NZ Historic Weather Events Catalog

August 2008 Canterbury Flooding and North Island Landslides ( 2008-08-24 )

Heavy rain from the 24th caused landslides and flooding around North Canterbury and Marlborough and landslides in parts of the North Island.

New Zealand

Multi Hazard at New Zealand

Duration: 3 days - From the 24th till the 27th of August.

Insurance claims for the storm total $0.8 million.

Comment MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 10:43 am 23-Aug-2008: Heavy rain for Bay of Plenty, also Nelson and Marlborough including the Kaikoura coast. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Bay of Plenty, the ranges of northwest Nelson, also the ranges of Marlborough including the Taylor catchment and the Kaikoura coast.

Comment MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 1:50 pm Saturday 23 August 2008 for: Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua and Gisborne.

Comment MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:03 pm 23-Aug-2008: Heavy rain for Bay of Plenty, also Nelson and Marlborough including the Kaikoura coast. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Bay of Plenty, the ranges of northwest Nelson, also the ranges of Marlborough including the Taylor catchment and the Kaikoura coast.

Comment MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 07:07 am Sunday 24 August 2008 for: Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua and Gisborne.

Comment MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:25 am 24-Aug-2008: Heavy rain for Bay of Plenty, also Nelson and Marlborough including Kaikoura coast. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Bay of Plenty, the ranges of northwest Nelson, also the ranges of Marlborough including the Sounds, the Taylor catchment and the Kaikoura coast.

Comment MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 11:01 am 24-Aug-2008: Heavy rain for Bay of Plenty, also Nelson and Marlborough including Kaikoura coast. Rain warning now extended southwards into North Canterbury. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Canterbury north of Banks Peninsula, including the Kaikoura coast, the ranges of Marlborough and Nelson including the Taylor catchment and the Sounds, also Bay of Plenty.

Comment MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 1:30 pm Sunday 24 August 2008 for: Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua and Gisborne.

Comment MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:45 pm 24-Aug-2008: Heavy rain eases for North Island but continues over Marlborough and Canterbury. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Canterbury north of Banks Peninsula, including the Kaikoura coast, the eastern ranges of Marlborough including the Taylor catchment. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warning lifted for Bay of Plenty and the ranges of northwest Nelson.

Comment MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:39 am 25-Aug-2008: Heavy rain expected over Kaikoura coast and North Canterbury today and tomorrow. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Canterbury north of Banks Peninsula including the Kaikoura coast. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warning lifted for the eastern ranges of Marlborough, including the Sounds and the Taylor catchment.

Comment MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:02 pm 25-Aug-2008: Further heavy rain from North Canterbury to eastern Marlborough continuing through much of Tuesday. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Canterbury northwards from Rangiora to the Kaikoura coast and the eastern hills of Marlborough including the Taylor catchment. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warning lifted for the eastern ranges of Marlborough, including the Sounds and the Taylor catchment.

Comment MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:02 pm 25-Aug-2008: Heavy rain from North Canterbury to eastern Marlborough easing late Tuesday. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Canterbury northwards from Rangiora to the Kaikoura coast and the eastern hills of Marlborough including the Taylor catchment. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warning lifted for the eastern ranges of Marlborough, including the Sounds and the Taylor catchment.

Comment MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:02 pm 25-Aug-2008: Rain has now eased in eastern Marlborough and North Canterbury. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warning lifted for North Canterbury and eastern Marlborough.

Cause A succession of low pressure systems moved out to the east, dragging in blustery southeasteries and driving a succession of wet patches into Marlborough and beyond. On the 24th, a deepening low that had developed in the western Tasman Sea was close enough to bring stormy weather to New Zealand. On the 25th, the low remained slow moving over the North Island, while a stationary front combined with a moist east to south-east flow to bring rain to North Canterbury and Marlborough. On the 27th, the low moved slowly to the east of the North Island, bringing heavy rain to the Wellington region until the 28th.

Northland

Flooding at Lake Owhareiti

Damage Overflow from Lake Owhareiti near Pakaraka was eroding a valley through farmland, which was about six metres wide and 50 metres long, and flooding a private road to Lakeland subdivision, off Ludbrook Rd. The Northland Regional Council needed about $50,000 to lay pipes for a water outlet at the lake.

Auckland

Flooding at Auckland

Physical Characteristic In Auckland, 32 mm (3.2 cm) of rain fell in 24 hours on the 24th, bringing flooding.

High Wind / Gust

Damage Strong winds damaged the roof of an Auckland fire station on the 24th.

Landslide

Comment Three months of almost non-stop rain had caused about 200 slips in the greater Auckland region from June to August.

Comment From July to the end of August, a total of 46 slips had been reported in Waitakere.

Damage Cost More than $1.8million was required to restore essential infrastructure in Waitakere which was damaged by land slips in the heavy winter storms.

