge’s water supply.
High Wind / Gust
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Granity
In the Granity township the wind ripped tiles off several house roofs on New Rd and felled a number of trees near the railway crossing on the 30th. It also blew over two caravans at the Big Fish tavern and damaged several others. One fo the caravans was damaged beyond repair. The roof of a farm shed just south of Granity was blown off and dumped 5-10 metres away and a nearby shipping container was lifted off its foundations.
High Wind / Gust
at
Greymouth
Winds in Greymouth gusted up to 140 km/hr on the 30th.
The storm force winds that ripped through Cobden peaked at an unofficial record of 154 km/hr, recorded by a resident on the wind gauge at his Ashmore Ave home at 3.31pm on the 30th.
The average wind speed for the day was 95.4 km/hr.
The winds howled down the Grey River and through the ‘gap’ into the suburb of Cobden with such velocity that they shook brick buildings and could be heard across the river in Greymouth as a loud roar that did't let up until about 7pm on the 30th. A resident who had lived in Cobden for more than 60 years said he had never heard the wind “screaming” through the Cobden gap like it did all day. The 16-hour storm was the fiercest easterly to hit the town in 35 years.
The Greymouth suburb of Cobden received the worst of the weather on the West Coast. It looked like a war zone after terrifying high winds swept through on the 31st. The Chief Fire Officer had been in Cobden 51 years and had never seen anything like it before. The Cobden Volunteer Fire Brigade attended its first roofing problem at 4.20am and from then on rushed from street to street as more roofs lifted, sheds flew apart, debris went flying, huge trees were uprooted and there were reports of windows imploding with the force of the wind. Few parts of Cobden were untouched, with damage on Ward, Lynch, Monro, Fitzgerald and Hall streets, Domett Esplanade, Barkley Place and North Beach Road. 67 Housing NZ homes were damaged.
Winds blew off roofs in central Greymouth and the seaside suburb of Blaketown from 3pm onwards. One house lost part of the roof but suffered structural damage that twisted the house and could lead to its demolition. The West Coast Cricket Association heavy practice nets at Messenger Park in Blaketown were overturned, the mini-golf course and putting range was damaged as well as buildings at the adjoining Victoria Park raceway, and a giant Phoenix palm tree in Tainui St was snapped off at the base.
Well over 100 homes, mostly in Cobden and a few in Blaketown, were damaged.
At 11.40am the roof lifted from the Mark Jones Paint and Panel shop and wrapped itself around a power pole, cutting electricity to several streets in central Greymouth. By 2.30pm Electronet cut all power to Cobden as the situation had deteriorated so much it was considered unsafe.
Cobden School was closed at midday on the 30th to ensure the children’s safety as the winds were not expected to peak until 3pm. A few hours later the swimming pool roof was blown off.
High winds led to about 15 homes being evacuated.
Greymouth emergency services received over 100 wind-related callouts.
Tornado
Several small water spouts were whipped up by the winds but fizzled out before developing into damaging tornadoes.
High Wind / Gust
at
Heaphy Track
A major clean-up operation had to be done on the Heaphy Track. There were a lot of trees down on the track between McKay and Lewis huts and two large trees also came down on the Kohaihai section of the track.
High Wind / Gust
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Karamea
Karamea’s power lines went down about 6.30am on the 30th. Buller Electricity was forced to use emergency generators which chewed through about $9000 worth of diesel. Power was restored at 6pm on the 31st.
Multi Hazard
at
Lewis Pass
The storm toppled trees on the Lewis Pass (SH7), closing the road on the 30th. There was a minor slip that morning but it had been cleared.
Landslide
at
Lower Buller Gorge
A slip in the Buller Gorge closed the Stillwater-Westport railway line, which reopened on the 31st.
High Wind / Gust
at
Mokihinui
A resident of Mokihinui had his back porch blown off at about 10am on the 30th and high winds also flattened a staff building under construction near Mokihinui’s Rough and Tumble Lodge and damaged hundreds of their trees. The wind also appeared to have felled or damaged many trees in the Department of Conservation land around the lodge.
High Wind / Gust
at
Point Elizabeth Walkway
Swathes of trees were flattened on the popular Point Elizabeth track. The track was closed at the Rapahoe end while crews cleared away the fallen trees.
High Wind / Gust
at
Seddonville
A tractor shed roof was blown off, causing about $10,000 damage and another man's hay shed was blown away. A pine plantation near Seddonville was decimated in the storm, with at least 1000 damaged trees needing to be removed.
Seddonville was without power from midday on the 30th until late afternoon on the 31st.
Charming Creek Rd was closed due to debris on the 30th and 31st. The section of road closed didn't serve any residential property.
The storm felled most of the trees in Timberlands' 570ha Seddonville plantation. The gales cost it a year’s worth of logs from trees due for harvest from 2011-2017. Their loss would cost Timberlands between $750,000 and $1 million, not including potential clean-up costs.
Tornado
A Seddonville resident saw one tornado coming through the hills, felling pine trees as it went.
High Wind / Gust
at
Stockton
A digger and a light vehicle parked close to the ridgeline at Stockton opencast mine had windows either sucked or blown out on the afternoon of the 30th. A chained-down instrument shelter also blew away.
High Wind / Gust
at
Wangapeka Track
The Wangapeka Track was hit by the storm but had less fallen trees than on the McKay to Lewis section of the Heaphy Track.
High Wind / Gust
at
Westport
Gale force winds ripped through properties in Westport on the morning of the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
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Whataroa
High winds toppled a heavy truck at Whataroa.
Canterbury
Multi Hazard
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Canterbury
North Canterbury bore the brunt of what local forecasters described as one of the worst storms in the past 30 years.
