NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
August 1965 New Zealand Flooding ( 1965-08-10 )
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
Duration: 7 days - From Tuesday the 10th till Monday the 16th.
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
The Gisborne to Wairoa road via Tiniroto was closed by silt deposits and slips on the 14th. It was cleared on the 15th. The Gisborne to Wairoa road over the Whareratas was closed by a slip on the 16th.
Landslide
There were small slips on the Gisborne-Opotiki highway through the Waioeka Gorge. The Wairoa to Rotorua road via Waikaremoana was closed for a few hours by slips.
Gisborne
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne
The Gisborne district was lashed by a near-record rainfall. One of the heaviest rainstorms experienced for many years lashed the Gisborne-East Coast district on the night of the 13th. Rain was still falling the next morning.
Over 5 in (12.7 cm) of rain fell in many places on the night of the 13th.
Falling trees affected telephone lines in many parts of the district.
Flooding
The Waipaoa River rose to a peak of 20 ft 11 in (6.38 m) at 5:30pm on the 13th.
The were large areas of surface water on the flats.
Water was over many roads on the 14th.
Thousands of lambs were lost due to the wet conditions. One farm in the Waimata-Whangara weatershed lost about 400 lambs.
Much of the farm in the Waimata-Whangara watershed was flooded to a depth of 1 or 2 in (2.5-5.1 cm) for short periods.
Multi Hazard
There were subsidences and washouts on the East Coast State Highway between Tokomaru Bay and Tikitiki.
Landslide
The Gisborne-Wairoa railway line was blocked by a large slip between Beach Loop and Paritu late on the 15th. The line was not expected to be open before the 18th.
Maritime / Coastal
Seas were rough on the East Coast and south to Wairoa over the weekend.
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne city
Darton Field received 4.45 in (11.3 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 14th. This was the third heaviest fall recorded at Darton Field.
Many Gisborne residents awoke to find their sections under water on the 14th.
The city water supply was disrupted by the blocked intake grill at Waingake on the 14th. The city was supplied by the water from the reservoirs.
A fault caused by water on the 14th left 20 Muir St subscribers without phones until the evening of the 15th.
High Wind / Gust
The overnight rain on the 13th was accompanied by winds of 24 mph (39 km/hr).
The wind gusted up to 47 mph (76 km/hr) overnight on the 13th.
Multi Hazard
The Gisborne airport was closed at about midday on the 13th. All flights in and out were cancelled over the weekend, although a frieght plane was able to leave at 11:30am on the 14th and two planes were able to land. Low cloud cover had restricted air traffic. The airport was closed on the 16th due to heavy rain but reopened at midday.
Flooding
There was flooding at Awapuni Lagoon.
Maritime / Coastal
Coastal shipping was affected by the weather. Several coasters were delayed.
Seas over the weekend were moderate around Gisborne.
Landslide
at
Hangaroa
A fairly big slip blocked the Tiniroto highway to Wairoa, near Hangaroa on the morning of the 14th.
Landslide
at
Hexton
There was a considerable amount of water over the Back Ormond Rd beyond Hexton on the night of the 13th. There was still some water over the road the next morning.
Heavy Rain
at
Huanui station
Huanui Station received a total of 11.37 in (28.9 cm) of rain for the four days from the 12th to the morning of the 16th.
Huanui Station received 5.11 in (13.0 cm cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 14th.
Heavy Rain
at
Huiarua station
Huiarua Station recorded 5.11 in (13.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 13th.
Landslide
at
Kopuaroa
A slip occurred on Kopuaroa Hill.
Heavy Rain
at
Makarika station
Makarika Station recorded 6.17 in (15.7 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 13th.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Matakaoa Point
The sea off the Matakaoa coastaline was reported to be very rough.
Heavy Rain
at
Matawai
Matawai went into its sixth day of continuous rain on the morning of the 16th.
Flooding
at
Matawhero
The Waipaoa River reached a height of 22.5 ft (6.86 m) at Matawhero Bridge on the 14th.
The Waipaoa River had a peak discharge of 73,800 cusecs (2090 cumecs), with a catchment area of 730 sq. miles (1891 km^2).
Flooding
at
Ngatapa
At Ngatapa a creek rose sharply and flooded the road, closing it to traffic. The road was passable later on the morning of the 14th.
The road was flooded to a depth of about 6 in (15.2 cm).
Heavy Rain
Telephone services at Ngatapa suffered inconvenience due to the water damage at Patutahi.
Flooding
at
Ormond
A drain in Ormond was flooded on the morning of the 14th and the ground under three telegraph poles was washed away. Power had to be cut in the affected area until the poles could be re-positioned. A transformer also collapsed.
