NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Families return to their flooded homes in Dunedin, more may be red-stickered over coming days

Ben Tomsett
By Ben Tomsett
Multimedia Journalist - Dunedin, NZ Herald·NZ Herald·
5 Oct, 2024 05:19 AM7 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Fiona Cadogan, Chad Ralston and their two children returned to their St Leonards home alongside 1News after being evacuated on Friday. Video / TVNZ
  • Nine homes in Dunedin red-stickered after heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding and landslips.
  • MetService has lifted all weather warnings for Otago, Dunedin, and coastal Clutha as the widespread heavy rain has mostly subsided.
  • State Highway 1 has reopened, but many local roads remain closed; cleanup efforts continue as Dunedin moves into recovery.

South Dunedin residents face the daunting task of returning to their flooded homes after experiencing the heaviest downpour in living memory.

Mayor Jules Radich declared a red-level state of emergency by Thursday evening and nine homes were red-stickered today with more possible over the coming days.

Residents are now returning to assess the damage in the homes they were forced to evacuate as water levels rose dangerously.

Flooding in Churchill Street where water is at knee depth in some parts with residents planning to evacuate after sandbagging their homes. Photo: RNZ/Tess Brunton
Flooding in Churchill Street where water is at knee depth in some parts with residents planning to evacuate after sandbagging their homes. Photo: RNZ/Tess Brunton
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

On Friday morning, Ian and Robin Campbell returned to their St Kilda home, wading through shin-deep water in their hallway.

Their home has stood on bluestone piles since 1876, and the family has lived there for 16 years. They evacuated at 10pm on Wednesday night.

“We were ... flooded in 2015, and now we’ve been hit again,” Ian said.

A flooded South Dunedin. Photo / George Heard
A flooded South Dunedin. Photo / George Heard

The couple had prepared for the storm with sandbags, which proved futile.

Dunedin residents filling sandbags during heavy downpours on October 3, 2024. Photo / George Heard
Dunedin residents filling sandbags during heavy downpours on October 3, 2024. Photo / George Heard

“The water was coming up under the floor and up through the shower... The carpets were lifting” he told the Herald.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Ian lamented the impact on their home, which had just been renovated after the previous flood. “It’s all ruined again,” he said.

The couple is grateful for the kindness of the Red Cross workers at St Clair who provided food, blankets and breakfasts for families and pets alike.

“It happens, but you can’t do much about it. You can’t stop the water.”

After their St Kilda home was flooded, Peter and Sasha Forester spent the night in their car with their four pets and son. Photo / George Heard
After their St Kilda home was flooded, Peter and Sasha Forester spent the night in their car with their four pets and son. Photo / George Heard

Peter and Sasha Forrester, also residents of St Kilda, faced a challenging decision in the early hours of Thursday morning as floodwaters began to rise in their home.

They evacuated to the welfare centre at the St Clair Golf Club at 2:30 am. “The water was coming up our bathroom floor and into the hallway,” Peter said.

“It was causing quite a bit of damage down there.”

South Dunedin residents on Forbury Road rushing to sandbag a house with rising floodwater. Photo / George Heard
South Dunedin residents on Forbury Road rushing to sandbag a house with rising floodwater. Photo / George Heard

Their son, who has autism, was anxious and did not want to sleep in the welfare centre, leading the family to spend the night in their car with their two cats and two dogs.

“The next step is to try and see what help we can get with accommodation,” Peter said.

On Saturday morning, a Dunedin resident who asked not to be named was clearing sandbags from their parents’ South Dunedin property.

“It’s been pretty worrying for them,” he said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

“Once you’ve done the basics, it’s just about riding it out and helping out with the people.”

Flooding in South Dunedin. Photo / George Heard
Flooding in South Dunedin. Photo / George Heard

He said the water just approached the home’s front door but fortunately did not get inside.

“The biggest problem early on was cars driving through, which created more waves,” he said.

“We started sandbagging on Friday morning to stop the surges from crashing into the house... The neighbours have been fantastic. They’ve been keeping an eye on things and checking in every couple of hours.”

On Saturday morning, Carl Aiau was clearing debris from the roadside. He also took issue with the cars pushing water onto properties.

A slip came down on State Highway 88 on the road out to Ravensbourne. Photo / George Heard
A slip came down on State Highway 88 on the road out to Ravensbourne. Photo / George Heard

“Sometimes you’d see someone going pretty quick, but the police were patrolling heavily later in the day... It didn’t affect us too much because of our elevation, but if you were lower down, you’d be pretty annoyed.”

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Craig McFarland, owner of the Wests Cordials building in South Dunedin, was pumping water out of the building on Friday morning. He commended locals and the council for their efforts.

“They put sandbags in for us. The worst thing is, it’s just slowly coming up a little bit more. Hopefully, it’ll go down soon.

