NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
August 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 Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 5 days - From the 8th to the 12th of August.
Bay of Plenty
Landslide
at
Waioeka Gorge Reserve
A small blockage was reported from the Waioeka Gorge.
Gisborne
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne
The rain over the four days to the 12th was the heaviest for a similar number of days for two years.
Heavy 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.
Flooding
The Waipaoa River was in high flood on the 11th but went down steadily on the 12th.
Every stream in the Waikohu County was swollen by the perisstent rainfall in the hills. Streams were also flooded along the East Coast.
Many roads in the Waikohu County were blocked for a time by flooded fords.
Washouts occurred on some of the Waikohu county roads, but no serious damage was done.
There was some loss among lambs, particularly on farms with flat land that was awash with surface water, where drowning was the main cause.
Landslide
Roads 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.
On 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 Hazard
Waiapu 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).
Landslide
at
Arero
Traffic 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 Rain
at
Bartletts
The rainfall at Bartletts was very heavy from the 8th to the morning of the 12th.
At Bartletts, 4.26 in (10.8 cm) of rain fell in the four days from the 8th to 9am on the 12th.
Flooding
Much water was lying about the paddocks.
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne city
At the signal station, 1.33 in (3.4 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 9th.
At the signal station, 0.45 in (1.1 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 10th.
At the signal station, 1.12 in (2.8 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 11th.
At the signal station, 1.64 in (4.2 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 12th.
At the signal station, the total rainfall for the four days was 4.54 in (11.5 cm).
At the signal station, 1.02 in (2.6 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 13th.
At the aerodrome, 1.53 in (3.9 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 9th.
At the aerodrome, 0.25 in (0.6 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 10th.
At the aerodrome, 1.11 in (2.8 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 11th.
At the aerodrome, 0.52 in (1.3 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 12th.
At the aerodrome, the total rainfall for the four days was 3.41 in (8.7 cm).
At the aerodrome, 0.36 in (0.9 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 13th.
Landslide
at
Hangaroa
A 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 Rain
In Hangaroa, 2.07 in (5.3 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 9th.
In Hangaroa, 0.81 in (2.1 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 10th.
In Hangaroa, 1.84 in (4.7 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 11th.
In Hangaroa, 1.56 in (4.0 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 12th.
In Hangaroa, the total rainfall for the four days was 6.28 in (16.0 cm).
Landslide
at
Kaitaratahi
There was a slip on the Kaitaratahi Hill on the morning of the 13th.
Landslide
at
Koranga homestead
There was a slip at the far end of Moanui Rd.
Flooding
at
Mangahauini homestead
In 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.
Landslide
at
Mangatuna
Slips occurred at Spencer's cutting, north of Mangatuna, blocking he highway between Tolaga Bay and Tokomaru Bay on the 12th and 13th.
Flooding
at
Muriwai
On 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.
Extensive damage was done to pastures and crops.
The 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.
Several 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.
Some dead cows and sheep were washed up on the beach.
A small bridge on the access road to the heads was undermined to such an extent that it was dangerous.
The lagoon (Wherowhero Lagoon) had considerably increased in width from the 12th to the 14th.
Landslide
at
Otoko
Several slips were reported on Otoko Hill.
Flooding
at
Pahi homestead
The 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.
Flooding
at
Puha
The Waikohu Stream, which flows into the Waipaoa River, was very high on the 11th, but was steadily falling the next morning.
Traffic on the north road to Opotiki was held up by the river at McKay's bridge at Puha.
Landslide
at
Takapau
Takapau Hill was affected again, with the road falling away on the outer edge, but it was still passable.
Landslide
at
Tatapouri
At 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.
Flooding
at
Te Araroa
A 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 Rain
at
Te Karaka
In Te Karaka, 1.84 in (4.7 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 9th.
In Te Karaka, 0.42 in (1.1 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 10th.
In Te Karaka, 1.03 in (2.6 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 11th.
In Te Karaka, 1.34 in (3.4 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 12th.
In Te Karaka, the total rainfall for the four days was 4.63 in (11.8 cm).
Heavy Rain
at
Tikitiki
7 in (17.8 cm) of rain was recorded in the three days up to 9am on the 11th.
Flooding
at
Waerengaahika
At Waerengaahika, the Waipaoa River was running a banker on the afternoon of the 11th.
Flooding
at
Waikura River
The 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.