Heavy Rain
at
Patutahi
Some telephones in Patutahi were cut off for most of the weekend when water seeped onto a cable.
Heavy Rain
at
Poroporo River
In the Poroporo Valley, 5.16 in (13.1 cm) of rain was recorded in 24 hours on the 13th.
Heavy Rain
at
Ruatoria
Rain was particularly heavy in the Ruatoria area on the 13th.
Ruatoria received 4.62 in (11.7 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 13th.
Ruatoria received 0.89 in (2.3 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 15th.
Ruatoria received a total of 10.83 in (27.5 cm) of rain between the 12th and the morning of the 16th. This was the heaviest August fall for five years.
Just north of Tokomaru Bay, telegraph poles had to be re-positioned after a slip. The power supply to the Ruatoria district had to be cut while the repairs were carried out.
Flooding
The Waiapu River at Ruatoria was in moderate flood twice between the night of the 12th and the 16th.
Multi Hazard
There were fairly severe losses of lambs on low country but no great harm done at higher levels.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Araroa
Te Araroa and the whole of the Matakaoa area was lashed by heavy rain for four days from the 10th. The rain was easing off on the morning of the 14th.
Te Araroa received a total of 7 in (17.8 cm) of rain over the four days.
Te Araroa received 2.75 in (7.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours on the 13th.
Landslide
There were small slips on coastal roads in Te Araroa.
Flooding
Large areas of surface water were reported.
Damage was done to the road near the Awatere River, just south of Te Araroa.
Multi Hazard
There were some losses of lambs.
Flooding
at
Te Karaka
The Wairoa River reached a height of 21.6 ft (6.58 m) at Kanakanaia Bridge on the 14th.
The Wairoa River had a peak discharge of 67,300 cusecs (191 cumecs), with a catchment area of 610 sq. miles (1580 km^2).
Multi Hazard
at
Te Wera homestead
At Te Wera, about 50 lambs from a moderate-sized ewe flock died.
Landslide
at
Tikitiki
A slip occurred on Gudgeon's Hill at Tikitiki.
Heavy Rain
at
Tiniroto
Telephone services at Tiniroto suffered inconvenience due to the water damage at Patutahi.
Heavy Rain
at
Tokomaru Bay
Rain fell all night on the 13th and conditions were still bad the next morning.
Flooding
Rivers in the Tokomaru Bay district were running high due to heavy run-off from back areas. Dwellings in low-lying areas of Tokomaru Bay were threatened as high tide approached.
The Motu River had risen 4 in (10.2 cm) in three hours on the morning of the 14th, and was still rising. It was reported to be running about 7 ft (2.1 m) above its normal level.
Floodwaters were under the floor of the Motu Store on the morning of the 14th
Two power poles slipped into the river north of Tokomaru Bay on the 14th. About nine subscribers were without power between 12:45pm and 3:25pm while the poles were replaced.
Landslide
at
Tolaga Bay
Slips and fallen trees blocked the Tauwhareparae Rd in the Tolaga Bay area.
Flooding
There was surface water over the highway at Mangaheia on the morning of the 14th, but it was cleared when the tide fell.
The Uawa River rose sharply during the night of the 13th. Two hours after the turn of the tide on the 14th, the river was still running about 3 ft (91 cm) above normal high-water level.
High Wind / Gust
A strong easterly wind was blowing at Tolaga Bay on the morning of the 14th.
Multi Hazard
There were fairly severe losses of lambs on low country but no great harm done at higher levels.
Heavy Rain
at
Waerengaokuri
Telephone services at Waerengaokuri suffered inconvenience due to the water damage at Patutahi.
Flooding
at
Waikohu River
The Waikohu River reached a height of 5 ft (1.52 m) at Mohaki Bridge on the 14th.
The Waikohu River had a peak discharge of 6,400 cusecs (181 cumecs), with a catchment area of 57 sq. miles (148 km^2).
Landslide
at
Waimata
There were some slips on Gray's Hill on the Waimata Valley Rd. Manders Rd in the Waimata Valley area was also blocked.
Landslide
at
Waingake
There was a blockage on the Waingake Hill on the morning of the 14th.
The access road to the water intake area was blocked by slips.
Heavy Rain
Heavy rain at the headworks of the Gisborne City Council's intake area caused the uprooting of native bush, which blocked the intake grill at Waingake early on the morning of the 14th.
Waingake received 10 in (25.4 cm) of rain from the 12th till the 16th.
Waingake had received 16 in (40.6) of rain during August up till the 16th. This had already exceeded the previous record total for August, which was in 1951.