Fog at Auckland International Airport

Affected Lifeline Fog disrupted a number of flights at Auckland Airport on the morning of the 25th. Domestic flights were postponed from about 6am until 8:15am.

Landslide at Kawakawa Bay

Affected Lifeline The Clevedon-Kawakawa Road - the main road into Kawakawa Bay - was closed on the 24th as a big slip on Turei Hill moved further. The slip had come down at the beginning of the month and partially blocked the road and another 500 cubic metres of earth came down on to the road at the weekend after heavy rain. The slip moved about another 45 mm over 12 hours on the 29th. 1,500 local people were forced to use a longer alternative route, travelling an extra 100km, or catch a free ferry to Pine Harbour, adding at least an hour to their journey to Auckland. The road was reopened to a single lane on the 26th September, with traffic lights to control the flow of vehicles.

Evacuees Six properties at Kawakawa Bay were deemed unsafe due to the risk of another landslip happening at any time. Owners of the property at the top of the slip voluntarily evacuated on the 24th. On the 29th, residents of five properties at the bottom of the slip were asked to evacuate by Manukau City Council. On the 3rd October, residents of the five houses below the slip were allowed to return to their homes.

Impact Students who normally went to school in Clevedon used a room at Orere School and were taught by their usual teacher.

Impact Businesses in the Kawakawa and Clevedon areas lost work due to loss of through traffic.

Flooding at Massey East

Impact Henderson Creek flooded onto properties on the 24th.

Flooding at Remuera

Damage A thunderstorm caused flash flooding in Remuera on the afternoon of the 24th on Ngapuhi Road and Upland Road. The damage wasn't widespread, but one house required pumping.

Landslide at St Marys Bay

Evacuees Three homes in Ring Terrace, St Marys Bay, were evacuated on the night of the 25th after a slip came down adjacent to the northern Harbour Bridge on ramp, bringing a tree crashing down into a reserve. The residents were back in their homes on the 26th.

Damage The home behind the tree had cracks forming in the side of the building.

Landslide at Unsworth Heights

Damage A significant landslip came down in Unsworth Heights on the night of the 25th. An estimated 60,000 tonnes of dirt came down a steep gully. Five properties were affected on Albany Highway. Two properties were deemed as "high risk".

Evacuees Four houses were evacuated in Unsworth Heights on the night of the 25th.

Affected Lifeline A water supply tank was destroyed in the slip.

Waikato

Landslide at Mapiu

Affected Lifeline In lower Waikato, SH4 was down to one lane for 100 metres near Mapiu on the 24th.

Landslide at Ngutunui

Affected Lifeline On SH31 there were two slips, about two kilometres apart, in the eastbound lane near Ngutunui on the 24th, and there was no alternative sealed route.

Landslide at Waitomo Caves

Affected Lifeline One lane on SH37 at Waitomo was closed on the 24th due to a drop out.

Gisborne

Landslide at Ruatoria

Affected Lifeline SH35 from Tikitiki to Ruatoria was down to one lane on the 24th, due to a slip 6km north of Ruatoria.

Hawke's Bay

Lightning at Maraekakaho

Stock Damage A lightning strike on the 25th also wrought damage to a Maraekakaho vineyard on Aorangi Road. Posts were shattered apart and four sheep were killed.

Manawatu-Wanganui

Heavy Rain at Dannevirke

Physical Characteristic 23 mm (2.3 cm) of rain was recorded in Dannevirke in the 24 hours up to 5pm on the 26th.

Flooding at Himatangi

Comment There was flooding on the intersection of State Highways 1 and 56 at Himatangi on the 24th.

Affected Lifeline At a property on the corner of SH1 at Himatangi, recent continuous wet weather lifted the concrete floor of the business, surrounded the house with water and overflowed the septic tank, leaving them unable to flush the toilet.

Wellington

Flooding at Wellington

Comment Surface flooding swamped paddocks and roads throughout the region, with the worst hit area being southern Wairarapa.

Multi Hazard

Stock Damage Farmers in the midst of early lambing suffered losses as newborns succumbed to the driving rain and the effects of wind chill.

Flooding at Eastbourne

Affected Lifeline Marine Drive in Eastbourne was flooded on the 26th, in some places knee-deep across both lanes.

Landslide

Evacuees A house in Sunshine Bay, Eastbourne, was evacuated around 5:30am on the 29th after it was badly damaged by a slip.

Damage Part of the house was destroyed when a rock the size of a washing machine came crashing into the house, bringing 10 cubic metres of dirt and debris with it.

Affected Lifeline Some debris from the landslide fell on to Marine Drive below, which was down to one lane. Police asked residents of Eastbourne to stay at home for the day.

Heavy Rain at Kelburn

Physical Characteristic About 32 mm (3.2 cm) of rain was recorded in Kelburn on the 27th.

Flooding at Martinborough

Affected Lifeline SH53 between Featherston and Martinborough was closed on the morning of the 27th due to the Waihenga Bridge being affected by high rainfall and flooding. Pukio West Rd and Pahautea roads were also impassable on the 27th.