August 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 Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 5 days - From the 8th to the 12th of August.
Bay of Plenty
Landslide
at
Waioeka Gorge Reserve
A small blockage was reported from the Waioeka Gorge.
Gisborne
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne
The rain over the four days to the 12th was the heaviest for a similar number of days for two years.
Heavy 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.
Flooding
The Waipaoa River was in high flood on the 11th but went down steadily on the 12th.
Every stream in the Waikohu County was swollen by the perisstent rainfall in the hills. Streams were also flooded along the East Coast.
Many roads in the Waikohu County were blocked for a time by flooded fords.
Washouts occurred on some of the Waikohu county roads, but no serious damage was done.
There was some loss among lambs, particularly on farms with flat land that was awash with surface water, where drowning was the main cause.
Landslide
Roads 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.
On 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 Hazard
Waiapu 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).
Landslide
at
Arero
Traffic 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 Rain
at
Bartletts
The rainfall at Bartletts was very heavy from the 8th to the morning of the 12th.
At Bartletts, 4.26 in (10.8 cm) of rain fell in the four days from the 8th to 9am on the 12th.
Flooding
Much water was lying about the paddocks.
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne city
At the signal station, 1.33 in (3.4 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 9th.
At the signal station, 0.45 in (1.1 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 10th.
At the signal station, 1.12 in (2.8 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 11th.
At the signal station, 1.64 in (4.2 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 12th.
At the signal station, the total rainfall for the four days was 4.54 in (11.5 cm).
At the signal station, 1.02 in (2.6 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 13th.
At the aerodrome, 1.53 in (3.9 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 9th.
At the aerodrome, 0.25 in (0.6 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 10th.
At the aerodrome, 1.11 in (2.8 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 11th.
At the aerodrome, 0.52 in (1.3 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 12th.
At the aerodrome, the total rainfall for the four days was 3.41 in (8.7 cm).
At the aerodrome, 0.36 in (0.9 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 13th.
Landslide
at
Hangaroa
A 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 Rain
In Hangaroa, 2.07 in (5.3 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 9th.
In Hangaroa, 0.81 in (2.1 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 10th.
In Hangaroa, 1.84 in (4.7 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 11th.
In Hangaroa, 1.56 in (4.0 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 12th.
In Hangaroa, the total rainfall for the four days was 6.28 in (16.0 cm).
Landslide
at
Kaitaratahi
There was a slip on the Kaitaratahi Hill on the morning of the 13th.
Landslide
at
Koranga homestead
There was a slip at the far end of Moanui Rd.
Flooding
at
Mangahauini homestead
In 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.
Landslide
at
Mangatuna
Slips occurred at Spencer's cutting, north of Mangatuna, blocking he highway between Tolaga Bay and Tokomaru Bay on the 12th and 13th.
Flooding
at
Muriwai
On 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.
Extensive damage was done to pastures and crops.
The 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.
Several 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.
Some dead cows and sheep were washed up on the beach.
A small bridge on the access road to the heads was undermined to such an extent that it was dangerous.
The lagoon (Wherowhero Lagoon) had considerably increased in width from the 12th to the 14th.
Landslide
at
Otoko
Several slips were reported on Otoko Hill.
Flooding
at
Pahi homestead
The 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.
Flooding
at
Puha
The Waikohu Stream, which flows into the Waipaoa River, was very high on the 11th, but was steadily falling the next morning.
Traffic on the north road to Opotiki was held up by the river at McKay's bridge at Puha.
Landslide
at
Takapau
Takapau Hill was affected again, with the road falling away on the outer edge, but it was still passable.
Landslide
at
Tatapouri
At 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.
Flooding
at
Te Araroa
A 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 Rain
at
Te Karaka
In Te Karaka, 1.84 in (4.7 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 9th.
In Te Karaka, 0.42 in (1.1 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 10th.
In Te Karaka, 1.03 in (2.6 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 11th.
In Te Karaka, 1.34 in (3.4 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 12th.
In Te Karaka, the total rainfall for the four days was 4.63 in (11.8 cm).
Heavy Rain
at
Tikitiki
7 in (17.8 cm) of rain was recorded in the three days up to 9am on the 11th.
Flooding
at
Waerengaahika
At Waerengaahika, the Waipaoa River was running a banker on the afternoon of the 11th.
Flooding
at
Waikura River
The 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.