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A man was plucked to safety from raging seas off the Kapiti Coast today.
His rescuer was a woman, whom he now wants to find and thank.
Paekakariki artist Neil Thomas was taking photographs of the high seas when a surge dragged him in.
"The next thing I remember, I'm sort of under about 12 feet of water," he told TV One News.
"It had washed right up to road level, I just got churned around like in a washing machine."
The woman handed her baby to a bystander and jumped into the sea to rescue Mr Thomas.
"She bodily lifted me up on to the sea wall and she's a hero," he said.
Mr Thomas now wants to find the woman and thank her.
Huge waves have been battering the North Island's west coast today as a severe storm crossed the country.
Forecasters said a combination of high tides, southwest and northwesterly swells and strong winds had produced huge waves and sea surges.
Police and the Kapiti Coast District Council's emergency management team are monitoring vulnerable areas and have issued a warning to owners of seaside homes.
Motorists were warned to take care and expect delays on Centennial Highway portion of State Highway One.
Transit was warning that delays were expected on the highway, between Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki, because high seas had pushed water and debris on to the road.
Transit Central operations manager Mark Owen said the high seas were part of storms swells that coincided with high tide at lunchtime. Waves had come over the sea wall and scattered rocks and driftwood across the road in a small area.
"We have been monitoring the situation and advise caution while driving along this piece of the road for the remainder of today," Mr Owen said.
"We're also warning motorists that they may expect delays when they travel through this section, particularly if travelling north from Wellington later today."
Transit's roading maintenance contractors were monitoring the state of the road and continuously sweeping away the debris to clear the highway for traffic, but there may be some delays.
"We are doing all we can to clear the road and ask for everyone's patience and understanding at this time," Mr Owen said.
A large slip closed the Manawatu Gorge.
Tonight the MetService issued road snowfall warnings for the Desert Road, the Lewis Pass, Arthurs Pass, Lindis Pass, Porters Pass and the Milford Road.
- NZPA
