NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue

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ModerateAugust 1940 Gisborne Flooding ( 1940-08-08 )

Heavy rain over four days caused flooding and landslides in the Gisborne region. One man was drowned in a river.

North Island

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at North Island
Duration:   5  days - From the 8th to the 12th of August.
Comments:

Bay of Plenty

LandslideLandslide at Waioeka Gorge Reserve
Map Location: -38.28365 177.368416
Comments:

Affected LifelineA small blockage was reported from the Waioeka Gorge.

Gisborne

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Gisborne
Comments:

CommentThe rain over the four days to the 12th was the heaviest for a similar number of days for two years.

CommentHeavy rain was experienced on all parts of the East Coast during the 48 hours up to the night of the 11th. Rainfall in some parts of the back country was higher than that on the flats.

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

CommentThe Waipaoa River was in high flood on the 11th but went down steadily on the 12th.

CommentEvery stream in the Waikohu County was swollen by the perisstent rainfall in the hills. Streams were also flooded along the East Coast.

Affected LifelineMany roads in the Waikohu County were blocked for a time by flooded fords.

DamageWashouts occurred on some of the Waikohu county roads, but no serious damage was done.

Stock DamageThere was some loss among lambs, particularly on farms with flat land that was awash with surface water, where drowning was the main cause.

LandslideLandslide
Comments:

Affected LifelineRoads in the northern Waiapu County were subject to minor slipping. In the Cook County, there were minor slips on practically every road in the hill country, most of them sufficient to block car traffic. Hundreds of slips occurred on the East Coast road between Busby's Hill, on the Gisborne side of Tokomaru Bay, and Te Araroa.

Affected LifelineOn the morning of the 12th, only one of Gisborne's main roads was intact - the highway to Wairoa, via Morere. Slips blocked the Tiniroto route, the north route, the north road to Opotiki and the East Coast road.

Multi HazardMulti Hazard
Comments:

Damage CostWaiapu county roads had £3,116 ($253,760 2008 dollars) of damage and main highways had £820 ($66,780 2008 dollars) of damage - a total of £3,936 ($320,530 2008 dollars).

LandslideLandslide at Arero
Map Location: -38.217425 178.255692
Comments:

Affected LifelineTraffic between Gisborne and Tokomaru Bay was interrupted on the 11th by a slip which fell at the first cutting south of Arero. It began in the early afternoon, with further falls occurring.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Bartletts
Map Location: -38.839907 177.899501
Comments:

CommentThe rainfall at Bartletts was very heavy from the 8th to the morning of the 12th.

Physical CharacteristicAt Bartletts, 4.26 in (10.8 cm) of rain fell in the four days from the 8th to 9am on the 12th.

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

CommentMuch water was lying about the paddocks.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Gisborne city
Map Location: -38.656661 178.017356
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicAt the signal station, 1.33 in (3.4 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 9th.

Physical CharacteristicAt the signal station, 0.45 in (1.1 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 10th.

Physical CharacteristicAt the signal station, 1.12 in (2.8 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 11th.

Physical CharacteristicAt the signal station, 1.64 in (4.2 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 12th.

Physical CharacteristicAt the signal station, the total rainfall for the four days was 4.54 in (11.5 cm).

Physical CharacteristicAt the signal station, 1.02 in (2.6 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 13th.

Physical CharacteristicAt the aerodrome, 1.53 in (3.9 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 9th.

Physical CharacteristicAt the aerodrome, 0.25 in (0.6 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 10th.

Physical CharacteristicAt the aerodrome, 1.11 in (2.8 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 11th.

Physical CharacteristicAt the aerodrome, 0.52 in (1.3 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 12th.

Physical CharacteristicAt the aerodrome, the total rainfall for the four days was 3.41 in (8.7 cm).

Physical CharacteristicAt the aerodrome, 0.36 in (0.9 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 13th.

LandslideLandslide at Hangaroa
Map Location: -38.683811 177.617635
Comments:

Affected LifelineA slip covered the Tiniroto route on the Gisborne side of Hangaroa, 28 miles (45 km) from Gisborne. A big slip was reported on the Hangaroa-Tahora road and was likely to give trouble for some days.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicIn Hangaroa, 2.07 in (5.3 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 9th.

Physical CharacteristicIn Hangaroa, 0.81 in (2.1 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 10th.