Damage in North Cantebrury from the storm included tracks being wiped out, slips, livestock losses and damaged fences. An estimated 80 farms were badly affected in North Canterbury with some losing all their flood gates. There was a tremendous amount of work to be done in the Cheviot, Omihi and Waiau regions including kilometres of fencing that had to be cleared of debris. Debris left behind by flood waters covered 70% of one 190-hectare property.
The inland road from SH1 at Parnassus to Waiau was closed because of flooding and the risk of slips at about 7pm. The Inland road from Kaikoura to Waiau was also closed, taking months to be fully operational again after the devastation of heavy rains. It had major slips and cracking to the surface of the road in several sections and the main cause of the closure was about 100,000 cubic metres of dirt and debris that had slipped on to the road at the Whale Bone, about 28km east of Waiau. As at the 14th August it was gated, with only landowners and those working on the road provided with keys. From 3pm on the 12th September, a single lane was opened, operated by traffic lights. It was expected to be open to two lanes of traffic in mid-November.
The Hurunui District Council had estimated the floods in July to cost $1.5 million.
The early-August rains in North Canterbury caused slips and flooding that cost the New Zealand Transport Agency nearly $1 million.
Flooding
There was extensive surface flooding in the Kaikoura district and the Waimakariri district on the 31st. The Waimakariri district was particularly hard hit. Leithfield Beach, Amberley, Amberley Beach and Rangiora were among those affected by flooding.
More than 150 people in settlements in the Waimakariri and Hurunui districts, including Amberley Beach, Sefton, Woodend and Waikuku, were evacuated with rising floodwaters on the 31st. Most of them had returned home by the morning of the 1st.
Severe flooding and swollen rivers closed SH1 between Blenheim and Woodend north of Christchurch on the 31st. The Hurunui Rd bridge on SH1 was under water. Many roads in urban and rural areas in Canterbury were closed on the 31st. Roads around the Waimakariri river were all flooded. Roading contractors were running short on signs to cover the extent of flooding and road closures all over Canterbury.
All Selwyn River fords were closed on the 1st and there was still some surface water on roads.
Small creeks in the Omarama and Kurow areas burst their banks on the 31st.
The Mid Canterbury plains were saturated and steady rain caused ponding in many areas on the 31st.
In the Waimate district, many roads had surface water and fords were closed.
Schools throughout North Canterbury, including Rangiora High School, were shut on the 31st. Several schools around the Ashburton district were closed for the day and others sent children home early, concerned at the deteriorating condition of roads.
Canterbury was dealing with contaminated water supplies after the flooding.
In the Waimakariri District, about four to six properties were badly damaged.
High Wind / Gust
There were also trees and debris being blown across roads in the North Canterbury area.
Heavy Rain
Heavy rain continued on the Kaikoura Coast and in Canterbury on the morning of the 31st.
The storm swelled streams and rivers from Kaikoura to Amberley.
Canterbury received more than double its usual rainfall for the month of July.
Snow / Ice
Snow closed SH8 between Fairlie and Twizel on the 31st. There were reports of several vehicles leaving the road at Burkes Pass. It reopened just before 1pm on the 31st.
SH8 from Omarama to Tarras was closed due to snow on the morning of the 1st.
Flooding
at
Akaroa
A unit in Akaroa was flooded overnight on the 30th, forcing the residents to leave their home.
Flooding
at
Amberley
Some houses were flooded in Amberley and others had water right up to their front doors after steady heavy rain throughout the night of the 30th. About a dozen houses had severe flood damage.
Up to 20 people were evacuated in the Amberley area after houses were flooded.
About half of the town's businesses were shut as well as the schools and pre-schools.
Roads around Amberley were affected by surface flooding.
Locals said the Kowai River was running at its highest level since 1975.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Amberley Beach
More than 60 Amberley Beach residents were evacuated on the afternoon of the 31st ahead of the high tide at 3:20pm, which was expected to flood the settlement, although it didn't. One-third of the residents in the evacuated area had refused to budge. 30 people were allowed to return home on the night of the 31st.
A lagoon near the Amberley Beach settlement flooded 20 homes on the western side of Grierson Ave. One resident had about 8 cm of water flowing around her house when she left.
Flooding
at
Ashburton
SH1 was closed between Rakaia and Ashburton by flooding run-off from paddocks from early morning on the 31st until late afternoon.
South-east of Ashburton, paddocks were awash, with every divot and compression turned into a puddle or a pond. The Ashburton River was well up.
Carters Creek had created flooding problems.
Seafield Creek and the Tuarangi Drain poured water onto Tuarangi Road properties on the 31st.
Multi Hazard
at
Banks Peninsula
A number of roads on Banks Peninsula were affected by slips and debris, including parts of the Akaroa Summit Road, Bossu Road, and Pipers Valley Road. There was severe flooding in the Akaroa Inner harbour with Alymers Valley Rd and Takamatua Bay Rd closed due to slips, and Beach Road partially closed due to slips.
Snow / Ice
at
Burkes Pass
There was 5 to 7.5 cm of snow through the Rollesby Valley near Burkes Pass on the 31st.
Flooding
at
Cheviot
There was flooding on roads around Cheviot.
Multi Hazard
Doug Archbold, a retired Cheviot farmer who's taken weather readings in the area for more than 40 years, assessed the storm as a 1-in-20 or 1-in-30 year event.
Heavy Rain
at
Christchurch
Christchurch received 50 mm (5 cm) of rain in the 12 hours to 9am on the 31st.
Flooding
The Avon and Heathcote Rivers in Christchurch city were full to the brim. There was flooding from the Avon River on one section of Avonside Drive near Robson Ave on the 31st and surface flooding on northern Christchurch roads at Northwood, William Pickering Dr, Pound Rd, Orions Rd and Hussey Rd. There was also some flooding in Karamu St in Ilam and a number of streets around the Heathcote River in the Beckenham/ Opawa/ Woolston area.