Physical Characteristic The Ruamahanga River reached a level of 4.2 m at Waihenga Bridge on the morning of the 26th.

Flooding at Masterton

Affected Lifeline In Masterton, torrential rain over 36 hours put pressure on the town's sewerage system. Two families were put in motels on the night of the 26th as sewerage overflow threatened to contaminate their homes and eight other homes in the Masterton area were supplied with portable toilets till conditions eased.

Affected Lifeline Several stretches of roading throughout the town were affected by surface flooding, including the Upper Plain area and streets at the foot of Lansdowne hill.

Physical Characteristic At one home up to 70 mm (7 cm) of water covered the road outside the property on the night of the 25th and sandbags saved the home from flooding.

Impact A Westbush Road farm was flooded with a kilometre of water early on the 26th when a roadside drain flooded over.

Heavy Rain

Physical Characteristic 55 mm (5.5 cm) of rain was recorded in Masterton in the 24 hours up to 5pm on the 26th.

Landslide at Ngaio

Comment Minor slips were reported in Ngaio Gorge.

Heavy Rain at Ngawi

Physical Characteristic 33 mm (3.3 cm) of rain was recorded in Ngawi in the 24 hours up to 5pm on the 26th.

Landslide at Petone

Affected Lifeline There was a landslip on SH2 at the Petone overbridge on the 25th, which closed the road from the intersection of The Esplanade to all traffic from 8:15pm until about midnight.

Landslide at Rimutaka Hill

Affected Lifeline A slip came down on the Rimutaka Hill Road (SH2) around 1.45pm on the 26th after constant rain on the night of the 25th and that morning. The southbound lane on the Featherston side of the hill was blocked as rocks the size of rugby balls came down.

Landslide at Wadestown

Affected Lifeline Oban St in Wadestown was closed just after 11am on the 27th when a slip slammed a big manuka tree down across the road and ruptured a gas main. A resident who lives in a house above the slip lost the gas supply to her home.

Fog at Wellington International Airport

Affected Lifeline Fog rolling in off the sea forced the cancellation of flights in and out of Wellington Airport on the afternoon of the 25th. Almost 30 domestic and international flights were cancelled or diverted from just before 3pm until late afternoon. Hundreds of passengers were stranded.

South Island

Multi Hazard at South Island

Affected Lifeline Heavy rain overnight on the 24th caused surface flooding on SH1 between Christchurch and Blenheim. SH1 was closed from Seddon to Cheviot on the 26th and between Ward and Cheviot on the 27th by up to 30 slips and washouts.

Affected Lifeline The Main North railway line from Christchurch to Picton was closed due to slips and flooding north and south of Kaikoura. 40,000 tonnes of debris still covered the main trunk line on the 27th.

Impact Ritchies' Intercity buses were not running on the morning of the 26th.

Flooding

Impact Several North Canterbury schools sent pupils home early on the 25th in case floodwater prevented them getting home.

Heavy Rain

Comment By 9am on the 26th, Blenheim, Kaikoura, Picton and Seddon were bearing the brunt of the rain.

Marlborough

Heavy Rain at Marlborough

Physical Characteristic 24 mm (2.4 cm) of rain fell in Marlborough in 24 hours from 9am on the 23rd to 9am on the 25th, with most of the rain falling on the morning of the 24th and overnight to the 25th.

Flooding

Comment Two days of torrential rain flooded farms all the way from Blenheim to Picton.

Damage Cost Repairs to Marlborough roads following the August floods were estimated to cost $1.9 million.

Damage Cost Damage to the State Highway network within Marlborough, particularly to the south, left a bill of more than $600,000.

Heavy Rain at Awapiri Station

Comment The farmer of Awapiri Station in the Awatere Valley said he had not seen so much rain in about 40 years.

Physical Characteristic Awapiri Station received 90 mm (9 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 7am on the 26th.

Flooding at Blenheim

Impact Campers at Blenheim Bridge Top Ten Holiday Park were moved to higher ground.

Evacuees Three houses in Blenheim were evacuated from the suburbs of Redwoodtown and Fairhall overnight on the 25th because of flooding.

Impact In Blenheim there was surface flooding in low-lying parts of the town. A number of low-lying vineyards surrounding Blenheim were also affected by flooding.

Impact As a man crested the top of the Hammerichs Rd stopbank in his car, the car slid into the swollen Opawa River which was rushing across the road. He managed to get out but the car was filled with water and the motor covered with weed and debris and the man's laptop and cellphone were water-logged.

Impact A man drove past warning signs and into fast-flowing water on Old Renwick Rd on the the night of the 27th. His four-wheel drive was left partially submerged in a flooded hole.

Heavy Rain at French Pass

Affected Lifeline Sissy Bay Rd in the French Pass had a very muddy and slippery surface, making it near impassable for two-wheel drive vehicles.