Physical CharacteristicIn Hangaroa, 1.84 in (4.7 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 11th.

Physical CharacteristicIn Hangaroa, 1.56 in (4.0 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 12th.

Physical CharacteristicIn Hangaroa, the total rainfall for the four days was 6.28 in (16.0 cm).

LandslideLandslide at Kaitaratahi
Map Location: -38.527182 177.903092
Comments:

Affected LifelineThere was a slip on the Kaitaratahi Hill on the morning of the 13th.

LandslideLandslide at Koranga homestead
Map Location: -38.419237 177.325202
Comments:

Affected LifelineThere was a slip at the far end of Moanui Rd.

FloodingFlooding at Mangahauini homestead
Map Location: -38.116961 178.291695
Comments:

Affected LifelineIn the Maungahauini Valley, the crossings on the main highway silted up and the Wilkins' Creek caused difficulty to motorists due to the number of boulders carried down by the stream and across the ford.

LandslideLandslide at Mangatuna
Map Location: -38.30045 178.26526
Comments:

Affected LifelineSlips occurred at Spencer's cutting, north of Mangatuna, blocking he highway between Tolaga Bay and Tokomaru Bay on the 12th and 13th.

FloodingFlooding at Muriwai
Map Location: -38.750443 177.924381
Comments:

CommentOn the 12th, the Waipaoa River, opposed by the incoming tide, broke its banks near the river mouth and inundated a wide area of low-lying land. Many portions of pastures were still covered with water on the 14th.

Crop DamageExtensive damage was done to pastures and crops.

DamageThe greatest damage in recent years was done at Muriwai. Mr Zenker's house, standing where the old waterfront road to Gisborne was cut by the river in the flood of 1938, was not more than 5 chains (100 m) from the water on the 13th. At that point the river was meeting the bank at right angles and rapidly eroding the sandy soil. A considerable area of what was beach had disappeared. Further erosion occurred, and on the 14th, a little over 2 chains (40 m) separated Mr Zenker's residence from the river. In front of the residence, most of a large paddock of several acres was washed away. Nearly 1/2 mile (0.80 km) of beach lining the foreshore at the spot had disappeared.

DamageSeveral blue gum trees were gone and eight poplars at the end of the old road were undermined and washed away in 2 hours on the 11th. From the old road right up to Young Nicks Head, the whole beach was covered with logs, driftwood and debris, along with a 30 ft canoe.

Stock DamageSome dead cows and sheep were washed up on the beach.

Affected LifelineA small bridge on the access road to the heads was undermined to such an extent that it was dangerous.

CommentThe lagoon (Wherowhero Lagoon) had considerably increased in width from the 12th to the 14th.

LandslideLandslide at Otoko
Map Location: -38.463891 177.646866
Comments:

Affected LifelineSeveral slips were reported on Otoko Hill.

FloodingFlooding at Pahi homestead
Map Location: -37.969753 178.245471
Comments:

CommentThe creek at Pahi, south of the Makarika turn-off, was low on the morning of the 11th, but rose so quickly that by the afternoon cars had to be towed through the fast-flowing water.

FloodingFlooding at Puha
Map Location: -38.458563 177.830076
Comments:

CommentThe Waikohu Stream, which flows into the Waipaoa River, was very high on the 11th, but was steadily falling the next morning.

Affected LifelineTraffic on the north road to Opotiki was held up by the river at McKay's bridge at Puha.

LandslideLandslide at Takapau
Map Location: -38.016553 178.267724
Comments:

Affected LifelineTakapau Hill was affected again, with the road falling away on the outer edge, but it was still passable.

LandslideLandslide at Tatapouri
Map Location: -38.646034 178.145444
Comments:

Affected LifelineAt Tatapouri, the old slip continued to creep across the road, dislocating traffic on the 11th. The slip broke its bounds on the night of the 12th and came down on the road, blocking the highway completely. The slip also blocked the culvert. Motorists used the beach instead when the tide was not too high.

FloodingFlooding at Te Araroa
Map Location: -37.633021 178.355369
Comments:

CasualtiesA middle-aged Maori man was drowned while attempting to cross the flooded Awatere River on horseback on the evening of the 12th. He was seen to enter the river about 400 yards (366 m) from its mouth at 7:30pm, called out shortly after, and was not seen again.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Te Karaka
Map Location: -38.467237 177.870255
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicIn Te Karaka, 1.84 in (4.7 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 9th.