Flooding damaged a Hoon Hay Valley Road property in the suburb of Kennedys Bush overnight on the 31st.
Ilam School in Christchurch was shut because of surface flooding.
Flooding
at
Dromore
Water was across the highway at Dromore on the 31st.
Flooding
at
Dry Creek
Dry Creek had created flooding problems.
Flooding
at
Geraldine
The Waihi River in Geraldine was full on the morning of the 31st, and low-lying paddocks were under water between Geraldine and Orari Bridge.
Heavy Rain
at
Greta Valley
304 mm (30 cm) of rain fell in 24 hours on a Greta Valley farm on the south side of the SH1 Hurunui River bridge.
Flooding
On the farm, floods took out fences, floodgates and pumps, caused slips and damaged new pasture.
Flooding
at
Hanmer Springs
There was surface flooding around the town of Hanmer Springs on the 30th.
Heavy Rain
Hanmer Springs had 284 mm (28.4 cm) of rain in the month of July.
Flooding
at
Hawarden
There was flooding on roads around Hawarden.
Flooding
at
Hinds
Farrells Crossing over the Hinds River was washed out. The sunshine bridge was expected to be out at least a week, meaning school buses and locals that use the crossing would have to use alternative routes.
Flooding
at
Hinds River
Options for crossing the Hinds River were reduced by mid morning on the 31st when access roads to river bridges at Boundary, Winslow and Hackthorn Roads washed out. The bridges were likely to be out for at least a week, as river levels would have to drop significantly before work could begin on reconstructing the approaches.
The Hinds River was in full flood on the 1st, with reports of one motorist attempting to cross and having to abandon his vehicle.
Multi Hazard
at
Kaikoura
There were slips and localised flooding in Kaikoura. The Kaikoura Volunteer Fire Brigade had 10 weather-related callouts, including one evacuation because of flooding and about five callouts to divert water on properties.
A major slip occurred at 5:30pm on the 31st at Billy Goat Bay, 10 kilometres south of Kaikoura, adding to problems on SH1. It was still closed from south of Kaikoura to Cheviot on the 1st August. One lane was opened for brief periods on the 2nd but the road wasn't fully reopened until the 5th. Some cars were stranded along the highway after their motors were flooded.
Rural schools closed early on the 30th and Kaikoura High School and St Joseph's Primary School were closed on the 31st because of surface water flooding.
Maritime / Coastal
The main road at each end of the town was closed on the 31st. It had seaweed on it that morning after the high tide washed across the road way.
Flooding
Roads had been scoured out and two culverts were washed out. Two bridges were closed after their approaches were washed away - Greenbone Bridge on Scotts Rd, and Smiths Bridge on Dairy Farm Rd.
One occupant from an Old Beach Rd house was evacuated by the fire brigade on the night of the 30th as water had entered his house.
Heavy Rain
Heavy rain had hammered Kaikoura since noon on the 30th.
Farmers had 190 mm (19 cm) and 140 mm (14 cm) of rain by 9.30pm on the 30th.
Kaikoura received 143.8 mm (14.4 cm) of rain on the 30th - almost 75 percent of the months' rainfall.
Around 240 mm (24 cm) of rain had fallen on the Kaikoura coast up till the 31st.
There was around 80 mm (8 cm) of rain along the Kaikoura Coast in the 12 hours to 9am on the 31st.
One farm in the Puhipuhi Valley recorded 350 mm (35 cm) in a 30-hour period beginning on the 30th.
Kaikoura had 208 mm (20.8 cm) of rain in the month of July.
Flooding
at
Kimbell
Roads around Kimbell were running with water on the 31st.
Snow / Ice
at
Lake Tekapo
There was 20 cm of snow at Tekapo on the 31st.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Leithfield Beach
Some residents at Leithfield Beach were also told to leave their homes.
Landslide
at
Lyttelton
Numerous roads around the Port Hills and Lyttelton inner harbour were badly affected by slips.
Landslide
at
Mangamaunu
There were slips north of Mangamaunu on SH1.
Snow / Ice
at
Meikleburn Saddle
There was about 15 cm of snow on the Meikleburn Saddle inland from Fairlie on the 31st.
Heavy Rain
at
Methven
Since 9am on the 31st, 60 mm (6 cm) of rain had fallen in Methven .
163 mm (16.3 cm) of rain had fallen in Methven in the month of July by 4pm on the 31st. Rain had fallen on 10 of the last 12 days.
Flooding
at
Mount Cass homestead
At the Kate Valley landfill, about 11,000cu m of tainted water triggered monitoring equipment at the landfill on the 4th August, four days after torrential rain and flooding. Trucks took the tainted water from Kate Valley to the Bromley sewage treatment plant, with the total cost of moving the contaminated water believed to be about $220,000.
Snow / Ice
at
Mt Hutt Skifield
A snowboarder got lost on Mt Hutt in shocking weather on the night of the 29th and suffered cuts, bruises and hypothermia. It was below bad visibility conditions on Mt Hutt. He was found and airlifted off the mountain at 9:30am on the 30th.
Flooding
at
Overdale
Water was across the highway at Overdale on the 31st.
Flooding
at
Rakaia
Water was across the highway on Thompson’s Track near Rakaia on the 31st and one end of the Rakaia Rugby Club’s main field was under water.
Flooding
at
Rangiora
Rangiora’s Northbrook Museum had 6-8 cm of water running through it.
Flooding
at
Sefton
One house suffered severe flooding in Upper Sefton. The couple stepped out of bed to find the carpets floating, the blankets that had slipped off the bed were sodden and personal items were floating around the rooms. Water was also flowing through garages at a Railway St home.