Flooding at Medway River

Damage Cost The worst affected roading was in the Medway Valley. Repair of the valley road and the bridge that leads to it was likely to cost close to $700,000, with $300,000 needed to fix the Medway Bridge alone.

Flooding at Para

Impact All the paddocks in the Para Swamp area were completely covered with water.

Flooding at Picton

Evacuees 23 people staying at Alexanders Holiday Park in Canterbury St were evacuated around 9pm on the 25th because of rising river levels. They spent the night at Queen Charlotte College.

Impact Parts of the Picton township flooded. There was also surface flooding south of Picton.

Landslide

Affected Lifeline Queen Charlotte Drive was closed due to numerous and severe slips.

Damage Cost Queen Charlotte Drive suffered damage totalling $396,100 after August's storm.

Heavy Rain at Port Underwood

Impact A power pylon tower at Port Underwood was monitored after one of its four legs had slumped after heavy rain.

Flooding at Renwick

Damage Lack of repairs to the Omaka River near Renwick after the last storm had left residents vulnerable to further flooding. On the morning of the 26th, about two more metres of one property had fallen into the river.

Heavy Rain at Waikakaho River

Comment A Waikakaho Valley farmer said there had not been as much rain in a 24 hour period since 1995.

Flooding at Waima River

Affected Lifeline The Ure (Waima) River rose quickly on the night of the 25th, sweeping away three power poles and hundreds of metres of the lower Ure Valley Road. Properties south of the area were left without power.

Damage The river not only broke its banks but also created new ones during the downpour. The flood was described as the worst in 30 years. Thousands of dollars worth of property was damaged, with paddocks, fences, firewood and power poles swept away in the flood.

Impact One family was isolated, without power and also struck down with the flu.

Damage Cost Repairs to roading in the Ure Valley were expected to cost $253,000.

Landslide at Weld Pass

Affected Lifeline SH1 at Weld Pass just south of Blenheim was closed at about 9am on the 26th after a massive slip, but reopened to one lane later in the day.

West Coast

Maritime / Coastal at Greymouth

Injuries A man was walking on rocks at the Blaketown tiphead when a rogue wave washed him into the mouth of the Grey River where he was battered by high seas. He was rescued and taken to hospital badly shaken and suffering a number of cuts and abrasions to his body.

Canterbury

Landslide at Canterbury

Affected Lifeline There were several landslides on SH1 around the Cheviot and Kaikoura areas after heavy overnight rain on the 24th. The highway was closed all day on the 26th by several giant slips.

Multi Hazard

Comment The Hurunui and Waimakariri district councils activated their emergency operations centres on the morning of the 25th.

Cause A front stalled in the area over Kaikoura and North Canterbury on the 25th.

Affected Lifeline Some residents in the Kaikoura District were without power on the 26th.

Damage Canterbury farmers faced 20 per cent damage to farm pastures after a wet winter. Some farmers had springs surface in pastures for the first time in 40 years and ponding for the first time in their memory.

Heavy Rain

Physical Characteristic North Canterbury received 50 mm (5 cm) of rain over 24 hours from the 24th to the 25th - the entire normal August rainfall.

Physical Characteristic More than 400 mm (40 cm) of rain fell inland of Kaikoura over a few days.

Flooding

Affected Lifeline There was flooding on SH7 from Waipara to the Hanmer Springs turnoff on the 25th.

Damage Cost Flood damage to roads and bridges in the Hurunui District in the past month (August) was expected to cost $3 million. Infrastructure costs such as replacing culverts and hiring specialist equipment to clean up the flood damage could add $100,000 to the bill, and opening and closing the lagoons to the sea at Leithfield and Amberley beaches could cost up to $50,000.

Damage The floods carved away large areas of paddocks, flattened fences, washed out culverts and floodgates and left debris on paddocks and in fences on farms from Amberley to the Conway River.

Comment There is some flooding to rural properties in the Selwyn District.

Heavy Rain at Amberley

Physical Characteristic Amberley recorded more than 100 mm (10 cm) of rain over two days from the 25th.

Flooding

Impact Amberley Primary School was shut after a creek at the back of the Lawcocks Rd school rose 12 cm in just half an hour and began to threaten the proeprty.

Damage Four Amberley homes were flooded by Dock Creek. The floods had financially hit one farm, the Amberley Golf Course (cut off to allow lagoon water to escape to the sea) and two quarries. One of the quarries expected to be out of action for three months. The Hurunui District Council was blamed for the flood damage in the Amberley area, for failing to clean drains and open lagoons to the sea earlier.

Flooding at Amberley Beach Lagoon

Impact Amberley Beach Lagoon had a channel opened to the sea on the night of the 25th to allow floodwaters to escape.

Impact A preschool in Amberley Beach closed due to concerns about the flooding.

Landslide at Banks Peninsula

Affected Lifeline There were a number of minor slips around Banks Peninsula and roads were down to one lane in some of the bays.