Flooding
The flood in the Te Arai River was equivalent to the big flood on May 12, 1948.
Flooding
at
Waingaromia River
The Waingaromia River reached a height of 19.88 ft (6.06 m) at Terrace Station on the 13th.
The Waingaromia River had a peak discharge of 11,900 cusecs (337 cumecs), with a catchment area of 66 sq. miles (171 km^2).
Flooding
at
Waipaoa
The Lavenham Rd was flooded at the Waipaoa end on the 14th and was too deep for cars to pass through.
Floodwaters covered large areas of flat land in the Lavenham area.
Flooding
at
Waipaoa Station
The Wairoa River reached a height of 9.5 ft (2.90 m) at Waipaoa Station on the 14th.
The Wairoa River had a peak discharge of 10,500 cusecs (30 cumecs), with a catchment area of 65 sq. miles (168 km^2).
Flooding
at
Wharekopai River
The Wharekopai River reached a height of 20 ft (6.10 m) at Killarney Station on the 14th.
The Wharekopai River had a peak discharge of 6,830 cusecs (193 cumecs), with a catchment area of 68.9 sq. miles (178 km^2).
Landslide
at
Wharerata
A slip south of the Wharekakaha Rd turn-off closed the Gisborne to Wairoa road on the 16th. A large subsidence occurred on the Wharerata Hill after the area was saturated with rain.
Multi Hazard
at
Whatatutu
Whatatutu properties up to levels of about 1200 ft (366 m) were not heavy losers of lambs.
Hawke's Bay
Flooding
at
Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay rivers rose on the 14th after a night of steady rain. On the 15th, the Tukituki, Ngaruroro and Tutaekuri Rivers each rose about 10 ft (3.05 m). The rivers were dropping steadily on the 16th.
Heavy Rain
Some parts of the back country had more than 5 in (12.7 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Over 4 in (10.2 cm) of rain fell on the Heretaunga Plains during the weekend.
Landslide
The Wairoa-Napier road was closed for periods over the weekend and there were still slips on it on the 16th.
Heavy Rain
at
Elsthorpe
Elsthorpe recorded over 8 in (20.3 cm) of rain over the weekend.
Flooding
at
Kopuawhara Stream
From Kopuawhara it was reported that the Kopuawhara River was running high and still rising on the morning of the 14th.
Heavy Rain
at
Maraetotara Reserve
Maraetotara recorded near 23 in (58.4 cm) of rain over the weekend.
Heavy Rain
at
Napier
Heavy rain closed the Napier airport on the 16th but it reopened at midday.
Flooding
at
Ngaruroro River
The Ngaruroro River overflowed on the morning of the 16th, swollen by heavy rain and melting snow. The outlets of the Karamu Stream and Raupare drain were blocked and water spilled across farms and roads. About 2000 acres (8.09 km^2) of orchard and farmland along a 2-mile (3.2 km) stretch on the southern side of the river near Hastings.
The land was flooded up to a depth of 4 ft (1.2 m).
Heavy Rain
at
Wairoa
Heavy rain was still falling in Wairoa on the morning of the 14th.
The substation at Frasertown Rd recorded 3.11 in (7.9 cm) of rain over the four days to the morning of the 16th.
The substation recorded 0.79 in (2.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 13th.
The substation recorded 1.29 in (3.3 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 14th.
The substation recorded 0.24 in (0.6 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 15th.
The substation recorded 0.79 in (2.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 16th.
Flooding
Heavy rain in the back country raised the Wairoa River to a high level.
Multi Hazard
The town was isloated for periods when road communication was disrupted.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Heavy Rain
at
Manawatu-Wanganui
Heavy rain fell in the back country on the night of the 13th and continued on the 14th.
Multi Hazard
A depression moving south-east from the north of North Cape and areas of high pressure situated to the south of New Zealand caused warm, moisture-laden, easterly winds in the Rangitikei Catchment from the 12-14th.
Flooding
The flood did considerable damage. The flooding of river flats from Rewa to the sea caused damage to fences.
Siltation was heavy, with deposits of 1/2 to 2 ft (15.2-61.0 cm) over much of the berm land.
It was a once-in-three-year flood.
The volume of water discharged from the Rangitikei River in a 36-hour period was 98,000 acre feet.
The Manawatu River rose 7 ft (2.13 m) in less than 24 hours to a height of 14 ft (4.27 m) at 11am on the 15th.
The upper Manawatu River reached a peak level of 21 ft (6.40 m).
Flooding
at
Kopane
The Oroua River topped its banks at Kopene.
Flooding
at
Longburn
There was flooding on the Longburn-Rongotea highway.
