Heavy rain causes slips and flooding

Kit Halford attempts a golf shot beside the flooded Karamu Stream near Hastings. Picture / Duncan Brown

Heavy rain caused problems on Hawkes Bay roads overnight and brought slips in the Wellington and Wanganui regions.

There was minor flooding and small slips on many roads, Transit New Zealand Napier regional manager Hilton Netterville said.

"We have two sites that are closed down to one lane, but our contractors are busy managing that and getting the traffic through, so there's no major impact," he said.

The flooding has subsided and the rain has eased, but more is expected tonight so there will probably be more slips.

In Wellington, police were advising caution on Onslow Road, in the northwestern suburb of Khandallah, due to slips.

And this afternoon police said caution was required on State Highway 2 between Featherston and Greytown in the Wairarapa due to significant surface flooding.

Wanganui police said this morning that Azac Parade near Georgetti would closed for around 2 hours due to a slip.

MetService this morning issued a rain and strong winds warning for southern parts of the North Island, with snow forecast for the Central Plateau and Hawkes Bay ranges.

- NZPA, NZHERALD STAFF