Heavy Rain at Cheviot

Physical Characteristic Cheviot recorded about 150 mm (15 cm) over two days from the 25th.

Flooding

Affected Lifeline Cheviot and other parts of the Hurunui distirct had their water supply cut when a 10-m stretch of the main pipe to the water reservoir was washed away in the flooded Leamington River. Locals were asked to conserve and boil water and at least 500 people were without water.

Comment Farmland near Cheviot was underwater, just weeks after the last big flood.

Multi Hazard

Affected Lifeline Flooding and land slips from heavy rain caused road closures around Cheviot from the 25th.

Flooding at Clarence Reserve

Affected Lifeline The rising Kahutara River washed out the inland road into Mt Lyford Ski Field and the Clarence Reserve, with only one small triangle of tarmac remaining.

Flooding at Coes Ford

Affected Lifeline Roads around Coe’s Ford were closed on the 26th and the Selwyn district’s fords were also closed.

Flooding at Cust

Comment There was a lot of flooding in the Cust Valley.

Multi Hazard at Domett

Affected Lifeline Flooding and land slips from heavy rain caused road closures around Domett from the 25th.

Flooding at Eyreton

Stock Damage A farmer lost up to 100 dairy cows when the swollen Eyre River washed out an approach to the bridge they were crossing near Eyreton at about 4am on the 26th. 28 other cows managed to survive the river.

Comment The farmer said the weather was the worst and the river the highest he had seen in the nine years they had owned the farm.

Flooding at Greenstreet

Impact In the Greenstreet area, creeks and streams were bank to bank and paddocks were covered by sheets of water. Dairy farmers were forced to juggle meeting the nutritional needs of stock against rapidly diminishing feed supplies.

Landslide at Hanmer Springs

Affected Lifeline SH7A was closed by a massive slip on the Hanmer Springs side of the Waiau Ferry Bridge, leaving Hanmer Springs inaccessible. The road was opened for 10-minute periods for three hours on the night of the 26th to let motorists through, but was closed on the 27th. At the 4th September only one lane was open.

Affected Lifeline The main trunk railway line near the town was also shut.

Heavy Rain

Peak Rainfall Hanmer Forest recorded 135 mm (13.5 cm) of rain in 24 hours - a new record.

Flooding at Hapuku

Affected Lifeline A boil water notice was sent out for part of Hapuku.

Multi Hazard at Hawarden

Impact The Greta Valley School and Hurunui College at Hawarden were closed because flooding and slips on rural roads.

Flooding at Hurunui River

Physical Characteristic At 8.30pm on the 25th, the Hurunui River was flowing at 900 cumecs but was not endangering any settlements.

Flooding at Kahutara River

Impact Two trampers were rescued by helicopter from the Kaikoura Ranges on the morning of the 28th, after setting off an emergency beacon at 7pm on the 27th when they were cut off by rising levels of the Kahutara River.

Multi Hazard at Kaikoura

Affected Lifeline Kaikoura was isolated from the rest of the South Island after flooding and slips closed SH1 on the 25th. A huge rock blocked traffic on SH1 near Iron Bridge north of the town. The road through to Christchurch from Kaikoura opened at 4.30pm on the 28th with a single lane in a lot of places.

Damage Cost The cleanup bill for the stretch of highway north and south of Kaikoura was estimated to reach $2 million.

Comment Kaikoura was plagued by small slips and surface flooding.

Impact All schools in the Kaikoura area were closed on the 26th. The fire brigade pumped water from a basement on Kaka Rd on the morning of the 26th and prevented water from flooding another house on the night of the 25th.

Heavy Rain

Physical Characteristic The Kaikoura weather station recorded 54.4 mm (5.4 cm) of rain in 17 hours between 4pm on the 24th and 9am on the 25th.

Physical Characteristic 29.8 mm (3.0 cm) of rain fell at the Kaikoura weather station in six hours between midnight and 6am on the 25th.

Physical Characteristic Kaikoura recorded 94 mm (9.4 cm) of rain on the 25th.

Physical Characteristic Kaikoura recorded 158 mm (15.8 cm) of rain from the 25th until 9am on the 26th.

Physical Characteristic 200 mm (20 cm) of rain fell on Kaikoura in two days - four times the average monthly fall for the time of year.

Physical Characteristic More than 300 mm (30 cm) of rain was recorded in Kaikoura over a few days.

Peak Rainfall Kaikoura received 126 mm (12.6 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 26th. This was its second highest 24 hour August rainfall since 1898.

Damage Several huge trees fell down, one across Torquay St, because the ground was so saturated.

Evacuees Three houses on Torquay St were evacuated when trees threatened to topple onto them, although only one house was occupied at the time.

Landslide

Affected Lifeline The slip of three weeks ago on the Main North railway line at Billy Goat Bay, south of Kaikoura, was reactivated by heavy rain in the area, closing the railway line from the 25th.