Flooding
at
Mangaweka
The Rangitikiei River at the Mangaweka Gauge recorded two peak levels, approximately 12 hours apart.
The Rangitikei River had a peak flow of 42,000 cusecs (1189 cumecs).
Flooding
at
Oroua River
The Oroua River was running high on the morning of the 14th.
Heavy Rain
at
Palmerston North
There was continuous rain in the Palmerston North area over the weekend.
Flooding
at
Rangitikei River
The Rangitikei River flooded several hundreds of acres of farmland at its mouth over the weekend.
Wellington
Heavy Rain
at
Wellington
The east coast and southern parts of Wairarapa experienced particularly heavy rainfalls.
Flooding
There was extensive minor flooding and swollen rivers in the east coast of Wairarapa. Low-lying farmland was the worst affected.
Landslide
at
Rimutaka Hill
There was a slip on the Rimutaka Hill on the afternoon of the 15th.
Heavy Rain
at
Tinui
Tinui Valley received 10.83 in (27.5 cm) of rain in the 72 hours to 9am on the 16th.
Tinui Valley received 2.35 in (6.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 14th.
Tinui Valley received 2.35 in (6.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 16th.
Flooding
Tributary rivers were running bank-high.
At O'Hara's Bridge the temporary structure for a new bridge was completely submerged by floodwaters.
Surface flooding was fairly general on farmland in the Tinui area. Many paddocks were partly or completely under water.
Multi Hazard
at
Wellington International Airport
Wellington Airport was closed on the afternoon of the 15th due to bad weather.
Heavy Rain
at
Whareama
The Whareama district experienced only half the rainfall that Tinui did.
Whareama received more than 4 in (10.2 cm) of rain in the 48 hours to 9am on the 16th.
Marlborough
Flooding
at
Blenheim
The Taylor River reached a height of 281.9 ft (85.92 m) at the Borough Weir on the 15th.
The Taylor River had a peak discharge of 2,910 cusecs (82 cumecs), with a catchment area of 26.5 sq. miles (69 km^2).
Tasman-Nelson
Flooding
at
Collins River
The Collins River reached a height of 5.58 ft (1.70 m) at the Drop Structure on the 10th.
The Collins River had a peak discharge of 2,430 cusecs (69 cumecs), with a catchment area of 6.8 sq. miles (17.6 km^2).
Canterbury
Flooding
at
Canterbury
Surface water lay on a few country roads and on some low-lying paddocks in North Canterbury, but no rivers were reported to have flooded.
Heavy Rain
at
Christchurch
There was continuous rain in Christchurch over the weekend.
About 1 in (2.5 cm) of rain fell in the Christchurch area.
Multi Hazard
Christchurch airport was closed at 6:30pm on the 15th and remained closed the next day.
References
- Headline: Extreme care necessary.
- The Gisborne Herald, 14 August 1965.
- Headline: Gisborne district lashed by near record rainfall.
- The Gisborne Herald, 14 August 1965.
- Headline: Heavy rain at Fielding.
- The Gisborne Herald, Source: PA, 14 August 1965.
- Headline: Rivers rise in H.B..
- The Gisborne Herald, Source: PA, 14 August 1965.
- Headline: Air services still affected.
- The Gisborne Herald, Source: PA, 16 August 1965.
- Headline: Downpour blocks main road and rail links south.
- The Gisborne Herald, 16 August 1965.
- Headline: Gisborne Water Supply Disrupted.
- The Gisborne Herald, 16 August 1965.
- Headline: Heavy rain in Wairoa back country.
- The Gisborne Herald, 16 August 1965.
- Headline: Heavy toll of new-born lambs on drenched low-country farms.
- The Gisborne Herald, 16 August 1965.
- Headline: Rain in Manawatu, Canterbury.
- The Gisborne Herald, Source: PA, 16 August 1965.
- Headline: Weather big factor in road closing.
- The Gisborne Herald, 16 August 1965.
- Headline: Water up to 4ft. over H.B. land.
- The Gisborne Herald, Source: PA, 16 August 1965.
- Headline: Wairarapa has minor flooding.
- The Gisborne Herald, Source: PA, 16 August 1965.
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and high rainfall, Floods to 30 Sep 2005.
- Meteorological Observations for 1965, Stations in New Zealand and Outlying Islands, Including the Cook Group. New Zealand Meteorological Service.
- Owen, R.E. (1969). Hydrology Annual No. 16 1968. The Ministry of Works for Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington.
- Shearer, A.R. (1970). Hydrology Annual No. 15 1967, Part 1. Government Printer for Water and Soil Division, Wellington.
