NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
July 1988 North Island Flooding
(
1988-07-17
)
Heavy rain, flooding and landslips were experienced in Auckland, Waikato and Gisborne, and caused damage and disruption. An teenager was presumed dead after being swept away in the Waiwera Estuary.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 1 day -
A small depression to the north of the country with a broad frontal band to the south brought strong easterly winds.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
State Highway 16 was closed.
The fire service received over 100 calls for help with flooded basements and leaking roofs.
Heavy Rain
Heavy rain caused sewer pipe breakages.
Flooding
Heavy rain brought flooding to west Auckland on the 17th.
A Civil Defence Emergency was declared in West Auckland at 6:31pm on the 17th and lasted until the 18th. It was the first CDE in 15 years in the West Auckland district.
32 people were evacuated.
Landslide
Some slips occurred.
The railway from Auckland to Whangarei was closed due to two landslips.
Flooding
at
Auckland City
The Wintergarden Theatre and the 246 shopping centre in Queen Street were among the flooded buildings.
Flooding
at
Henderson
Parts of Henderson Valley, Massey and Taupaki were flooded by swollen rivers.
Flooding
at
Kumeu
Kumeu Stream rose 6m.
Flooding
at
Massey
Parts of Henderson Valley, Massey and Taupaki were flooded by swollen rivers.
Landslide
Two houses in Massey were hit by a landslip.
Two homes were evacuated.
Flooding
at
Orewa
About 50 people were shifted to safety from low-lying parts of the Orewa motorcamp.
Flooding
at
Taupaki
Parts of Henderson Valley, Massey and Taupaki were flooded by swollen rivers.
At Taupaki, water was 1.2 m deep in the main street.
The flood caused loads of debris and mud.
At Taupaki, 26 people were evacuated when streams overflowed.
High Wind / Gust
at
Tiritiri Matangi Island
Tiritiri Matangi lighthouse recorded wind gusts of up to 60 knots (111 km/hr) on the 17th.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Waiwera
An 18-year-old boy was presumed dead after being swept away in the Waiwera Estuary current.
Multi Hazard
at
Whangaparaoa Peninsula
Whangaparaoa Peninsula was hard hit by the storm.
Heavy Rain
Whangaparaoa Peninsula recorded 80 mm (8.0 cm) of rain in less than 24 hours on the 17th.
High Wind / Gust
The peninsula was buffeted by easterly winds.
Waikato
Landslide
at
Waikato
Several roads around the Coromandel region were blocked by slips, including the Coromadel-Colville road, and the road between Coromandel and Whitianga.
Heavy Rain
at
Coromandel
Coromandel Township recorded 185 mm (18.5 cm) of rain.
Flooding
at
Hikutaia
Water supplies to the areas of Matatoki, Puriri, and Hikutaia were affected by blocked supply pipes.
Flooding
at
Matatoki
Water supplies to the areas of Matatoki, Puriri, and Hikutaia were affected by blocked supply pipes.
Flooding
at
Puriri
Water supplies to the areas of Matatoki, Puriri, and Hikutaia were affected by blocked supply pipes.
Heavy Rain
at
Thames
Thames recorded 423 mm (42.3 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 17th.
Flooding
Torrential rain caused flooding at Thames.
Avalon Motel on the southern side of Thames was swamped by flood waters for the second time in 1988.
Severeal inches of water swept through the Avalon Motel.
Hundreds of hectares of low-lying farmland were underwater in the Thames area.
Flooding
at
Totara
The worst affected area was Totara, south of Thames.
Gisborne
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne
Parts of Gisborne experienced heavy rain on the 17th.
Flooding
Minor surface flooding occurred on the Poverty Bay flats.
Landslide
The highway between Gisborne and Ruatoria was cut off by a slip near the Waipiro turnoff.
Multi Hazard
Cook County suffered minor surface flooding and slips.
Flooding
at
Aorangi
Makarika Stream poured through a stopbank breach left by Cyclone Bola, and ran through a paddock, through Makarika School and through the school house. Flood waters surrounded and went under the school buildings.
Three families were evacuated when the stream overflowed. Two families were evacuated form the school house.
Water lapped around vehicle seats.
Heavy Rain
at
East Cape
East Cape recorded 368 mm (36.8 cm) of rain in the 48 hours to 9am on the 18th.