Flooding

Affected Lifeline 10km north of Kaikoura, surface flooding on SH1 hampered traffic on the 25th.

Landslide at Kekerengu

Affected Lifeline About 800m north of the Kekerengu overbridge there was a slip blocking the northbound lane of SH1.

Flooding at Kowai River

Comment The Kowai River burst its banks.

Flooding at Kowhai River

Impact The Kowhai River breached its banks and flooded paddocks inland of Kaikoura.

Flooding at Leithfield Beach Lagoon

Impact Leithfield Beach Lagoon had a channel opened to the sea on the 25th to allow floodwaters to escape.

Flooding at Loburn

Comment Roadside drainage ditches and creeks were fill to overflowing again, spilling over in the Loburn-Okuku areas.

Flooding at Napenape

Affected Lifeline A road bridge in the Blythes Valley at Napenape was swept away.

Landslide at Oaro

Affected Lifeline A slip near Oaro took out SH1.

Heavy Rain at Omihi

Physical Characteristic The small farming community of Omihi experienced some 450 mm (45 cm) of rain in the last month, about half its average annual rainfall.

Flooding

Damage An Omihi farmer estimated he had lost a kilometre of fencing and had 20 or 30 hectares of pasture potentially damaged by the floodwaters. Water levels rose to the height of fenceposts.

Heavy Rain at Oxford

Physical Characteristic Oxford received 138.5 mm (12.9 cm) of rain in two days.

Landslide at Peketa

Affected Lifeline There was a slip on SH1 near Peketa on the morning of the 25th.

Flooding

Impact A farmer near Peketa who never used to be able to see the Kahutara River from his paddocks had hundreds of square metres of prime pastoral land covered by the river.

Evacuees Authorities offered to evacuate the residents of Peketa on the 26th after the Kahutara River breached its banks around lunchtime, but only about 10 houses were evacuated.

Affected Lifeline The Kahutara River made a meal of the bridge approach inland from Peteka. A number of families were trapped on the other side of the bridge.

Affected Lifeline A boil water notice was sent out for Peketa.

Flooding at Rangiora

Impact Roadside drainage ditches and creeks were fill to overflowing again, spilling over on the entrance to Rangiora at Lineside Rd where paddocks had just begun to emerge after being under water for several weeks. A swollen creek between Oxford Road and Johns Road forced five homes to be sandbagged.

Flooding at Sefton

Impact Surface flooding on rural roads and farmland was particularly severe around Sefton on the 25th. A house was threatened as a creek spilt over its banks and rushed around the back of houses on the main road. A bund made up of water bladders was used to direct the water from the house, down the driveway and across Upper Sefton Road to farmland.

Flooding at Selwyn River

Physical Characteristic The Selwyn River peaked at 46 cumecs.

Flooding at Swannanoa

Impact Several homes in Swannanoa were sandbagged on the 25th to stop them being flooded by creeks that burst their banks.

Flooding at Waiau

Affected Lifeline The Mason River, north-east of Waiau township, burst its banks, putting part of Chaffeys Road under water and isolating several houses.

Physical Characteristic The water was up to 4 m deep on Chaffeys Road.

Physical Characteristic At 8.30pm on the 25th, the Waiau River was running at 500 cumecs, threatening the Waiau township.