August 1965 New Zealand Flooding ( 1965-08-10 )
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
Duration: 7 days - From Tuesday the 10th till Monday the 16th.
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
The Gisborne to Wairoa road via Tiniroto was closed by silt deposits and slips on the 14th. It was cleared on the 15th. The Gisborne to Wairoa road over the Whareratas was closed by a slip on the 16th.
Landslide
There were small slips on the Gisborne-Opotiki highway through the Waioeka Gorge. The Wairoa to Rotorua road via Waikaremoana was closed for a few hours by slips.
Gisborne
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne
The Gisborne district was lashed by a near-record rainfall. One of the heaviest rainstorms experienced for many years lashed the Gisborne-East Coast district on the night of the 13th. Rain was still falling the next morning.
Over 5 in (12.7 cm) of rain fell in many places on the night of the 13th.
Falling trees affected telephone lines in many parts of the district.
Flooding
The Waipaoa River rose to a peak of 20 ft 11 in (6.38 m) at 5:30pm on the 13th.
The were large areas of surface water on the flats.
Water was over many roads on the 14th.
Thousands of lambs were lost due to the wet conditions. One farm in the Waimata-Whangara weatershed lost about 400 lambs.
Much of the farm in the Waimata-Whangara watershed was flooded to a depth of 1 or 2 in (2.5-5.1 cm) for short periods.
Multi Hazard
There were subsidences and washouts on the East Coast State Highway between Tokomaru Bay and Tikitiki.
Landslide
The Gisborne-Wairoa railway line was blocked by a large slip between Beach Loop and Paritu late on the 15th. The line was not expected to be open before the 18th.
Maritime / Coastal
Seas were rough on the East Coast and south to Wairoa over the weekend.
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne city
Darton Field received 4.45 in (11.3 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 14th. This was the third heaviest fall recorded at Darton Field.
Many Gisborne residents awoke to find their sections under water on the 14th.
The city water supply was disrupted by the blocked intake grill at Waingake on the 14th. The city was supplied by the water from the reservoirs.
A fault caused by water on the 14th left 20 Muir St subscribers without phones until the evening of the 15th.
High Wind / Gust
The overnight rain on the 13th was accompanied by winds of 24 mph (39 km/hr).
The wind gusted up to 47 mph (76 km/hr) overnight on the 13th.
Multi Hazard
The Gisborne airport was closed at about midday on the 13th. All flights in and out were cancelled over the weekend, although a frieght plane was able to leave at 11:30am on the 14th and two planes were able to land. Low cloud cover had restricted air traffic. The airport was closed on the 16th due to heavy rain but reopened at midday.
Flooding
There was flooding at Awapuni Lagoon.
Maritime / Coastal
Coastal shipping was affected by the weather. Several coasters were delayed.
Seas over the weekend were moderate around Gisborne.
Landslide
at
Hangaroa
A fairly big slip blocked the Tiniroto highway to Wairoa, near Hangaroa on the morning of the 14th.
Landslide
at
Hexton
There was a considerable amount of water over the Back Ormond Rd beyond Hexton on the night of the 13th. There was still some water over the road the next morning.
Heavy Rain
at
Huanui station
Huanui Station received a total of 11.37 in (28.9 cm) of rain for the four days from the 12th to the morning of the 16th.
Huanui Station received 5.11 in (13.0 cm cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 14th.
Heavy Rain
at
Huiarua station
Huiarua Station recorded 5.11 in (13.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 13th.
Landslide
at
Kopuaroa
A slip occurred on Kopuaroa Hill.
Heavy Rain
at
Makarika station
Makarika Station recorded 6.17 in (15.7 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 13th.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Matakaoa Point
The sea off the Matakaoa coastaline was reported to be very rough.
Heavy Rain
at
Matawai
Matawai went into its sixth day of continuous rain on the morning of the 16th.
Flooding
at
Matawhero
The Waipaoa River reached a height of 22.5 ft (6.86 m) at Matawhero Bridge on the 14th.
The Waipaoa River had a peak discharge of 73,800 cusecs (2090 cumecs), with a catchment area of 730 sq. miles (1891 km^2).
Flooding
at
Ngatapa
At Ngatapa a creek rose sharply and flooded the road, closing it to traffic. The road was passable later on the morning of the 14th.
The road was flooded to a depth of about 6 in (15.2 cm).
Heavy Rain
Telephone services at Ngatapa suffered inconvenience due to the water damage at Patutahi.
Flooding
at
Ormond
A drain in Ormond was flooded on the morning of the 14th and the ground under three telegraph poles was washed away. Power had to be cut in the affected area until the poles could be re-positioned. A transformer also collapsed.