12 people were evacuated from eight Sefton houses to the school hall at about 3am on the 30th. They were allowed to return home at 8:30am the next morning.
Landslide
at
Sign of the Kiwi
A slip just below the Sign of the Kiwi closed part of Dyers Pass Road on the Port Hills on the 1st August.
Heavy Rain
at
Timaru
All sports grounds in the Timaru district were closed until further notice. A number of secondary schools closed at lunchtime on the 31st as a precautionary measure - they were Mountainview High School, Timaru Boys and Girls high schools and Roncalli College. Bus students at Opihi College were sent home about mid-day.
Heavy rainfall on the 31st inundated Timaru's sewer system and saw water supplies cut off at their intakes. Stormwater infiltrated the town's sewer system in known problem areas such as Grasmere St.
Flooding
South Canterbury's firefighters only had two flood-related calls - on Poplar St in Timaru.
Heavy Rain
at
Winchmore
With one day still to go in the month, rainfall at Winchmore was two and a half times the normal July rainfall, with 154.2 mm (15.4 cm) at 9am on the 31st.
Otago
Flooding
at
Otago
SH1 between Oamaru and Maheno and between Waitaki and Pukeuri Junction was closed due to flooding with detours in place on the 31st. The section between Maheno and Oamaru was closed at 3:50pm. The section between Waitaki and Pukeuri Junction was still closed on the 2nd.
First alarms were activated by the rising Kakanui River, Shag River and Silverstream on the morning of the 31st.
Surface flooding closed roads in the Waiareka and Kakanui Valleys, around Herbert, Dunback, Duntroon, Waikouaiti and Waihola and on the outskirts of Dunedin and Milton on the 31st. Roads still closed on the 1st included Portobello Rd, part of Highcliff Rd, the Braeside intersection with Quarry Road, Silverstream Valley Road, Three Mile Hill Road and McGrath Road in Waikouaiti.
Multi Hazard
The Main South Line just north of Dunedin was closed on the 31st.
Pupils at schools in East Taieri, Oamaru and Palmerston were sent home early on the 31st.
Heavy Rain
Otago endured its 12th straight day of rain on the 1st August. More rain fell on parts of Otago in less than 24 hours during the storm than usually falls during the whole of July. A couple of rain gauges in north Otago had between 70 mm - 110 mm during the storm.
The rain led to early cancellations of some Saturday sports events.
Maritime / Coastal
The storm brought large waves along the North Otago coast at high tide.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Allanton
The main railway line was closed south of Dunedin on the night of the 1st because of a 900 m area of tidal flooding from the Taieri River, south of Allanton.
Flooding
at
Clifton Falls homestead
The Kakanui River at Clifton Falls Bridge peaked at nearly 100 cumecs at 4pm on the 31st.
Landslide
at
The Cove
Portobello Rd was closed overnight on the 31st by a large slip that was a couple of metres deep. The slip dislodged a large tree from a bank on to a ditchdigger, just before the driver started working, near The Cove about 10.30pm. The digger was left balanced on a 45degree angle on the edge of the sea wall near Challis Point and a truck beside it had its front window smashed by the tree. Portobello Rd reopened at about 6pm on the 1st.
Flooding
at
Deborah
A detour was put in place when a blocked drain under the railway overbridge at Deborah closed SH1 between the Oamaru boundary and Deborah about 3.50pm on the 31st.
Flooding
at
Dunedin
A number of homes in Dunedin needed assistance from the Fire Service on the night of the 31st as water began coming up through the floor boards.
Several homes in Manor Place lost power after an underground substation was flooded on the 1st. Twenty or 30 homes in Arthur St, central Dunedin, were affected by a weather-related transformer failure on the morning of the 1st.
Heavy Rain
1.2 mm (0.1 cm) of rain fell on Dunedin in the hour between 3pm and 4pm on the 31st.
40.2 mm (4 cm) of rain fell in Dunedin from 4am to 8pm (16 hours) on the 31st.
About 24 mm (2.4 cm) of rain fell in Dunedin overnight on the 31st.
4.2 mm (0.4 cm) of rain fell in Dunedin in the hour between 10pm and 11pm on the 31st.
Heavy Rain
at
Dunedin Airport
30.4 mm (3 cm) of rain fell at Dunedin International Airport from 4am to 8pm (16 hours) on the 31st.
Flooding
at
East Taieri
East Taieri School was closed at 11am on the 31st when the Owhiro Stream, which runs through the school grounds, rose to the top of its banks.
Flooding
at
The Grange homestead
The Shag River at The Grange was flowing at 141 cumecs at 5pm on the 31st, compared with only 5 cumecs at 8am.
Flooding
at
Macandrew Bay
The pump house at Macandrew Bay School was flooded overnight on the 31st.
Landslide
Numerous slips between Company and Macandrew Bays closed Portobello Rd in places between Castlewood Rd and Dunedin.
Landslide
Some Macandrew Bay residents were without water on the night of the 1st after the water main was crushed in two places by moving earth.
Flooding
at
Milton
On the afternoon of the 1st, parts of Shakespeare and Dryden streets were closed to traffic due to surface flooding. Other roads in the Milton/Bruce area closed to flooding were North Branch Rd, Butts Rd, Table Hill Rd, Toko Mouth Rd and Akatore Rd.
Flooding
at
Mosgiel
The Silver Stream peaked at 78 cumecs at 4pm on the 31st and started to drop, but the sustained rain saw it remain at about 75-77 cumecs.
Heavy Rain
at
Oamaru
3 mm (0.3 cm) of rain fell on Oamaru in the hour between 3pm and 4pm on the 31st.
