NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
August 1961 Hawke's Bay and Wellington Flooding
(
1961-08-10
)
Heavy rain and flooding in Hawke's Bay and the Wairarapa caused severe stock losses.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 2 days - There was widespread southerly rain on the 9th and 10th which caused flooding in Hastings and Wairarapa.
On the 10th of August stock losses were estimated at 30,000-40,000. Losses were reaching disaster level.
Hawke's Bay
Flooding
at
Hawke's Bay
Six days of a southerly storm lead to flooding in central Hawke's Bay on the 10th.
The road from Waipukurau to Porangahau was closed.
Four schools were closed in Hawke's Bay because of the weather. The schools closed were Te Hauke, Maraekakaho, Omakere and Maraetotara.
Thousands of acres of farmland was underwater.
Roads were scoured and washed out, fences were flattened and culverts were blocked.
There was flooding of the Heretaunga Plains.
Patangata county was the hardest hit county in central Hawke's Bay.
Wet weather held up the planting of crops and this may have lead to higher vegetable prices.
The low-lying fields across the plain around Te Hauke and Pukehou were transformed into lakes.
Landslide
There were numerous slips down all over the place. Hurunui Road, Hunters Road and Kairakau Road were blocked by slips.
Multi Hazard
On the 11th lamb losses were estimated to be as high as 50,000. The high number of stock losses were attributed to the wind and the drop in temperature along with the flood waters. It was impossible for new-born lambs to survive in the open.
North from Waipukurau and out to the Porangahau coast, individual stock losses ranged from 60-400 lambs.
Flooding
at
Awatoto
80 acres (32 ha) were completely submerged.
Flooding
at
Bay View
Several market gardeners lost portions of their potato crops.
Flooding
at
Clive
There were considerable amounts of surface water north of the Tutaekuri River and farmland was covered in many places.
Heavy Rain
at
Hastings
Hastings recorded 1.32 in (3.35 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Flooding
at
Karamu Stream
There was bad surface flooding around Karamu Stream.
Heavy Rain
at
Maraekakaho
Maraekakaho recorded 1.11 in (2.82 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Maraetotara Lodge
Maraetotara recorded 4.33 in (11.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Flooding
at
Meeanee
Large areas of the low-lying land were inundated.
Heavy Rain
at
Mokopeka homestead
Mokopeka recorded 1.90 in (4.83 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Napier
Napier recorded 1.21 in (3.07 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Ongaonga
Ongaonga recorded 1.67 in (4.24 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Flooding
at
Pakipaki
Paddocks were flooded.
Many ewes and lambs drowned. One farmer lost five ewes and lambs.
Two streams backed up and almost flooded the State highway. Either side of the highway were lakes extending for miles.
Houses were completely surrounded for miles.
Near Pakipaki school, hundreds of acres were flooded.
Flooding
at
Lake Poukawa
Rain filled the Poukawa Lake and many low-lying areas flooded.
Heavy Rain
at
Porangahau
Porangahau recorded 1.14 in (2.90 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Flooding
at
Porangahau River
Porangahau River rose 26 ft (7.92 m) at the saleyards bridge.
Heavy Rain
at
Pukehou
Pukehou recorded 2.12 in (5.38 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Pukehou recorded 62 points (1.57 cm) of rain in two hours on the 10th.
Flooding
Pukehou experienced a minor cloudburst.
Streams became raging torrents.
Water rushed across the State Highway at over a dozen places.
Lake covered 1500 acres (607 ha) of low-lying ground at Pukehou.
In the Pukehou area alone the estimates for lamb losses was between 2000 and 3000.
Heavy Rain
at
Rose Hill homestead
Rose Hill recorded 2.25 in (5.72 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Sherenden
Sherenden recorded 1.05 in (2.67 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Taradale
Taradale recorded 1.09 in (2.77 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Aute
Te Aute recorded 2.53 in (6.43 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Flooding
at
Te Hauke
Gardens of houses at Te Hauke were waterlogged.
Several houses on the lower side of the main road were surrounded by water.
Flooding
at
Tukituki River
Tukituki River rose 6 ft (1.83 m).
Heavy Rain
at
Waimarama
Waimarama recorded 1.72 in (4.37 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Waipawa
Waipawa recorded 2.75 in (6.99 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Waipukurau
Waipukurau recorded 1.75 in (4.45 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Flooding
at
Rangitikei River
Rangitikei River had a discharge of 42,500 cusecs (1203 cumecs) at Mangaweka Bridge on the 11th. Gauge height was 21.33 ft (6.5 m) and the catchment area was 1076 sq miles (2787 km^2).
