New storms lash sodden North Island flood zones

By STUART DYE, ANNE BESTON and NZPA

Thousands of people in the lower North Island were under siege again last night from rain and strong winds, adding to the misery of those devastated by floodwaters.

People in already swamped areas were told to gather birth certificates, insurance policies, food, medicine and batteries into "getaway kits" in case they needed to evacuate quickly.

A severe rain and wind warning was issued for Taranaki, Manawatu-Wanganui, Wellington and Marlborough.

As predicted, the rain began to fall in mid-afternoon, sweeping off the Tasman across the lower half of the North Island. By 7pm, the MetService was getting reports of 30mm of rain falling in less than an hour over the Tararua Ranges.

By 9pm, thunderstorms and lightning were thrashing Wellington.

And by 11pm about 20 vehicles were trapped after more than a dozen slips on roads through the Rimutaka Hills. The Army was called in to help the stranded drivers to safety.

State Highway 1 north of Wellington was closed at Paekakariki.

Police in the greater Wellington area had numerous reports of flooding, said Senior Sergeant Dave Rose.

The coastal suburb of Eastbourne was cut off by a large and dangerous landslide of rock and mud across the only access road.

MetService severe weather forecaster Eric Benstrum said: "The one blessing is the storms are moving very fast - between 70km/h and 80km/h - which gives the rain less time to lash one area."

Auckland would probably get the remains of the storms in the early hours but "nothing like what we've seen here".

In flood-ravaged Feilding, motelier Keith Leopard said a thunderstorm had passed over the town.

"This second lot of rain is causing concern. People are nervous after what they have been through and just hoping we're not going to go through it all again." Diane Brown, a ward councillor in Paekakariki, said people were holed up in their homes waiting for the storm to pass.

"I've lived here 20 years and this is the most ferocious weather I've seen. It's dramatic and quite scary."

Up to 140mm of rain was expected to fall on Taranaki by the early hours. Up to 120mm was forecast in the Tararua Ranges, 50mm on lower slopes from Levin southwards and 25mm near the coast.

Civil Defence teams were on alert, backed up by the Defence Force and council staff in Manawatu, Wanganui, Rangitikei, Horowhenua, South Taranaki, Wairarapa, the Hutt Valley and Wellington.

States of civil defence emergency were still in place in the Manawatu-Wanganui region and South Taranaki, already struggling to deal with flooding that began last Saturday.

Earlier yesterday, residents returned to flood-stricken homes in some areas to face a sea of mud, rotting floors and carpets, flooded septic tanks and freezers full of rotting food.


Twenty-two bridges in the district were damaged, and 60 to 70 per cent of back country roads are blocked by dropouts or slips.

Manawatu Mayor Ian McKelvie said the costs in rural areas would be astronomical. Mr McKelvie's mayoral relief fund has received $250,000 in cash and goods valued at $400,000.

The Red Cross also set up a flood relief fund, and a mini-telethon on last night's Holmes television programme raised more than $100,000 in the first 10 minutes.

How can you help?

* An automatic donation of $20 can be made through the Red Cross by phoning 0900 33-200, post donations to Freepost Red Cross, PO Box 12-140, Wellington, or donate online through the Red Cross website. Donations can also be made through National Bank and ANZ Bank branches.

* Bank of New Zealand has set up a trust account in conjunction with the Manawatu District Council to raise money for the mayoral relief fund. Donations, to the Feilding and Districts Relief Trust Account, number 0628-0016075-00, can be made at any BNZ branch.