References

Headline: Heavy rain returns to Auckland.: 3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 24 August 2008, 7:02pm.
Headline: Fog disrupts small plane flights at Auckland Airport.: 3news.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 25 August 2008, 8:42am.
Headline: North Canterbury flood emergency centres activated.: 3news.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 25 August 2008, 12:28pm.
Headline: Civil Defence on high alert following heavy rain in Canterbury.: 3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 25 August 2008, 7:18pm.
Headline: Residents evacuated following slip.: 3news.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 25 August 2008, 9:16pm.
Headline: Floods, slips close railway lines, evacuate houses.: 3news.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 26 August 2008, 9:05am.
Headline: Rainy weather causing slips across Auckland region.: 3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 26 August 2008, 6:39pm.
Headline: Slips and flooding cause chaos in upper South Island.: 3news.co.nz, 26 August 2008, 6:41pm.
Headline: Another huge clean-up starts after South Island flooding.: 3news.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 27 August 2008, 7:57am.
Headline: Cleanup begins after torrential rain and floods.: 3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 27 August 2008, 6:24pm.
Headline: Helicopter called in to flush away Kawakawa Bay landslip.: 3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 16 September 2008, 7:36pm.
Headline: Trucks begin to remove material from base of Kawakawa Bay slip.: 3news.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 17 September 2008, 7:35am.
Headline: 'Calving season from hell'.: www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 27 August 2008.
Headline: Dramatic surf rescue.: www.greystar.co.nz, 26 August 2008.
Headline: Twins kept man's hopes alive in Grey River drama.: www.greystar.co.nz, 27 August 2008.
Headline: Bay hit from above, below.: www.hbtoday.co.nz, 27 August 2008.
Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.). (2008). Climate summary for Winter 2008. Newsletter 114, September 2008. 9-10
Headline: Manawatu highway flooding.: www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 24 August 2008, 4:24pm.
Headline: Slip diverts 1,500 people.: www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 24 August 2008, 4:32pm.
Headline: Remuera flooding.: www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 24 August 2008, 6:29pm.
Headline: Overnight rain causes problems on roads.: www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 25 August 2008, 8:12am.
Headline: Fog lifts and Auck Airport clearing backlog.: www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 25 August 2008, 9:32am.
Headline: North Canterbury on rain alert.: www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 25 August 2008, 12:00pm.
Headline: Fog delays Wellington flights.: www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 25 August 2008, 4:00pm.
Headline: Wellington Airport fog could last till tomorrow.: www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 25 August 2008, 5:04pm.
Headline: Three homes evacuated by Auckland slip.: www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 25 August 2008, 5:36pm.
Headline: Rain causes more problems.: www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 25 August 2008, 10:36pm.
Headline: North Canterbury on standby.: www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 26 August 2008, 5:28am.
Headline: Evacuations in Picton.: www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 26 August 2008, 10:12am.
Headline: Rain eases in Marlborough.: www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 26 August 2008, 11:52am.
Headline: Slips, floods, closures in winter's last hurrah.: www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 26 August 2008, 2:52pm.
Headline: Two die in collision.: www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 26 August 2008, 10:32pm.
Headline: Slips and flooding isolate Kaikoura.: www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 27 August 2008, 6:08am.
Headline: House damaged by slip evacuated.: www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 29 August 2008, 7:16am.
Headline: Houses deemed unsafe.: www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 29 August 2008, 9:40am.
Headline: Engineer inspecting slip.: www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 29 August 2008, 10:32am.
Headline: Six Kawakawa Bay houses unsafe.: www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 29 August 2008, 3:05pm.
Headline: To be flood-free, they face footing bill.: www.northernadvocate.co.nz, 18 September 2008.
Headline: Canterbury prepares for floods after rain warning.: www.nzherald.co.nz, 25 August, 12:21pm.
Headline: Slips and floods close roads, rail lines.: www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 26 August, 9:11am.
Headline: Houses evacuated, livestock killed, roads shut in big wet.: www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 26 August, 5:50pm.
Headline: Repeat flooding adds insult to injury.: www.nzherald.co.nz, 27 August, 4:00am.
Headline: Three minutes to quit when slip hits.: www.nzherald.co.nz, 27 August, 4:00am.
Headline: Major land slip still not safe.: www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 30 August, 10:17am.
Headline: Residents see homes slip sliding...: www.nzherald.co.nz, 31 August, 4:00am.
Headline: Landslide victims pray for sun.: www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 31 August, 12:40pm.
Headline: Cut-off residents battling to cope.: www.nzherald.co.nz, 10 September, 4:00am.
Headline: Stranded residents breathe sigh of relief.: www.nzherald.co.nz, 25 September, 4:00am.
Headline: Heavy rain to continue.: www.odt.co.nz, Source: Otago Daily Times, 25 August 2008, 6:43pm.
Headline: Huge clean-up starts after flooding.: www.odt.co.nz, Source: Otago Daily Times, 27 August 2008, 7:38am.
Headline: Slips cause problems on several North Island roads.: www.radionz.co.nz, 24 August 2008, 8:33pm.
Headline: More rain forecast.: www.radionz.co.nz, 25 August 2008, 12:34pm.
Headline: Clean-up begins as flooding leaves trail of destruction.: www.radionz.co.nz, 27 August 2008, 12:17pm.
Headline: Residents told to stay home after Eastbourne slip.: www.radionz.co.nz, 29 August 2008, 8:41am.
Headline: Buckled pylon to be inspected.: www.radionz.co.nz, 31 August 2008, 8:42am.
Headline: Coastal road open again.: www.radionz.co.nz, 26 September 2008, 12:34pm.
Headline: Slip closes road into Kawakawa Bay.: www.scoop.co.nz, Source: Manukau City Council, 25 August, 8:41am.
Headline: Northern access to Kawakawa Bay remains closed.: www.scoop.co.nz, Source: Manukau City Council, 25 August, 5:09pm.
Headline: Kaikoura and Hurunui District Updates.: www.scoop.co.nz, Source: Civil Defence Emergency Management, 25 August, 5:17pm.
Headline: Canterbury Civil Defence Update 26/08/08 11.20 am.: www.scoop.co.nz, Source: Civil Defence Emergency Management, 26 August, 11:42am.