Wellington
Flooding
at
Wellington
State Highway 4 from Wanganui to Raetihi was closed on the 10th.
State Highway 3 between Bulls and Wanganui required careful driving.
The direct route from Featherston to Lake Ferry was closed by flooding at Tuhitarata.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Wellington
Mountainous seas in the Cook Strait caused some crossings to be cancelled.
Landslide
State Highway 1 between Mangaweka and Taihape was closed by a slip.
The road between Masterton and Castlepoint was closed by a slip.
Flooding
at
Lake Wairarapa
Lake Wairarapa rose 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m).
Flooding
at
Wairarapa
It was the biggest flood since 1947.
20,000 acres (8094 ha) were flooded.
Power was out in some areas.
300 telephone subscribers were without service.
References
- Owen, R.E. (1963). Hydrology Annual, No.9, 1961. Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
- Saunders, W.(2000) Planning and Resources, Hazard and Emergency Management Section, WAIRARAPA DIVISION, Wairarapa Storm Events 1880 - 1998, Technical Report No. 00/17
- Headline: Further Slips, Damage, Disrupt Rail Goods Service.
- The Evening Post, August 10 1961.
- Headline: Figures for rainfall throughout HB.
- The Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, 10 August 1961.
- Headline: Four country schools closed.
- The Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, 10 August 1961.
- Headline: Heavy rainfall continues in Central HB.
- The Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, 10 August 1961.
- Headline: Lambing losses at disaster level.
- The Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, 10 August 1961.
- Headline: Minor cloudburst raises flood level at Pukehou.
- The Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, 10 August 1961.
- Headline: Surface water is Napier's main problem.
- The Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, 10 August 1961.
- Headline: Farm losses surveyed as sunshine follows flood.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 11 August 1961.
- Headline: Flooding could lead to dearer vegetables.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 11 August 1961.
- Headline: Low-lying areas still under surface water.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 11 August 1961.
- Headline: Farmers taking toll of losses in Central Hawkes Bay.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 11 August 1961.
- Headline: High estimate of lamb losses in H.B.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 11 August 1961.
August 1961 Hawke's Bay and Wellington Flooding
(
1961-08-10
)
Heavy rain and flooding in Hawke's Bay and the Wairarapa caused severe stock losses.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 2 days - There was widespread southerly rain on the 9th and 10th which caused flooding in Hastings and Wairarapa.
On the 10th of August stock losses were estimated at 30,000-40,000. Losses were reaching disaster level.
Hawke's Bay
Flooding
at
Hawke's Bay
Six days of a southerly storm lead to flooding in central Hawke's Bay on the 10th.
The road from Waipukurau to Porangahau was closed.
Four schools were closed in Hawke's Bay because of the weather. The schools closed were Te Hauke, Maraekakaho, Omakere and Maraetotara.
Thousands of acres of farmland was underwater.
Roads were scoured and washed out, fences were flattened and culverts were blocked.
There was flooding of the Heretaunga Plains.
Patangata county was the hardest hit county in central Hawke's Bay.
Wet weather held up the planting of crops and this may have lead to higher vegetable prices.
The low-lying fields across the plain around Te Hauke and Pukehou were transformed into lakes.
Landslide
There were numerous slips down all over the place. Hurunui Road, Hunters Road and Kairakau Road were blocked by slips.
Multi Hazard
On the 11th lamb losses were estimated to be as high as 50,000. The high number of stock losses were attributed to the wind and the drop in temperature along with the flood waters. It was impossible for new-born lambs to survive in the open.
North from Waipukurau and out to the Porangahau coast, individual stock losses ranged from 60-400 lambs.
Flooding
at
Awatoto
80 acres (32 ha) were completely submerged.
Flooding
at
Bay View
Several market gardeners lost portions of their potato crops.
Flooding
at
Clive
There were considerable amounts of surface water north of the Tutaekuri River and farmland was covered in many places.
Heavy Rain
at
Hastings
Hastings recorded 1.32 in (3.35 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Flooding
at
Karamu Stream
There was bad surface flooding around Karamu Stream.
Heavy Rain
at
Maraekakaho
Maraekakaho recorded 1.11 in (2.82 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Maraetotara Lodge
Maraetotara recorded 4.33 in (11.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Flooding
at
Meeanee
Large areas of the low-lying land were inundated.