Heavy Rain
at
Patutahi
Some telephones in Patutahi were cut off for most of the weekend when water seeped onto a cable.
Heavy Rain
at
Poroporo River
In the Poroporo Valley, 5.16 in (13.1 cm) of rain was recorded in 24 hours on the 13th.
Heavy Rain
at
Ruatoria
Rain was particularly heavy in the Ruatoria area on the 13th.
Ruatoria received 4.62 in (11.7 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 13th.
Ruatoria received 0.89 in (2.3 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 15th.
Ruatoria received a total of 10.83 in (27.5 cm) of rain between the 12th and the morning of the 16th. This was the heaviest August fall for five years.
Just north of Tokomaru Bay, telegraph poles had to be re-positioned after a slip. The power supply to the Ruatoria district had to be cut while the repairs were carried out.
Flooding
The Waiapu River at Ruatoria was in moderate flood twice between the night of the 12th and the 16th.
Multi Hazard
There were fairly severe losses of lambs on low country but no great harm done at higher levels.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Araroa
Te Araroa and the whole of the Matakaoa area was lashed by heavy rain for four days from the 10th. The rain was easing off on the morning of the 14th.
Te Araroa received a total of 7 in (17.8 cm) of rain over the four days.
Te Araroa received 2.75 in (7.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours on the 13th.
Landslide
There were small slips on coastal roads in Te Araroa.
Flooding
Large areas of surface water were reported.
Damage was done to the road near the Awatere River, just south of Te Araroa.
Multi Hazard
There were some losses of lambs.
Flooding
at
Te Karaka
The Wairoa River reached a height of 21.6 ft (6.58 m) at Kanakanaia Bridge on the 14th.
The Wairoa River had a peak discharge of 67,300 cusecs (191 cumecs), with a catchment area of 610 sq. miles (1580 km^2).
Multi Hazard
at
Te Wera homestead
At Te Wera, about 50 lambs from a moderate-sized ewe flock died.
Landslide
at
Tikitiki
A slip occurred on Gudgeon's Hill at Tikitiki.
Heavy Rain
at
Tiniroto
Telephone services at Tiniroto suffered inconvenience due to the water damage at Patutahi.
Heavy Rain
at
Tokomaru Bay
Rain fell all night on the 13th and conditions were still bad the next morning.
Flooding
Rivers in the Tokomaru Bay district were running high due to heavy run-off from back areas. Dwellings in low-lying areas of Tokomaru Bay were threatened as high tide approached.
The Motu River had risen 4 in (10.2 cm) in three hours on the morning of the 14th, and was still rising. It was reported to be running about 7 ft (2.1 m) above its normal level.
Floodwaters were under the floor of the Motu Store on the morning of the 14th
Two power poles slipped into the river north of Tokomaru Bay on the 14th. About nine subscribers were without power between 12:45pm and 3:25pm while the poles were replaced.
Landslide
at
Tolaga Bay
Slips and fallen trees blocked the Tauwhareparae Rd in the Tolaga Bay area.
Flooding
There was surface water over the highway at Mangaheia on the morning of the 14th, but it was cleared when the tide fell.
The Uawa River rose sharply during the night of the 13th. Two hours after the turn of the tide on the 14th, the river was still running about 3 ft (91 cm) above normal high-water level.
High Wind / Gust
A strong easterly wind was blowing at Tolaga Bay on the morning of the 14th.
Multi Hazard
There were fairly severe losses of lambs on low country but no great harm done at higher levels.
Heavy Rain
at
Waerengaokuri
Telephone services at Waerengaokuri suffered inconvenience due to the water damage at Patutahi.
Flooding
at
Waikohu River
The Waikohu River reached a height of 5 ft (1.52 m) at Mohaki Bridge on the 14th.
The Waikohu River had a peak discharge of 6,400 cusecs (181 cumecs), with a catchment area of 57 sq. miles (148 km^2).
Landslide
at
Waimata
There were some slips on Gray's Hill on the Waimata Valley Rd. Manders Rd in the Waimata Valley area was also blocked.
Landslide
at
Waingake
There was a blockage on the Waingake Hill on the morning of the 14th.
The access road to the water intake area was blocked by slips.
Heavy Rain
Heavy rain at the headworks of the Gisborne City Council's intake area caused the uprooting of native bush, which blocked the intake grill at Waingake early on the morning of the 14th.
Waingake received 10 in (25.4 cm) of rain from the 12th till the 16th.
Waingake had received 16 in (40.6) of rain during August up till the 16th. This had already exceeded the previous record total for August, which was in 1951.