Headline: More Kawakawa Bay properties at risk from landslip.: www.scoop.co.nz, Source: Manukau City Council, 29 August, 2:54pm.
Headline: Road blocked by landslip could reopen soon.: www.scoop.co.nz, Source: Manukau City Council, 11 September, 9:32am.
Headline: Plans for removing landslip being finalised.: www.scoop.co.nz, Source: Manukau City Council, 12 September, 10:18am.
Headline: Kawakawa Bay road open.: www.scoop.co.nz, Source: Manukau City Council, 26 September, 5:07pm.
Headline: Kawakawa Bay residents to move back home.: www.scoop.co.nz, Source: Manukau City Council, 3 October, 4:59pm.
Headline: Storms cost millions.: www.scoop.co.nz, Source: Waitakere City Council, 30 October, 4:08pm.
Headline: Slip closes major road south of Auckland.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 24 August 2008.
Headline: Wild weather creates landslip strife.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 25 August 2008.
Headline: Flooding, slips cause havoc around NZ.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 26 August 2008.
Headline: Man saved from Grey River.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 26 August 2008.
Headline: Farmer forced to watch as flood washes cows away.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 26 August 2008.
Headline: Three houses at Kawakawa Bay unsafe after landslip.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 28 August 2008.
Headline: More houses at risk in Auckland slip.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 29 August 2008.
Headline: Anxious wait as Kawakawa slip looms.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 30 August 2008.
Headline: Manukau drops water to dislodge slip.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 16 September 2008.
Headline: Slip closes Rimutaka Hill road.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, 26 August 2008.
Headline: 'Bit of a nosey' proves a lifesaver.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, 27 August 2008.
Headline: More heavy rain takes its toll.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, 27 August 2008.
Headline: Sewerage drives families from their homes.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, 27 August 2008.
Headline: Deluge hits rivers, roads and sewerage.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, 28 August 2008.
Headline: Large boulder in 'imminent danger' of falling.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post and NZPA, 29 August 2008.
Headline: Couple leave house to mercy of slip.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post and NZPA, 30 August 2008.
Headline: Water damage wreaks havoc.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Feilding Herald, 29 August 2008.
Headline: Another slip closes rail line.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 25 August 2008.
Headline: Kaikoura isolated by slips, flooding.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 26 August 2008.
Headline: Here we go again.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 26 August 2008.
Headline: Man escapes torrent - but car doesn't.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 26 August 2008.
Headline: Being right no comfort as river claims more vineyard.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 26 August 2008.
Headline: Farmers fear stock losses but welcome rain.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 27 August 2008.
Headline: Emergency help choppered in as Ure residents endure floods, illness.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 28 August 2008.
Headline: Man drives car into flooded hole on Old Renwick Rd.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 28 August 2008.
Headline: Roadwork to cost $3.2m.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 8 Octobert 2008.
Headline: More land gives way.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: North Harbour News, 29 August 2008.
Headline: More land gives way.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: North Shore Times, 28 August 2008.
Headline: Neighbours rally after slip.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Papakura Courier, 2 September 2008.
Headline: Kawakawa Bay gets one-lane connection.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Papakura Courier, 1 October 2008.
Headline: Civil Defence issues North Canterbury alert.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 25 August 2008.
Headline: Coastal towns bear brunt of deluge.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 26 August 2008, 1:45pm.
Headline: Flood clean-up begins - again.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 27 August 2008, 9:20am.
Headline: Trampers rescued near Kaikoura.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 28 August 2008, 9:20am.
Headline: $3m flood bill expected in Canterbury.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 28 August 2008.
Headline: Council blamed for flooding damage.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 29 August 2008.
Headline: Farmer angry at council's flood response.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 30 August 2008.
Headline: Farmer calls help 'payback time'.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 4 September 2008.
Headline: Pasture damage costly.: www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 19 September 2008.
Headline: Waiting game continues at Kawakawa Bay land slip.: www.times.co.nz, Source: Howick and Pakuranga Times, 28 August 2008.
Headline: Home saved from flooding by sandbags.: www.times-age.co.nz, Source: Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 August 2008.
Headline: Deer farm floods every year.: www.times-age.co.nz, Source: Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 August 2008.
Headline: Rain lashes parts of south again.: tvnz.co.nz, Source: Newstalk ZB, 25 August 2008, 10:44pm.
Headline: Rain causes havoc in Nth Canterbury.: tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 26 August 2008, 6:34am.
Headline: Auckland landslip to be examined.: tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 26 August 2008, 6:55am.
Headline: Heavy rain causes slips in Kaikoura.: tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 26 August 2008, 6:26pm.
Headline: Rain eases after upper Sth Is floods.: tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 26 August 2008, 10:45pm.
Headline: Clean-up starts after Sth Is floods.: tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 27 August 2008, 6:45am.
Headline: Kaikoura braces for massive cleanup.: tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 27 August 2008, 6:45am.
Headline: Slip demolishes part of house.: tvnz.co.nz, Source: NZPA and Newstalk ZB, 29 August 2008, 8:05am.
Headline: Heavy rain threatens pylon tower.: tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 30 August 2008, 7:11pm.
Headline: Kawakawa residents angry at coucil.: tvnz.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 11 September 2008, 1:36pm.
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