Rain storm batters Wairarapa

DANGER: The wide expanse of the flooded Ruamahanga River at Gladstone, as water laps private property alongside the river.PHOTO/CHRIS KILFORD

Wairarapa had a lucky escape from the worst effects of the brutal weekend rain storm that lashed neighbouring districts on the western side of the ranges, causing people to flee as floodwaters gushed through their homes.

Martinborough was worst affected by the persistent, and at times very heavy, rain on Saturday that turned the Ruamahanga River into a raging torrent, forcing the closure of the Waihenga Bridge leading into the township.

Elsewhere along the route of the river, rural properties were inundated with floodwater and there was heavy flooding of paddocks from surface water. The Kokotau road in Carterton was also closed, cutting off another potential entry point for those driving to Martinborough.

At Gladstone, the pub narrowly missed being flooded.

Owner Ray Wolff said the water had risen to the height of the fence by the garden bar, and the garage and carpark was under water.

"It came up about 3am, and by 6am it was still at its peak and we were worried it would get worse."

Mr Wolff said that by 8am the water had started to slowly recede.

Some roads in rural Featherston - at Kahutara and in the Pukio and Pahautea districts - had to be closed and the Oporua spillway was in operation.

The beleaguered coast road to Ngawi and the Cape Palliser lighthouse, which has recently been smashed by heavy seas, escaped further damage.

Coastal dweller and South Wairarapa District councillor Brian Jephson said it was big seas and not heavy rain alone that caused problems for the road.

"We got a bit of rain but it was nothing untoward," he said.

The district council's manager of infrastructure and services, Mark Allingham, said yesterday it had been a busy weekend for everyone but that contractors Fulton Hogan had done an outstanding job co-ordinating what needed to be done.

The biggest issue had been access to Martinborough, especially as the town was hosting a night market on Saturday.

The market went ahead and, according to organiser Gretchen Saulbrey, was " incredibly successful despite having every curve ball thrown at us, road closures and rain".

Further north, heavy rain in the Tararua Ranges caused rivers to rise and widespread surface flooding of farm paddocks.