Flooding
The flood in the Te Arai River was equivalent to the big flood on May 12, 1948.
Flooding
at
Waingaromia River
The Waingaromia River reached a height of 19.88 ft (6.06 m) at Terrace Station on the 13th.
The Waingaromia River had a peak discharge of 11,900 cusecs (337 cumecs), with a catchment area of 66 sq. miles (171 km^2).
Flooding
at
Waipaoa
The Lavenham Rd was flooded at the Waipaoa end on the 14th and was too deep for cars to pass through.
Floodwaters covered large areas of flat land in the Lavenham area.
Flooding
at
Waipaoa Station
The Wairoa River reached a height of 9.5 ft (2.90 m) at Waipaoa Station on the 14th.
The Wairoa River had a peak discharge of 10,500 cusecs (30 cumecs), with a catchment area of 65 sq. miles (168 km^2).
Flooding
at
Wharekopai River
The Wharekopai River reached a height of 20 ft (6.10 m) at Killarney Station on the 14th.
The Wharekopai River had a peak discharge of 6,830 cusecs (193 cumecs), with a catchment area of 68.9 sq. miles (178 km^2).
Landslide
at
Wharerata
A slip south of the Wharekakaha Rd turn-off closed the Gisborne to Wairoa road on the 16th. A large subsidence occurred on the Wharerata Hill after the area was saturated with rain.
Multi Hazard
at
Whatatutu
Whatatutu properties up to levels of about 1200 ft (366 m) were not heavy losers of lambs.
Hawke's Bay
Flooding
at
Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay rivers rose on the 14th after a night of steady rain. On the 15th, the Tukituki, Ngaruroro and Tutaekuri Rivers each rose about 10 ft (3.05 m). The rivers were dropping steadily on the 16th.
Heavy Rain
Some parts of the back country had more than 5 in (12.7 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Over 4 in (10.2 cm) of rain fell on the Heretaunga Plains during the weekend.
Landslide
The Wairoa-Napier road was closed for periods over the weekend and there were still slips on it on the 16th.
Heavy Rain
at
Elsthorpe
Elsthorpe recorded over 8 in (20.3 cm) of rain over the weekend.
Flooding
at
Kopuawhara Stream
From Kopuawhara it was reported that the Kopuawhara River was running high and still rising on the morning of the 14th.
Heavy Rain
at
Maraetotara Reserve
Maraetotara recorded near 23 in (58.4 cm) of rain over the weekend.
Heavy Rain
at
Napier
Heavy rain closed the Napier airport on the 16th but it reopened at midday.
Flooding
at
Ngaruroro River
The Ngaruroro River overflowed on the morning of the 16th, swollen by heavy rain and melting snow. The outlets of the Karamu Stream and Raupare drain were blocked and water spilled across farms and roads. About 2000 acres (8.09 km^2) of orchard and farmland along a 2-mile (3.2 km) stretch on the southern side of the river near Hastings.
The land was flooded up to a depth of 4 ft (1.2 m).
Heavy Rain
at
Wairoa
Heavy rain was still falling in Wairoa on the morning of the 14th.
The substation at Frasertown Rd recorded 3.11 in (7.9 cm) of rain over the four days to the morning of the 16th.
The substation recorded 0.79 in (2.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 13th.
The substation recorded 1.29 in (3.3 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 14th.
The substation recorded 0.24 in (0.6 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 15th.
The substation recorded 0.79 in (2.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 16th.
Flooding
Heavy rain in the back country raised the Wairoa River to a high level.
Multi Hazard
The town was isloated for periods when road communication was disrupted.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Heavy Rain
at
Manawatu-Wanganui
Heavy rain fell in the back country on the night of the 13th and continued on the 14th.
Multi Hazard
A depression moving south-east from the north of North Cape and areas of high pressure situated to the south of New Zealand caused warm, moisture-laden, easterly winds in the Rangitikei Catchment from the 12-14th.
Flooding
The flood did considerable damage. The flooding of river flats from Rewa to the sea caused damage to fences.
Siltation was heavy, with deposits of 1/2 to 2 ft (15.2-61.0 cm) over much of the berm land.
It was a once-in-three-year flood.
The volume of water discharged from the Rangitikei River in a 36-hour period was 98,000 acre feet.
The Manawatu River rose 7 ft (2.13 m) in less than 24 hours to a height of 14 ft (4.27 m) at 11am on the 15th.
The upper Manawatu River reached a peak level of 21 ft (6.40 m).
Flooding
at
Kopane
The Oroua River topped its banks at Kopene.
Flooding
at
Longburn
There was flooding on the Longburn-Rongotea highway.