52 mm (5.2 cm) of rain fell in Oamaru from 4am to 8pm (16 hours) on the 31st.
One person had to be evacuated to a neighbour's property by Oamaru's fire service on the night of the 31st after a retaining wall in Douglas Tce started to collapse.
Landslide
at
Otago Peninsula
The two main access roads to the Otago Peninsula were cut off on the morning of the 1st by multiple slips caused by persistent rain over the last 24 hours. The sodden Otago Peninsula was described as 'very unstable'.
Multi Hazard
at
Papakaio
Papakaio School was closed all day on the 31st.
Multi Hazard
at
Portobello
The settlement of Portobello was without power on the morning of the 1st. About 200 residents were affected.
Flooding
at
Purakaunui
Two homes in the coastal settlement of Purakaunui had floodwater lapping up to their floorboards and had to be evacuated.
Landslide
at
Sandymount
There were slips in Sandymount and Seal Point Rd overnight on the 31st. A major slip brought down a power line and closed Highcliff Rd between Portobello and Pukehiki until about 6pm on the 1st.
Power was disrupted to about 200 customers after the power line came down on Highcliff Rd.
Flooding
at
Waikouaiti
The alternative route from Waikouaiti to Hawksbury via McGrath Rd was closed due to flooding on the 31st.
References
- Headline: Weather problems begin in Northland.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: RadioLIVE, 30 July 2008, 5:45am.
- Headline: Storm causes disruption in the north, now on its way south.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: NZPA and RadioLIVE, 30 July 2008, 1:30pm.
- Headline: Tornado takes Mount Maunganui residents by surprise.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 30 July 2008, 5:34pm.
- Headline: Homes evacuated as slip threatens properties.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 30 July 2008, 5:46pm.
- Headline: Wild weather turns its sights on Levin.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 30 July 2008, 6:02pm.
- Headline: Landslip threatens to destroy Auckland homes.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 30 July 2008, 11:32pm.
- Headline: Wild weather hits South Island.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 30 July 2008, 11:34pm.
- Headline: Extreme weather leaves big cleanup and cuts water supply.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 31 July 2008, 6:58pm.
- Headline: Families evacuated after slip threatens to destroy homes.
- www.3news.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 8:21pm.
- Headline: 57 passengers injured on cruise ship following rough seas.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 31 July 2008, 11:31pm.
- Headline: Slip damaged home owners may have to stay away six months.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: RadioLIVE, 1 August 2008, 7:21am.
- Headline: Quieter night for emergency services, country cleaning up.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: RadioLIVE, 1 August 2008, 7:46am.
- Headline: Homeowners near slip face uncertain future.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 1 August 2008, 10:12am.
- Headline: Residents begin heading home after storm enforced evacuation.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 1 August 2008, 5:47pm.
- Headline: MetService warns more bad weather on the way.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 1 August 2008, 7:10pm.
- Headline: Third storm in a week batters the country.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 2 August 2008, 5:50pm.
- Headline: Rainy weather causing slips across Auckland region.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 26 August 2008, 6:39pm.
- Headline: Cold night on the mountain.
- www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Floods hit roads, rivers.
- www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Tuarangi flooding woes continue.
- www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: What slides beneath?
- www.theaucklander.co.nz, 13 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm batters Bay of Plenty.
- www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: Mini tornado 'sounded like a train'.
- www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Slip puts Bay homes on the brink.
- www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Millions claimed for storm-damaged houses.
- www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz, 12 August 2008.
- Headline: Tree crashes on to home.
- www.dailypost.co.nz, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: 21 locals stuck on terrifying cruise.
- www.dailypost.co.nz, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: July's weather cold, wet, windy in Rotorua.
- www.dailypost.co.nz, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Coast cops it as the storm blows through.
- www.gisborneherald.co.nz, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Some roads still closed or marginal.
- www.gisborneherald.co.nz, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Heavy rain swells river levels.
- www.gisborneherald.co.nz, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Collapse of bank causes problems on accessway.
- www.gisborneherald.co.nz, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Wild, windy Wednesday.
- www.greystar.co.nz, Source: Greymouth Star, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: Wild winds pack punch.
- www.greystar.co.nz, Source: Greymouth Star, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Cobden folk tell of terror.
- www.greystar.co.nz, Source: Greymouth Star, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Volunteers bus in for cleanup.
- www.greystar.co.nz, Source: Greymouth Star, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Coastal areas on alert as storm hits.
- www.hbtoday.co.nz, Source: Hawke's Bay Today, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: Bay soaked.
- www.hbtoday.co.nz, Source: Hawke's Bay Today, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Flooding traps kids at school.
- www.hbtoday.co.nz, Source: Hawke's Bay Today, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Huge tree turns home invader.
- www.hbtoday.co.nz, Source: Hawke's Bay Today, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Dream-cruise nightmare II.
- www.hbtoday.co.nz, Source: Hawke's Bay Today, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm cost $46m.
- Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 January 2009.
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.). (2008). Climate summary for Winter 2008. Newsletter 114, September 2008. 9-10
- Headline: Tornadoes hit N. Buller.
- The News, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: 'It came through like a hurricane'.
- The News, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Winds flatten new building.
- The News, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Big clean-up continues.
- The News, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Tree owners assess storm cost.
- The News, 5 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm cost TWC a year's harvest.
- The News, 12 August 2008.
- Headline: Clean-up continues.
- The News, 12 August 2008.
- Headline: Heavy rain warning for North.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 29 July 2008, 12:28pm.
- Headline: Storm wreaks havoc in Northland.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 7:36am.
- Headline: Road closure lists.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 8:48am.
- Headline: Storm lashes Tauranga; road closure info.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 10:28am.
- Headline: Tornado hits Mount Maunganui.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 12:08pm.