Heavy Rain
at
Mokopeka homestead
Mokopeka recorded 1.90 in (4.83 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Napier
Napier recorded 1.21 in (3.07 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Ongaonga
Ongaonga recorded 1.67 in (4.24 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Flooding
at
Pakipaki
Paddocks were flooded.
Many ewes and lambs drowned. One farmer lost five ewes and lambs.
Two streams backed up and almost flooded the State highway. Either side of the highway were lakes extending for miles.
Houses were completely surrounded for miles.
Near Pakipaki school, hundreds of acres were flooded.
Flooding
at
Lake Poukawa
Rain filled the Poukawa Lake and many low-lying areas flooded.
Heavy Rain
at
Porangahau
Porangahau recorded 1.14 in (2.90 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Flooding
at
Porangahau River
Porangahau River rose 26 ft (7.92 m) at the saleyards bridge.
Heavy Rain
at
Pukehou
Pukehou recorded 2.12 in (5.38 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Pukehou recorded 62 points (1.57 cm) of rain in two hours on the 10th.
Flooding
Pukehou experienced a minor cloudburst.
Streams became raging torrents.
Water rushed across the State Highway at over a dozen places.
Lake covered 1500 acres (607 ha) of low-lying ground at Pukehou.
In the Pukehou area alone the estimates for lamb losses was between 2000 and 3000.
Heavy Rain
at
Rose Hill homestead
Rose Hill recorded 2.25 in (5.72 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Sherenden
Sherenden recorded 1.05 in (2.67 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Taradale
Taradale recorded 1.09 in (2.77 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Aute
Te Aute recorded 2.53 in (6.43 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Flooding
at
Te Hauke
Gardens of houses at Te Hauke were waterlogged.
Several houses on the lower side of the main road were surrounded by water.
Flooding
at
Tukituki River
Tukituki River rose 6 ft (1.83 m).
Heavy Rain
at
Waimarama
Waimarama recorded 1.72 in (4.37 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Waipawa
Waipawa recorded 2.75 in (6.99 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Waipukurau
Waipukurau recorded 1.75 in (4.45 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Flooding
at
Rangitikei River
Rangitikei River had a discharge of 42,500 cusecs (1203 cumecs) at Mangaweka Bridge on the 11th. Gauge height was 21.33 ft (6.5 m) and the catchment area was 1076 sq miles (2787 km^2).
Wellington
Flooding
at
Wellington
State Highway 4 from Wanganui to Raetihi was closed on the 10th.
State Highway 3 between Bulls and Wanganui required careful driving.
The direct route from Featherston to Lake Ferry was closed by flooding at Tuhitarata.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Wellington
Mountainous seas in the Cook Strait caused some crossings to be cancelled.
Landslide
State Highway 1 between Mangaweka and Taihape was closed by a slip.
The road between Masterton and Castlepoint was closed by a slip.
Flooding
at
Lake Wairarapa
Lake Wairarapa rose 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m).
Flooding
at
Wairarapa
It was the biggest flood since 1947.
20,000 acres (8094 ha) were flooded.
Power was out in some areas.
300 telephone subscribers were without service.
References
- Owen, R.E. (1963). Hydrology Annual, No.9, 1961. Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
- Saunders, W.(2000) Planning and Resources, Hazard and Emergency Management Section, WAIRARAPA DIVISION, Wairarapa Storm Events 1880 - 1998, Technical Report No. 00/17
- Headline: Further Slips, Damage, Disrupt Rail Goods Service.
- The Evening Post, August 10 1961.
- Headline: Figures for rainfall throughout HB.
- The Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, 10 August 1961.
- Headline: Four country schools closed.
- The Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, 10 August 1961.
- Headline: Heavy rainfall continues in Central HB.
- The Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, 10 August 1961.
- Headline: Lambing losses at disaster level.
- The Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, 10 August 1961.
- Headline: Minor cloudburst raises flood level at Pukehou.
- The Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, 10 August 1961.
- Headline: Surface water is Napier's main problem.
- The Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, 10 August 1961.
- Headline: Farm losses surveyed as sunshine follows flood.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 11 August 1961.
- Headline: Flooding could lead to dearer vegetables.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 11 August 1961.
- Headline: Low-lying areas still under surface water.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 11 August 1961.
- Headline: Farmers taking toll of losses in Central Hawkes Bay.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 11 August 1961.
- Headline: High estimate of lamb losses in H.B.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 11 August 1961.