Physical CharacteristicIn Te Karaka, 0.42 in (1.1 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 10th.

Physical CharacteristicIn Te Karaka, 1.03 in (2.6 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 11th.

Physical CharacteristicIn Te Karaka, 1.34 in (3.4 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 12th.

Physical CharacteristicIn Te Karaka, the total rainfall for the four days was 4.63 in (11.8 cm).

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Tikitiki
Map Location: -37.797294 178.411972
Comments:

Physical Characteristic7 in (17.8 cm) of rain was recorded in the three days up to 9am on the 11th.

FloodingFlooding at Waerengaahika
Map Location: -38.601149 177.92432
Comments:

CommentAt Waerengaahika, the Waipaoa River was running a banker on the afternoon of the 11th.

FloodingFlooding at Waikura River
Map Location: -38.642794 177.705809
Comments:

CommentThe Waikura Creek was running high, and was over its banks between Messrs Steele's and Hain's home.

References

Cowie, C. A. and Attwood, A. K. (1957). Floods in New Zealand 1920-1953. The Soil Conservation Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
Headline: Coast streams up.
The Gisborne Herald, 12 August 1940.
Headline: Flood warning.
The Gisborne Herald, 12 August 1940.
Headline: Main roads blocked.
The Gisborne Herald, 12 August 1940.
Headline: Rainfall figures.
The Gisborne Herald, 12 August 1940.
Headline: As bad as ever: Tatapouri slip down.
The Gisborne Herald, 13 August 1940.
Headline: Flooded areas: Waipaoa in fresh.
The Gisborne Herald, 13 August 1940.
Headline: Maori swept away: Tried to swim river.
The Gisborne Herald, 13 August 1940.
Headline: News of the day: District rainfall.
The Gisborne Herald, 13 August 1940.
Headline: Ready for trouble: Gisborne farmers.
The Gisborne Herald, 13 August 1940.
Headline: Beware of slips: Warning to drivers.
The Gisborne Herald, 14 August 1940.
Headline: Further erosion: Mouth of Waipaoa.
The Gisborne Herald, 14 August 1940.
Headline: Te Araroa tragedy.
The Gisborne Herald, 14 August 1940.

ModerateAugust 1940 Gisborne Flooding ( 1940-08-08 )

Heavy rain over four days caused flooding and landslides in the Gisborne region. One man was drowned in a river.

North Island

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at North Island
Duration:   5  days - From the 8th to the 12th of August.
Comments:

Bay of Plenty

LandslideLandslide at Waioeka Gorge Reserve
Map Location: -38.28365 177.368416
Comments:

Affected LifelineA small blockage was reported from the Waioeka Gorge.

Gisborne

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Gisborne
Comments:

CommentThe rain over the four days to the 12th was the heaviest for a similar number of days for two years.

CommentHeavy rain was experienced on all parts of the East Coast during the 48 hours up to the night of the 11th. Rainfall in some parts of the back country was higher than that on the flats.

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

CommentThe Waipaoa River was in high flood on the 11th but went down steadily on the 12th.

CommentEvery stream in the Waikohu County was swollen by the perisstent rainfall in the hills. Streams were also flooded along the East Coast.

Affected LifelineMany roads in the Waikohu County were blocked for a time by flooded fords.

DamageWashouts occurred on some of the Waikohu county roads, but no serious damage was done.

Stock DamageThere was some loss among lambs, particularly on farms with flat land that was awash with surface water, where drowning was the main cause.

LandslideLandslide
Comments:

Affected LifelineRoads in the northern Waiapu County were subject to minor slipping. In the Cook County, there were minor slips on practically every road in the hill country, most of them sufficient to block car traffic. Hundreds of slips occurred on the East Coast road between Busby's Hill, on the Gisborne side of Tokomaru Bay, and Te Araroa.

Affected LifelineOn the morning of the 12th, only one of Gisborne's main roads was intact - the highway to Wairoa, via Morere. Slips blocked the Tiniroto route, the north route, the north road to Opotiki and the East Coast road.

Multi HazardMulti Hazard
Comments:

Damage CostWaiapu county roads had £3,116 ($253,760 2008 dollars) of damage and main highways had £820 ($66,780 2008 dollars) of damage - a total of £3,936 ($320,530 2008 dollars).