- Headline: Woman's body found in Far North river.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 1:16pm.
- Headline: Woman likely drowned trying to cross river.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 2:00pm.
- Headline: Thousands without power.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 3:32pm.
- Headline: Around 10,000 still without power.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 4:20pm.
- Headline: Civil Defence Emergency in Marlborough.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 5:08pm.
- Headline: Slip threatens homes in Torbay.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 5:08pm.
- Headline: Storm drenches Canterbury area.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 2:12am.
- Headline: Weather clean up continues after storm.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 5:48am.
- Headline: Evacuations as storm continues to bite.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 9:15am.
- Headline: Weather woes continue.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 10:52am.
- Headline: Gisborne CD surprised at level of damage.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 11:48am.
- Headline: 5000 homes still without power.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 12:36pm.
- Headline: 40 people injured on cruise ship in storm.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 12:40pm.
- Headline: Fourteen houses on North shore at risk.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 12:56pm.
- Headline: Greymouth looks like war zone.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 1:20pm.
- Headline: Clean-up in Horowhenua; flood threat for Waikato.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 2:56pm.
- Headline: Clean up after storm underway.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 6:12am.
- Headline: Heavy rain warning for Tararua Ranges.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 8:08am.
- Headline: Far North storm damage estimate - $6m.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 10:32am.
- Headline: Slips and power lines cause problems.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 12:20pm.
- Headline: Trip was not a "cruise" for many passengers.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 1:00pm.
- Headline: Water back for Nelson homes.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 2:00pm.
- Headline: Fate of homes remains unknown.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 2 August 2008, 8:16am.
- Headline: Storm bill could reach $50m.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 2 August 2008, 10:28am.
- Headline: Storms continue to cause problems.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 2 August 2008, 11:36am.
- Headline: Electricity returning to Kapiti Coast homes.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 2 August 2008, 12:08pm.
- Headline: Levin water warning.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 2 August 2008, 4:16pm.
- Headline: Power still off for 50.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 3 August 2008, 5:08pm.
- Headline: Rural Report for Tuesday, August 12, 2008.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 12 August 2008, 11:44am.
- Headline: Help at hand from Taskforce Green.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 16 August 2008, 12:20pm.
- Headline: Waiau/ Kaikoura inland road to open today.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 12 September 2008, 11:12am.
- Headline: Storm closes 24 schools - Northland spared the worst.
- www.northernadvocate.co.nz, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: Woman dies in flood - search continues for second body.
- www.northernadvocate.co.nz, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Cut off! Masses of mud moved off highways.
- www.northernadvocate.co.nz, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Rescuers soldier on as storm takes toll.
- www.northernadvocate.co.nz, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Fears grow for man swept away in flood.
- www.northernadvocate.co.nz, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Man's home wrecked by gale.
- www.northernadvocate.co.nz, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm victim's body recovered.
- www.northernadvocate.co.nz, 5 August 2008.
- Headline: $10m and counting - costs are mounting after the storms.
- www.northernadvocate.co.nz, 6 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm damage curbs plans.
- www.northernadvocate.co.nz, 18 August 2008.
- Headline: Missing hunters safe and well.
- northnz.co.nz, Source: Northland Age, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: A parting shot from the weather gods.
- northnz.co.nz, Source: Northland Age, 7 August 2008.
- Headline: Tornado hits Mount Maunganui.
- home.nzcity.co.nz, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: More homes evacuated on North Shore.
- home.nzcity.co.nz, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Stay home warning as storm powers up.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 30 July 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Floods, slips and debris block roads.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 30 July 2008, 8:58am.
- Headline: Latest storm updates.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald, NZPA and Newstalk ZB, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: Tornado hits Tauranga, Mt Maunganui as storm blocks roads.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 30 July 2008, 11:35am.
- Headline: Slip destroys house, threatens others as storm wreaks havoc.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 30 July 2008, 5:43pm.
- Headline: A disaster waiting to happen.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Coromandel due for short respite.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Mini-tornado causes major damage.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Forty treated after ship rolls in heavy weather.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 31 July 2008, 12:13pm.
- Headline: Latest storm updates.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald, NZPA and Newstalk ZB, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: 42 injured after cruise liner hit by NZ storm.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB, 31 July 2008, 3:31pm.
- Headline: Canterbury coastal town evacuated.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 31 July 2008, 3:45pm.
- Headline: P and O may pay storm-hit passengers.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Missing man presumed drowned.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 1 August 2008, 10:31am.
- Headline: Landslips leave house owners up in the air.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 2 August 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Insurance costs spiral as third storm nears.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB, 2 August 2008, 12:51pm.
- Headline: Swanson slip could be catastrophic, says mayor.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 4 August 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Up and away ... beach tower dodges the waves.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 8 August 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Relief on way as food costs set to ease.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 26 August 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Two Auckland homes abandoned after slips.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 14 October 2008, 4:14pm.
- Headline: Heavy rain to continue.
- www.odt.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 4:27pm.
- Headline: Heavy rain and flooding hamper motorists.
- www.odt.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 5:58pm.
- Headline: Evacuees head home, rain to continue.
- www.odt.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 8:59pm.
- Headline: Otago Peninsula 'very unstable'.
- www.otd.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 5:02am.
- Headline: Flood of emergency work.
- www.odt.co.nz, 2 August 2008, 5:02am.
- Headline: Police identify body of man in creek.
- www.otd.co.nz, 5 August 2008, 6:50pm.
- Headline: Approaching storm promises more heavy rain.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 6:10am.
- Headline: Highway conditions.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 7:34am.
- Headline: Watch on rivers.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 8:25am.
- Headline: Storm moving south-east.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 9:00am.