“We’ll survive this. It’s not that bad. I think we’ve been pretty lucky. All the storms that have been hitting New Zealand and Dunedin have come out pretty well, so this is probably our turn.”

Flooding in South Dunedin. Photo / George Heard
Flooding in South Dunedin. Photo / George Heard

Resident Sue Green spoke as floodwaters lapped at her front porch on Friday morning.

“It’s just distressing because the waters are rising, and we’re having cars coming through all the time... Most are going a wee bit slow, but it causes a wake, and it laps over the front step. It’s going to come to a point where it’s just going to come into the house, and it’s really upsetting. I don’t think they’ve got any business on a day like this to be out and about.”

“I’m upset, nervous, wondering whether I should be leaving. Is it sensible to still be here? The rain hasn’t stopped, and I just don’t know when I should be leaving.”

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

On Saturday morning, Moreau St residents Merridee, 73, and Kevin Watson, 74, said their home felt like a castle on Friday: “Water all around us. We couldn’t even get out. It was just water everywhere.”

Moreau Rd residents Merridee, 73, and Kevin Watson, 74. Photo / Ben Tomsett
Moreau Rd residents Merridee, 73, and Kevin Watson, 74. Photo / Ben Tomsett

“It wasn’t scary, but we were watching the houses across the road and thinking, ‘Oh my goodness,’” they said. “You can’t worry about what you can’t change. You can’t stop the rain.”

They echoed concerns about traffic: “The rubberneckers were causing the problem. You get a four-wheel drive, and the waters break over the bottom, just coming in all these houses.”

The couple said that they narrowly avoided water entering their home.

“It was very, very close. Our kids said, ‘Oh, you need to shift. You need to evacuate.’ But we couldn’t go to their place because they live by the Leith, and they were watching the rise,” they said.

The couple thanked the community and council for their support, who voluntarily placed sandbags and made welfare checks.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
The damage caused by the Dunedin floods includes this massive slip which almost buried a house. Photo / George Heard
The damage caused by the Dunedin floods includes this massive slip which almost buried a house. Photo / George Heard

Maia residents Fiona Cadogan and Chad Ralston narrowly escaped a devastating landslide that tore through their property on Friday night.

Now in limbo, they await updates from insurance and geotechnical engineers while grappling with uncertainty about their home and pets.

“Watching a force of nature just tear through things... it’s surreal,” Ralston said.

Neighbours Robert Aitken and Leah Watkins said they did not hear the landslip, but recalled being woken by a firefighter banging on their window to tell them to evacuate.

They quickly gathered some belongings and headed to the welfare centre at Forsyth Barr Stadium, where volunteers provided blankets and reassurance.

“I think the emergency services were tremendous,” Aitken said praising the response of the council and Red Cross, who assisted those in need, including people requiring medication.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

“When you look out that window and see how close it was, I think people are very lucky.”

A state of emergency remains in effect for Dunedin and Clutha.

Dunedin flooding. Photo / George Heard
Dunedin flooding. Photo / George Heard

While State Highway 1 has reopened both north and south of Dunedin, many local roads remain closed because of slips and flooding and a boil water notice has been issued for parts of the city.

At a media stand-up from the city’s Civil Defence bunker on Saturday morning, Radich said that the cessation of rainfall came as a relief.

Radich said it was still too early for an overall assessment of the damage, associated costs and relief requirement, and more decisions would be made on Monday.

“We’ve moved out of the emergency situation, but now we’re looking to start on repair and cleanup,” he said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Dunedin residents take to the streets to begin cleaning up after yesterday's flood. Photo / George Heard
Dunedin residents take to the streets to begin cleaning up after yesterday's flood. Photo / George Heard

Ben Tomsett is a Multimedia Journalist for the New Zealand Herald, based in Dunedin.

Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

live
New Zealand

Fresh Auckland flood fears as high tide coincides with rush hour downpours

11 Jul 05:50 AM
New Zealand

'Serious injuries': Crash closes highway

11 Jul 05:30 AM
Wellington

'Not over yet': Chung won't drop out of mayoral race over lewd Tory Whanau email

11 Jul 05:25 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

'Serious injuries': Crash closes highway

'Serious injuries': Crash closes highway

11 Jul 05:30 AM

Emergency services are responding to a two-vehicle crash which has closed SH29.

'Not over yet': Chung won't drop out of mayoral race over lewd Tory Whanau email

'Not over yet': Chung won't drop out of mayoral race over lewd Tory Whanau email

11 Jul 05:25 AM
Ray Chung talks to Newstalk ZB host Ryan Bridge about email scandal

Ray Chung talks to Newstalk ZB host Ryan Bridge about email scandal

Watch: Video shows chaotic, chilling moments before fatal stabbing

Watch: Video shows chaotic, chilling moments before fatal stabbing

11 Jul 05:00 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP