NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
January 1986 Nelson Flooding
(
1986-01-25
)
Heavy rain brought severe flooding and slips to the Nelson area. A Civil Defence Emergency was declared for the region, and properties and roads were damaged. A boy was drowned in a Nelson stream.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 2 days - From the 25th to the 26th of January.
Tasman-Nelson
Flooding
at
Tasman-Nelson
A Civil Defence Emergency was declared for the Nelson region at 11:12am on the 25th and was terminated at 12pm on the 26th.
Approximately 150 people were evacuated in the Brightwater and Matai areas.
A large amount of damage was done to River Control Works. Repairs to Nelson River banks would cost between $500,000 and $1 million ($1,100,000-$2,200,000 2008 dollars).
EQC payouts totalled $600,000 in 1994 ($850,000 2008 dollars).
Agricultural assistance totalled $950,000 in 1991 ($1,390,000 2008 dollars).
Heavy Rain
at
Bainham
Bainham recorded 194.2 mm (19.4 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 25th.
Flooding
at
Brightwater
The Wairoa River breached its banks at Brightwater.
The Wairoa River swept over the approaches to the Brightwater bridge on State Highway 6. State Highway 6 was closed.
The water was about 1 m deep in parts of Brightwater's main street.
100 people were evacuated from 20 houses in Brightwater.
One man narrowly escaped drowning.
Water entered some shops and houses.
The flood was the first major one to hit Brightwater since 1939.
The Wairoa River swept away 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) of land and a block of kiwifruit, and flattened 1 acre (0.40 ha) of apple trees. One orchardist estimated the damage to his orchard at $50,000 ($110,000 2008 dollars).
Silt and debris was littered all over the land. One farmer had 5-6 acres (2.0-2.4 ha) of land under 0.5 m of silt and many of his fences had been washed away.
Flooding
at
Hira
Paddocks in the Hira area became shallow lakes.
Flooding
at
Motueka River
Damage was done along the upper Motueka River as far down as Motupiko.
Heavy Rain
at
Nelson City
Nelson had 24 hours of heavy rain.
Nelson Airport recorded 98.7 mm (9.9 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 25th.
Flooding
Heavy rain resulting in flooding in Nelson City on the 25th
Major damage was done to some houses.
Three bridges in the city closed: Brook Valley bridge, Nile Street East bridge and Bridge Street bridge. The flood carried away sections at the Clouston bridge and the Brook Stream bridge.
Isel Park stream in Stoke was a wide torrent, scouring grass and washing away trees and shrubs.
Water supplies were cut to Nelson. The main water pipe was cut from the Brook reservoir.
50 people were evacauted from Hanby Park, Matai.
The Maitai Dam currently under construction suffered major damage during the flood.
The flood in the Maitai River was comparable with the earlier floods in 1983 and 1970.
Damage was done to the sewerage system, with sewerage pipes badly damaged in some areas. Sewerage was reported to be entering manholes in the Upper Weka Street-Cambridge area.
A 16-year-old boy was drowned on the 25th when he was riding on an inflated inner tube and was swept away by the Brook Stream.
Damage was done to the Maitai River and Brook Stream in the city.
Landslide
Severe slips caused roads to be blocked.
A sea of mud and rock smashed into a home on the 25th. The retaining walls behind the house crumbled under the onslaught of rain and pressure, and 3.5 tonnes of mud slid into the back of the house. The house was lifted and moved 30 cm, damaging the roof, floor and piles. The house had cost $58,000 six months prior ($127,000 2008 dollars).
Heavy Rain
at
Richmond
Richmond Hill recorded 151 mm (15.1 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 25th.
Flooding
There was widespread surface flooding at Three Brothers Corner in Richmond.
Several houses were surrounded by water.
Heavy Rain
at
Tapawera
The Forest Service Headquarters recorded 76 mm (7.6 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 25th.
Flooding
at
Wai-iti River
The Wai-iti River took quite a lot of damage.
The Wai-iti River washed away farmland.
Flooding
at
Wairoa River
The Wairoa River took the biggest battering.
West Coast
Heavy Rain
at
Waipuna
The Grey River at Waipuna recorded a maximum 12 hour fall of 93 mm (9.3 cm) on the 25th.
References
- Burgess, S.M. (1986). New Zealand Weather. Weather and Climate (1986)6:80-82.
- Headline: Civil Defence Declarations since 1 January 1963.
- Declared Civil Defence Emergencies.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 25 January 1986. Headline Fears held for Brightwater as province cut off.
- Headline: Brightwater orchardist badly hit.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 27 January 1986.
- Headline: Flood cost: A life and $1 million.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 27 January 1986.
- Headline: Weather break pulled region back from brink.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 27 January 1986.
- Headline: River repairs amount to year's work.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 28 January 1986.
- Headline: Young dreams come tumbling down.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 28 January 1986.
- Southland Regional Council (CD).