- Headline: Watch being kept on Ohinemuri River.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 9:42am.
- Headline: SH1 in Dome Valley about to reopen.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 11:59am.
- Headline: Power cuts.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 12:54pm.
- Headline: Worst of Coromandel flooding now over.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 12:54pm.
- Headline: Mini tornado in Mt Maunganui.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 1:12pm.
- Headline: Wind warning in Levin - stay inside.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 1:45pm.
- Headline: Search launched for partner of dead woman.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 5:22pm.
- Headline: Storm's wrath felt from Northland to Nelson.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 5:32pm.
- Headline: Overnight watch by Civil Defence.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 6:53am.
- Headline: Storm: North Canterbury's turn.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 8:06am.
- Headline: Road and rail links disrupted.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 10:02am.
- Headline: Lower South Island braces for storm.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 10:31am.
- Headline: Torbay slip seen as accident waiting to happen.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 1:24pm.
- Headline: Flooding in Amberley.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 1:24pm.
- Headline: Treatment needed for cruise ship passengers.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 1:41pm.
- Headline: Torbay residents wait.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 7:14am.
- Headline: Otago rivers receding.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 7:36am.
- Headline: South Island main trunk line and SH1 closed.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 8:58am.
- Headline: Care advised on Otago Peninsula.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 9:38am.
- Headline: Houses in Waitakere evacuated.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 10:16am.
- Headline: Fonterra sends emergency team to no-power areas.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 10:58am.
- Headline: Storm rain exceeds July total for Otago.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 1:36pm.
- Headline: Storm-hit dairy farmers forced to share generators.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 2 August 2008, 1:48pm.
- Headline: More Torbay residents allowed back home after slip.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 3 August 2008, 2:12pm.
- Headline: Slips, road closures as stormy weather returns.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 4 August 2008, 7:42am.
- Headline: After the deluge.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 4 August 2008, 9:12pm.
- Headline: River management coping well with heavy rainfall.
- www.scoop.co.nz, Source: Environment Waikato, 30 July, 10:57am.
- Headline: Flooding across Hastings District.
- www.scoop.co.nz, Source: Hastings District Council, 30 July, 2:00pm.
- Headline: High tide could cause further flooding.
- www.scoop.co.nz, Source: Christchurch City Council, 31 July, 2:03pm.
- Headline: Heavy rainfall causes localised flooding.
- www.scoop.co.nz, Source: Hamilton City Council, 31 July, 2:56pm.
- Headline: Auckland people rise to the top.
- www.scoop.co.nz, Source: Civil Defence Emergency Management, 5 August, 11:35am.
- Headline: Swanson Stream Slip.
- www.scoop.co.nz, Source: Waitakere City, 12 August, 5:26pm.
- Headline: Flood warning: Stock up on food and water.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA and Whangarei Leader, 29 July 2008, 11:48am.
- Headline: Slip blocks off top of Northland.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: Severe storm drenching North Island.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 30 July 2008, 8.05am.
- Headline: Road closures.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: AA and NZ Police, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: Flooding pressure on Thames Hospital.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: Woman swept to death, partner missing.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Fairfax Media and NZPA, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: Storm hits South Island after North lashed.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Fairfax Media, Dominion Post, Waikato Times, The Press and NZPA, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: Storm turns its fury south.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Fairfax Media and NZPA, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: Road closures.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Emergency engineering as landslide threatens homes.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Nightmare at sea for cruise ship passengers.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 31 July 2008, 12:24pm.
- Headline: Big storm one people will remember - weather analyst.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Greymouth residents assess damage.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: No relief as more floods threaten.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, The Press and NZPA, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Foot, fingers lost in horror cruise.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 1 August 2008, 3:30pm.
- Headline: Vacated North Shore residents waiting out the rain.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Relief for stranded motorists near Kaikoura.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Fresh landslip threatens homes in Auckland.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 3 August 2008.
- Headline: Body found six days after pair drowned.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 4 August 2008.
- Headline: Near record rainfall in July.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 4 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm sweeps down country.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: Woman swept away in river, man missing.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Storm cuts swath of destruction.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Wait continues for anxious landslip residents.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Scramble to restore power as rain looms.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Levin community isolated without power, support.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, 5 August 2008.
- Headline: After the rains, the tornado.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, 5 August 2008.
- Headline: We `got off very lightly'.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Kaikoura Star, 6 August 2008.
- Headline: Gales hit power, trees, roofs.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Dangerous time for truckies.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Massive tree slams into cars.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Winds cause bedlam in valley.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Slow road to recovery.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Moxhan's muddy misery.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm plays havoc with electricity.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 4 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm clean-up begins.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 4 August 2008.
- Headline: Locals asked to save water.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 4 August 2008.
- Headline: Man's brush with death as car swept away by floods.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 4 August 2008.
- Headline: Power cut leaves land drenched.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 4 August 2008.
- Headline: Homes left flooded for weeks.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 19 August 2008.
- Headline: Long way to go, but smelly flood clearing.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 20 August 2008.
- Headline: Firemen rescue pair trapped in ute.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Health fears in wake of heavy flooding.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 31 July 2008, 2:35pm.
- Headline: Emergency services pleased with effort.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 31 July 2008, 2:35pm.
- Headline: Picton straight into the clean up.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 31 July 2008, 2:35pm.
- Headline: Slips on coastal road being cleared.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: House may be doomed.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 4 August 2008.
- Headline: Rail should finally reopen today.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 5 August 2008.
- Headline: Reserve, tracks still shut after July flooding.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 12 August 2008.
- Headline: Inland road fix to take months.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 14 August 2008.
- Headline: July flood victims still waiting to go home.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 10 September 2008.
- Headline: Taylor Dam reserve to open in a few months.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 26 September 2008.