LandslideLandslide at Arero
Map Location: -38.217425 178.255692
Comments:

Affected LifelineTraffic between Gisborne and Tokomaru Bay was interrupted on the 11th by a slip which fell at the first cutting south of Arero. It began in the early afternoon, with further falls occurring.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Bartletts
Map Location: -38.839907 177.899501
Comments:

CommentThe rainfall at Bartletts was very heavy from the 8th to the morning of the 12th.

Physical CharacteristicAt Bartletts, 4.26 in (10.8 cm) of rain fell in the four days from the 8th to 9am on the 12th.

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

CommentMuch water was lying about the paddocks.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Gisborne city
Map Location: -38.656661 178.017356
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicAt the signal station, 1.33 in (3.4 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 9th.

Physical CharacteristicAt the signal station, 0.45 in (1.1 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 10th.

Physical CharacteristicAt the signal station, 1.12 in (2.8 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 11th.

Physical CharacteristicAt the signal station, 1.64 in (4.2 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 12th.

Physical CharacteristicAt the signal station, the total rainfall for the four days was 4.54 in (11.5 cm).

Physical CharacteristicAt the signal station, 1.02 in (2.6 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 13th.

Physical CharacteristicAt the aerodrome, 1.53 in (3.9 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 9th.

Physical CharacteristicAt the aerodrome, 0.25 in (0.6 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 10th.

Physical CharacteristicAt the aerodrome, 1.11 in (2.8 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 11th.

Physical CharacteristicAt the aerodrome, 0.52 in (1.3 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 12th.

Physical CharacteristicAt the aerodrome, the total rainfall for the four days was 3.41 in (8.7 cm).

Physical CharacteristicAt the aerodrome, 0.36 in (0.9 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 13th.

LandslideLandslide at Hangaroa
Map Location: -38.683811 177.617635
Comments:

Affected LifelineA slip covered the Tiniroto route on the Gisborne side of Hangaroa, 28 miles (45 km) from Gisborne. A big slip was reported on the Hangaroa-Tahora road and was likely to give trouble for some days.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicIn Hangaroa, 2.07 in (5.3 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 9th.

Physical CharacteristicIn Hangaroa, 0.81 in (2.1 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 10th.

Physical CharacteristicIn Hangaroa, 1.84 in (4.7 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 11th.

Physical CharacteristicIn Hangaroa, 1.56 in (4.0 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 12th.

Physical CharacteristicIn Hangaroa, the total rainfall for the four days was 6.28 in (16.0 cm).

LandslideLandslide at Kaitaratahi
Map Location: -38.527182 177.903092
Comments:

Affected LifelineThere was a slip on the Kaitaratahi Hill on the morning of the 13th.

LandslideLandslide at Koranga homestead
Map Location: -38.419237 177.325202
Comments:

Affected LifelineThere was a slip at the far end of Moanui Rd.

FloodingFlooding at Mangahauini homestead
Map Location: -38.116961 178.291695
Comments:

Affected LifelineIn the Maungahauini Valley, the crossings on the main highway silted up and the Wilkins' Creek caused difficulty to motorists due to the number of boulders carried down by the stream and across the ford.

LandslideLandslide at Mangatuna
Map Location: -38.30045 178.26526
Comments:

Affected LifelineSlips occurred at Spencer's cutting, north of Mangatuna, blocking he highway between Tolaga Bay and Tokomaru Bay on the 12th and 13th.

FloodingFlooding at Muriwai
Map Location: -38.750443 177.924381
Comments:

CommentOn the 12th, the Waipaoa River, opposed by the incoming tide, broke its banks near the river mouth and inundated a wide area of low-lying land. Many portions of pastures were still covered with water on the 14th.

Crop DamageExtensive damage was done to pastures and crops.

DamageThe greatest damage in recent years was done at Muriwai. Mr Zenker's house, standing where the old waterfront road to Gisborne was cut by the river in the flood of 1938, was not more than 5 chains (100 m) from the water on the 13th. At that point the river was meeting the bank at right angles and rapidly eroding the sandy soil. A considerable area of what was beach had disappeared. Further erosion occurred, and on the 14th, a little over 2 chains (40 m) separated Mr Zenker's residence from the river. In front of the residence, most of a large paddock of several acres was washed away. Nearly 1/2 mile (0.80 km) of beach lining the foreshore at the spot had disappeared.