January 1986 Nelson Flooding
(
1986-01-25
)
Heavy rain brought severe flooding and slips to the Nelson area. A Civil Defence Emergency was declared for the region, and properties and roads were damaged. A boy was drowned in a Nelson stream.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 2 days - From the 25th to the 26th of January.
Tasman-Nelson
Flooding
at
Tasman-Nelson
A Civil Defence Emergency was declared for the Nelson region at 11:12am on the 25th and was terminated at 12pm on the 26th.
Approximately 150 people were evacuated in the Brightwater and Matai areas.
A large amount of damage was done to River Control Works. Repairs to Nelson River banks would cost between $500,000 and $1 million ($1,100,000-$2,200,000 2008 dollars).
EQC payouts totalled $600,000 in 1994 ($850,000 2008 dollars).
Agricultural assistance totalled $950,000 in 1991 ($1,390,000 2008 dollars).
Heavy Rain
at
Bainham
Bainham recorded 194.2 mm (19.4 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 25th.
Flooding
at
Brightwater
The Wairoa River breached its banks at Brightwater.
The Wairoa River swept over the approaches to the Brightwater bridge on State Highway 6. State Highway 6 was closed.
The water was about 1 m deep in parts of Brightwater's main street.
100 people were evacuated from 20 houses in Brightwater.
One man narrowly escaped drowning.
Water entered some shops and houses.
The flood was the first major one to hit Brightwater since 1939.
The Wairoa River swept away 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) of land and a block of kiwifruit, and flattened 1 acre (0.40 ha) of apple trees. One orchardist estimated the damage to his orchard at $50,000 ($110,000 2008 dollars).
Silt and debris was littered all over the land. One farmer had 5-6 acres (2.0-2.4 ha) of land under 0.5 m of silt and many of his fences had been washed away.
Flooding
at
Hira
Paddocks in the Hira area became shallow lakes.
Flooding
at
Motueka River
Damage was done along the upper Motueka River as far down as Motupiko.
Heavy Rain
at
Nelson City
Nelson had 24 hours of heavy rain.
Nelson Airport recorded 98.7 mm (9.9 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 25th.
Flooding
Heavy rain resulting in flooding in Nelson City on the 25th
Major damage was done to some houses.
Three bridges in the city closed: Brook Valley bridge, Nile Street East bridge and Bridge Street bridge. The flood carried away sections at the Clouston bridge and the Brook Stream bridge.
Isel Park stream in Stoke was a wide torrent, scouring grass and washing away trees and shrubs.
Water supplies were cut to Nelson. The main water pipe was cut from the Brook reservoir.
50 people were evacauted from Hanby Park, Matai.
The Maitai Dam currently under construction suffered major damage during the flood.
The flood in the Maitai River was comparable with the earlier floods in 1983 and 1970.
Damage was done to the sewerage system, with sewerage pipes badly damaged in some areas. Sewerage was reported to be entering manholes in the Upper Weka Street-Cambridge area.
A 16-year-old boy was drowned on the 25th when he was riding on an inflated inner tube and was swept away by the Brook Stream.
Damage was done to the Maitai River and Brook Stream in the city.
Landslide
Severe slips caused roads to be blocked.
A sea of mud and rock smashed into a home on the 25th. The retaining walls behind the house crumbled under the onslaught of rain and pressure, and 3.5 tonnes of mud slid into the back of the house. The house was lifted and moved 30 cm, damaging the roof, floor and piles. The house had cost $58,000 six months prior ($127,000 2008 dollars).
Heavy Rain
at
Richmond
Richmond Hill recorded 151 mm (15.1 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 25th.
Flooding
There was widespread surface flooding at Three Brothers Corner in Richmond.
Several houses were surrounded by water.
Heavy Rain
at
Tapawera
The Forest Service Headquarters recorded 76 mm (7.6 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 25th.
Flooding
at
Wai-iti River
The Wai-iti River took quite a lot of damage.
The Wai-iti River washed away farmland.
Flooding
at
Wairoa River
The Wairoa River took the biggest battering.
West Coast
Heavy Rain
at
Waipuna
The Grey River at Waipuna recorded a maximum 12 hour fall of 93 mm (9.3 cm) on the 25th.
References
- Burgess, S.M. (1986). New Zealand Weather. Weather and Climate (1986)6:80-82.
- Headline: Civil Defence Declarations since 1 January 1963.
- Declared Civil Defence Emergencies.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 25 January 1986. Headline Fears held for Brightwater as province cut off.
- Headline: Brightwater orchardist badly hit.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 27 January 1986.
- Headline: Flood cost: A life and $1 million.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 27 January 1986.
- Headline: Weather break pulled region back from brink.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 27 January 1986.
- Headline: River repairs amount to year's work.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 28 January 1986.
- Headline: Young dreams come tumbling down.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 28 January 1986.
- Southland Regional Council (CD).