- Headline: Roadwork to cost $3.2m.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 8 Octobert 2008.
- Headline: Students 'thought we were going to die' when tree fell.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Huge clean-up begins.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Historic tree smashes into home.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Hira may face third night with no power.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Weather creates unwelcome visitors.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm to cost millions.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Battle to fix water supply.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 4 August 2008.
- Headline: Thar she flows repaired water pipe eased into service.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 4 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm leaves foresters with massive bill.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 7 August 2008.
- Headline: Flattened trees a dicey job for loggers.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 9 August 2008.
- Headline: A living legacy uprooted.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 9 August 2008.
- Headline: Tree fears remain after big storm.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 19 August 2008.
- Headline: EQC pays out for July storm damage.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 25 November 2008.
- Headline: Happy people return to Taylor reserve.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Nelson Mail, 17 December 2008.
- Headline: Wicked weather kills big rimu.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: North Shore Times, 12 August 2008.
- Headline: Snowboarder safe and well after night on Mt Hutt.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 30 July 2008.
- Headline: South Island battered by storm.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 30 July 2008, 8:15pm.
- Headline: Killer storm sweeps rain and chaos south.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Christchurch residents warned about driving.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 31 July 2008, 10:39am.
- Headline: Civil Defence says damage to continue for up to 17 hours.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 31 July 2008, 10:56am.
- Headline: Town evacuated as Canterbury drenched.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, Dominion Post and NZPA, 31 July 2008, 3:04pm.
- Headline: Tornado victims of 2005 suffer repeat of wind damage.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Tales of lucky escapes in wild weather.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Otago gets its turn as storm heads south.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: By turf, pipe, fence post, the water rose.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Rain warnings lifted as storm peters out.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press and NZPA, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Gales smash over 100 houses.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Third storm hits Taranaki.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Flood upsets quiet life.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Roads stay closed, rivers run high despite sun.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 4 August 2008.
- Headline: Questions beg answers in aftermath of flooding.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 4 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm bill in millions this winter.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 26 August 2008.
- Headline: Climate change not to blame for storms.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 27 August 2008.
- Headline: $3m flood bill expected in Canterbury.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 28 August 2008.
- Headline: No end in sight for flood-hit family.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 6 September 2008.
- Headline: Rains leave costly scars on couple's Greta Valley farm.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 20 September 2008.
- Headline: Dirty water taken from landfill site.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 28 October 2008.
- Headline: Storm tail lashes Mosgiel.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Southland Times, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Milton sighs relief as water levels recede.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Southland Times, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Nature's fury hits harbour.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Drilling rig seeks shelter from storm.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Soggy end to year after the big dry start.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Taranaki Daily News, 7 January 2009.
- Headline: Hut residents on evacuation alert.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Timaru Herald, 1 August 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Downpour troubles sewers.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Timaru Herald, 1 August 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: SC soaks up the storm.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Timaru Herald, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Worst over - and Waikato mops up.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Waikato Times, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Sewage shuts down city primary school .
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Waikato Times, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Flooding prompts higher floors.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Whangarei Leader, 5 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm the talk of the town.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Whangarei Leader, 5 August 2008.
- Headline: Storm begins battering North Island.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News and Newstalk ZB, 29 July 2008, 6:27pm.
- Headline: Slips cut off roads to Northland.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 30 July 2008, 8:17am.
- Headline: North Island lashed by new storm.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News and Newstalk ZB, 30 July 2008, 9:33am.
- Headline: BOP feels force of storm.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News and Newstalk ZB, 30 July 2008, 11:04am.
- Headline: Storm pounds lower North Is.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News and Newstalk ZB, 30 July 2008, 12:20pm.
- Headline: Storm pounds lower North Is.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News and Newstalk ZB, 30 July 2008, 12:20pm.
- Headline: Woman dead in swollen Far North river.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News and Newstalk ZB, 30 July 2008, 2:00pm.
- Headline: Storm lines up South Island.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: Newstalk ZB, 30 July 2008, 4:42pm.
- Headline: Storm lines up South Island.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: Newstalk ZB, 30 July 2008, 4:42pm.
- Headline: Mini tornado rips through Mt Maunganui.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: Newstalk ZB, 30 July 2008, 6:36pm.
- Headline: Worrying wait for evacuated residents.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 31 July 2008, 11:51am.
- Headline: Road, rail cut in South Is.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News and Newstalk ZB, 31 July 2008, 12:07pm.
- Headline: Homeowners wait for salvage news.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 1 August 2008, 11:23am.
- Headline: Minister inspects flood damage.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News and Newstalk ZB, 1 August 2008, 12:09pm.
- Headline: Third storm in a week to hit soon.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 2 August 2008, 6:20pm.
- Headline: House hit by slip demolished.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 7 August 2008, 10:21am.
- Headline: Volunteers arrive to help farmers.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 18 August 2008, 6:51pm.
- Headline: Storm leaves flooded roads, trees down and landslips.
- www.times-age.co.nz, Source: Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Rain bomb forces river warnings up a gear.
- www.times-age.co.nz, Source: Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: Cold and wet taking toll on South Wairarapa lambs.
- www.times-age.co.nz, 18 August 2008.
- Headline: Nature's double whammy.
- www.times.co.nz, Source: Howick and Pakuranga Times, 31 July 2008.
- Headline: Wairarapa welcomes winter wonderland.
- www.times-age.co.nz, 20 August 2008.
- Headline: New protection shields flood-prone communities.
- www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz, 1 August 2008.
- Headline: New boardwalk awash as rain swells Whanganui River.
- www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz, 2 August 2008.
- Headline: Eastern Bay escapes brunt of storm - again.
- www.whakatanebeacon.co.nz, 1 August 2008.
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