Flooding
at
Mangaweka
The Rangitikiei River at the Mangaweka Gauge recorded two peak levels, approximately 12 hours apart.
The Rangitikei River had a peak flow of 42,000 cusecs (1189 cumecs).
Flooding
at
Oroua River
The Oroua River was running high on the morning of the 14th.
Heavy Rain
at
Palmerston North
There was continuous rain in the Palmerston North area over the weekend.
Flooding
at
Rangitikei River
The Rangitikei River flooded several hundreds of acres of farmland at its mouth over the weekend.
Wellington
Heavy Rain
at
Wellington
The east coast and southern parts of Wairarapa experienced particularly heavy rainfalls.
Flooding
There was extensive minor flooding and swollen rivers in the east coast of Wairarapa. Low-lying farmland was the worst affected.
Landslide
at
Rimutaka Hill
There was a slip on the Rimutaka Hill on the afternoon of the 15th.
Heavy Rain
at
Tinui
Tinui Valley received 10.83 in (27.5 cm) of rain in the 72 hours to 9am on the 16th.
Tinui Valley received 2.35 in (6.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 14th.
Tinui Valley received 2.35 in (6.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 16th.
Flooding
Tributary rivers were running bank-high.
At O'Hara's Bridge the temporary structure for a new bridge was completely submerged by floodwaters.
Surface flooding was fairly general on farmland in the Tinui area. Many paddocks were partly or completely under water.
Multi Hazard
at
Wellington International Airport
Wellington Airport was closed on the afternoon of the 15th due to bad weather.
Heavy Rain
at
Whareama
The Whareama district experienced only half the rainfall that Tinui did.
Whareama received more than 4 in (10.2 cm) of rain in the 48 hours to 9am on the 16th.
Marlborough
Flooding
at
Blenheim
The Taylor River reached a height of 281.9 ft (85.92 m) at the Borough Weir on the 15th.
The Taylor River had a peak discharge of 2,910 cusecs (82 cumecs), with a catchment area of 26.5 sq. miles (69 km^2).
Tasman-Nelson
Flooding
at
Collins River
The Collins River reached a height of 5.58 ft (1.70 m) at the Drop Structure on the 10th.
The Collins River had a peak discharge of 2,430 cusecs (69 cumecs), with a catchment area of 6.8 sq. miles (17.6 km^2).
Canterbury
Flooding
at
Canterbury
Surface water lay on a few country roads and on some low-lying paddocks in North Canterbury, but no rivers were reported to have flooded.
Heavy Rain
at
Christchurch
There was continuous rain in Christchurch over the weekend.
About 1 in (2.5 cm) of rain fell in the Christchurch area.
Multi Hazard
Christchurch airport was closed at 6:30pm on the 15th and remained closed the next day.
References
- Headline: Extreme care necessary.
- The Gisborne Herald, 14 August 1965.
- Headline: Gisborne district lashed by near record rainfall.
- The Gisborne Herald, 14 August 1965.
- Headline: Heavy rain at Fielding.
- The Gisborne Herald, Source: PA, 14 August 1965.
- Headline: Rivers rise in H.B..
- The Gisborne Herald, Source: PA, 14 August 1965.
- Headline: Air services still affected.
- The Gisborne Herald, Source: PA, 16 August 1965.
- Headline: Downpour blocks main road and rail links south.
- The Gisborne Herald, 16 August 1965.
- Headline: Gisborne Water Supply Disrupted.
- The Gisborne Herald, 16 August 1965.
- Headline: Heavy rain in Wairoa back country.
- The Gisborne Herald, 16 August 1965.
- Headline: Heavy toll of new-born lambs on drenched low-country farms.
- The Gisborne Herald, 16 August 1965.
- Headline: Rain in Manawatu, Canterbury.
- The Gisborne Herald, Source: PA, 16 August 1965.
- Headline: Weather big factor in road closing.
- The Gisborne Herald, 16 August 1965.
- Headline: Water up to 4ft. over H.B. land.
- The Gisborne Herald, Source: PA, 16 August 1965.
- Headline: Wairarapa has minor flooding.
- The Gisborne Herald, Source: PA, 16 August 1965.
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and high rainfall, Floods to 30 Sep 2005.
- Meteorological Observations for 1965, Stations in New Zealand and Outlying Islands, Including the Cook Group. New Zealand Meteorological Service.
- Owen, R.E. (1969). Hydrology Annual No. 16 1968. The Ministry of Works for Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington.
- Shearer, A.R. (1970). Hydrology Annual No. 15 1967, Part 1. Government Printer for Water and Soil Division, Wellington.