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne City
Gisborne recorded 73.3 mm (7.3 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 18th.
Flooding
at
Mata River
A large chunk of former pasture and cropping land was almost an island in the Mata River.
The Mata River sliced a new path, and the flood waters cut 50m out of the land.
An asparagus crop was ruined.
A shed was swept away.
Heavy Rain
at
Matawai
Matawai recorded 97 mm (9.7 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 18th.
Flooding
at
Pakira station
The Pakira bridge approach was damaged.
Flooding
at
Papatu
Papatu suffered some land damage.
Heavy Rain
at
Ruatoria
Ruatoria recorded 268 mm (26.8 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 18th.
Heavy Rain
at
Tauwhareparae
Tauwhareparae recorded 136 mm (13.6 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 18th.
Flooding
Tauwhareparae suffered some land damage.
Landslide
at
Te Araroa
The East Coast road was blocked by a slip at Te Araroa.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Karaka
Te Karaka recorded 64 mm (6.4 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 18th.
Flooding
at
Tokomaru Bay
A utility truck went off the road and into a stream at Tokomaru Bay.
Multi Hazard
at
Tolaga Bay
Several families in outlying areas near Tolaga Bay were evacuated.
Flooding
A truckload of sandbags was sent to Tolaga Bay.
School buses were not operating.
Flooding
at
Waimata
Waimata suffered some land damage.
Heavy Rain
at
Wainui
Wainui Beach recorded 125 mm (12.5 cm) in the 48 hours to 9am on the 18th.
Flooding
at
Waiomatatini
The Te Horo flats at Waiomatatini were flooded.
References
- Headline: District one big puddle after weekend deluge.
- The Gisborne Herald, 18 July 1988.
- Headline: Shadbolt declares emergency.
- The Gisborne Herald, 18 July 1988.
- Headline: Lastest gale rubs salt into gaping Bola wound.
- The Gisborne Herald, 19 July 1988.
- Headline: Surrounded like an island in a lake of mud.
- The Gisborne Herald, 19 July 1988.
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, Floods to 30 Sept 2005.
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.) Newsletter 34, September 1988.
- Headline: Civil Defence emergency as northern heavens open.
- The New Zealand Herald, 18 July 1988.
July 1988 North Island Flooding
(
1988-07-17
)
Heavy rain, flooding and landslips were experienced in Auckland, Waikato and Gisborne, and caused damage and disruption. An teenager was presumed dead after being swept away in the Waiwera Estuary.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 1 day -
A small depression to the north of the country with a broad frontal band to the south brought strong easterly winds.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
State Highway 16 was closed.
The fire service received over 100 calls for help with flooded basements and leaking roofs.
Heavy Rain
Heavy rain caused sewer pipe breakages.
Flooding
Heavy rain brought flooding to west Auckland on the 17th.
A Civil Defence Emergency was declared in West Auckland at 6:31pm on the 17th and lasted until the 18th. It was the first CDE in 15 years in the West Auckland district.
32 people were evacuated.
Landslide
Some slips occurred.
The railway from Auckland to Whangarei was closed due to two landslips.
Flooding
at
Auckland City
The Wintergarden Theatre and the 246 shopping centre in Queen Street were among the flooded buildings.
Flooding
at
Henderson
Parts of Henderson Valley, Massey and Taupaki were flooded by swollen rivers.
Flooding
at
Kumeu
Kumeu Stream rose 6m.
Flooding
at
Massey
Parts of Henderson Valley, Massey and Taupaki were flooded by swollen rivers.
Landslide
Two houses in Massey were hit by a landslip.
Two homes were evacuated.
Flooding
at
Orewa
About 50 people were shifted to safety from low-lying parts of the Orewa motorcamp.
Flooding
at
Taupaki
Parts of Henderson Valley, Massey and Taupaki were flooded by swollen rivers.
At Taupaki, water was 1.2 m deep in the main street.
The flood caused loads of debris and mud.
At Taupaki, 26 people were evacuated when streams overflowed.
High Wind / Gust
at
Tiritiri Matangi Island
Tiritiri Matangi lighthouse recorded wind gusts of up to 60 knots (111 km/hr) on the 17th.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Waiwera
An 18-year-old boy was presumed dead after being swept away in the Waiwera Estuary current.
Multi Hazard
at
Whangaparaoa Peninsula
Whangaparaoa Peninsula was hard hit by the storm.