DamageSeveral blue gum trees were gone and eight poplars at the end of the old road were undermined and washed away in 2 hours on the 11th. From the old road right up to Young Nicks Head, the whole beach was covered with logs, driftwood and debris, along with a 30 ft canoe.

Stock DamageSome dead cows and sheep were washed up on the beach.

Affected LifelineA small bridge on the access road to the heads was undermined to such an extent that it was dangerous.

CommentThe lagoon (Wherowhero Lagoon) had considerably increased in width from the 12th to the 14th.

LandslideLandslide at Otoko
Map Location: -38.463891 177.646866
Comments:

Affected LifelineSeveral slips were reported on Otoko Hill.

FloodingFlooding at Pahi homestead
Map Location: -37.969753 178.245471
Comments:

CommentThe creek at Pahi, south of the Makarika turn-off, was low on the morning of the 11th, but rose so quickly that by the afternoon cars had to be towed through the fast-flowing water.

FloodingFlooding at Puha
Map Location: -38.458563 177.830076
Comments:

CommentThe Waikohu Stream, which flows into the Waipaoa River, was very high on the 11th, but was steadily falling the next morning.

Affected LifelineTraffic on the north road to Opotiki was held up by the river at McKay's bridge at Puha.

LandslideLandslide at Takapau
Map Location: -38.016553 178.267724
Comments:

Affected LifelineTakapau Hill was affected again, with the road falling away on the outer edge, but it was still passable.

LandslideLandslide at Tatapouri
Map Location: -38.646034 178.145444
Comments:

Affected LifelineAt Tatapouri, the old slip continued to creep across the road, dislocating traffic on the 11th. The slip broke its bounds on the night of the 12th and came down on the road, blocking the highway completely. The slip also blocked the culvert. Motorists used the beach instead when the tide was not too high.

FloodingFlooding at Te Araroa
Map Location: -37.633021 178.355369
Comments:

CasualtiesA middle-aged Maori man was drowned while attempting to cross the flooded Awatere River on horseback on the evening of the 12th. He was seen to enter the river about 400 yards (366 m) from its mouth at 7:30pm, called out shortly after, and was not seen again.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Te Karaka
Map Location: -38.467237 177.870255
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicIn Te Karaka, 1.84 in (4.7 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 9th.

Physical CharacteristicIn Te Karaka, 0.42 in (1.1 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 10th.

Physical CharacteristicIn Te Karaka, 1.03 in (2.6 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 11th.

Physical CharacteristicIn Te Karaka, 1.34 in (3.4 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 12th.

Physical CharacteristicIn Te Karaka, the total rainfall for the four days was 4.63 in (11.8 cm).

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Tikitiki
Map Location: -37.797294 178.411972
Comments:

Physical Characteristic7 in (17.8 cm) of rain was recorded in the three days up to 9am on the 11th.

FloodingFlooding at Waerengaahika
Map Location: -38.601149 177.92432
Comments:

CommentAt Waerengaahika, the Waipaoa River was running a banker on the afternoon of the 11th.

FloodingFlooding at Waikura River
Map Location: -38.642794 177.705809
Comments:

CommentThe Waikura Creek was running high, and was over its banks between Messrs Steele's and Hain's home.

References

Cowie, C. A. and Attwood, A. K. (1957). Floods in New Zealand 1920-1953. The Soil Conservation Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
Headline: Coast streams up.
The Gisborne Herald, 12 August 1940.
Headline: Flood warning.
The Gisborne Herald, 12 August 1940.
Headline: Main roads blocked.
The Gisborne Herald, 12 August 1940.
Headline: Rainfall figures.
The Gisborne Herald, 12 August 1940.
Headline: As bad as ever: Tatapouri slip down.
The Gisborne Herald, 13 August 1940.
Headline: Flooded areas: Waipaoa in fresh.
The Gisborne Herald, 13 August 1940.
Headline: Maori swept away: Tried to swim river.
The Gisborne Herald, 13 August 1940.
Headline: News of the day: District rainfall.
The Gisborne Herald, 13 August 1940.
Headline: Ready for trouble: Gisborne farmers.
The Gisborne Herald, 13 August 1940.
Headline: Beware of slips: Warning to drivers.
The Gisborne Herald, 14 August 1940.
Headline: Further erosion: Mouth of Waipaoa.
The Gisborne Herald, 14 August 1940.
Headline: Te Araroa tragedy.
The Gisborne Herald, 14 August 1940.