Heavy Rain
Whangaparaoa Peninsula recorded 80 mm (8.0 cm) of rain in less than 24 hours on the 17th.
High Wind / Gust
The peninsula was buffeted by easterly winds.
Waikato
Landslide
at
Waikato
Several roads around the Coromandel region were blocked by slips, including the Coromadel-Colville road, and the road between Coromandel and Whitianga.
Heavy Rain
at
Coromandel
Coromandel Township recorded 185 mm (18.5 cm) of rain.
Flooding
at
Hikutaia
Water supplies to the areas of Matatoki, Puriri, and Hikutaia were affected by blocked supply pipes.
Flooding
at
Matatoki
Water supplies to the areas of Matatoki, Puriri, and Hikutaia were affected by blocked supply pipes.
Flooding
at
Puriri
Water supplies to the areas of Matatoki, Puriri, and Hikutaia were affected by blocked supply pipes.
Heavy Rain
at
Thames
Thames recorded 423 mm (42.3 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 17th.
Flooding
Torrential rain caused flooding at Thames.
Avalon Motel on the southern side of Thames was swamped by flood waters for the second time in 1988.
Severeal inches of water swept through the Avalon Motel.
Hundreds of hectares of low-lying farmland were underwater in the Thames area.
Flooding
at
Totara
The worst affected area was Totara, south of Thames.
Gisborne
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne
Parts of Gisborne experienced heavy rain on the 17th.
Flooding
Minor surface flooding occurred on the Poverty Bay flats.
Landslide
The highway between Gisborne and Ruatoria was cut off by a slip near the Waipiro turnoff.
Multi Hazard
Cook County suffered minor surface flooding and slips.
Flooding
at
Aorangi
Makarika Stream poured through a stopbank breach left by Cyclone Bola, and ran through a paddock, through Makarika School and through the school house. Flood waters surrounded and went under the school buildings.
Three families were evacuated when the stream overflowed. Two families were evacuated form the school house.
Water lapped around vehicle seats.
Heavy Rain
at
East Cape
East Cape recorded 368 mm (36.8 cm) of rain in the 48 hours to 9am on the 18th.
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne City
Gisborne recorded 73.3 mm (7.3 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 18th.
Flooding
at
Mata River
A large chunk of former pasture and cropping land was almost an island in the Mata River.
The Mata River sliced a new path, and the flood waters cut 50m out of the land.
An asparagus crop was ruined.
A shed was swept away.
Heavy Rain
at
Matawai
Matawai recorded 97 mm (9.7 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 18th.
Flooding
at
Pakira station
The Pakira bridge approach was damaged.
Flooding
at
Papatu
Papatu suffered some land damage.
Heavy Rain
at
Ruatoria
Ruatoria recorded 268 mm (26.8 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 18th.
Heavy Rain
at
Tauwhareparae
Tauwhareparae recorded 136 mm (13.6 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 18th.
Flooding
Tauwhareparae suffered some land damage.
Landslide
at
Te Araroa
The East Coast road was blocked by a slip at Te Araroa.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Karaka
Te Karaka recorded 64 mm (6.4 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 18th.
Flooding
at
Tokomaru Bay
A utility truck went off the road and into a stream at Tokomaru Bay.
Multi Hazard
at
Tolaga Bay
Several families in outlying areas near Tolaga Bay were evacuated.
Flooding
A truckload of sandbags was sent to Tolaga Bay.
School buses were not operating.
Flooding
at
Waimata
Waimata suffered some land damage.
Heavy Rain
at
Wainui
Wainui Beach recorded 125 mm (12.5 cm) in the 48 hours to 9am on the 18th.
Flooding
at
Waiomatatini
The Te Horo flats at Waiomatatini were flooded.
References
- Headline: District one big puddle after weekend deluge.
- The Gisborne Herald, 18 July 1988.
- Headline: Shadbolt declares emergency.
- The Gisborne Herald, 18 July 1988.
- Headline: Lastest gale rubs salt into gaping Bola wound.
- The Gisborne Herald, 19 July 1988.
- Headline: Surrounded like an island in a lake of mud.
- The Gisborne Herald, 19 July 1988.
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, Floods to 30 Sept 2005.
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.) Newsletter 34, September 1988.
- Headline: Civil Defence emergency as northern heavens open.
- The New Zealand Herald, 18 July 1988.