NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
June 1902 Lower North Island Flooding
(
1902-06-12
)
40 years
Heavy rain caused flooding in lower North Island. The Manawatu River was in high flood.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 4 days - The weather event lasted from the 12th to the 15th of June.
Hawke's Bay
Multi Hazard
at
Hawke's Bay
Several wash-outs occurred in the Hawkes Bay district and there were numerous slips on various parts of the New Plymouth-Wellington-Napier section.
Flooding
at
Meeanee
Houses were inundated.
Heavy Rain
at
Napier
There was continuous rain over a number of days.
Snow melt along with heavy rainfall in the back country caused the rivers to rise rapidly.
Flooding
All low-lying country between Napier and Hastings, on both sides of the railway line, was underwater.
It was the heaviest flood experienced in Napier for years.
Napier was isolated.
There was no communication possible either by road or rail.
Flooding
at
Pakowhai
Houses were inundated.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Heavy Rain
at
Ashhurst
Ashhurst recorded 2.29 in (5.82 cm) of rain on the 13th.
Ashhurst recorded 2.11 in (5.36 cm) of rain on the 14th.
Heavy Rain
at
Dannevirke
Dannevirke recorded 2.30 in (5.84 cm) of rain on the 13th.
Dannevirke recorded 3.4 in (8.64 cm) of rain on the 14th.
Heavy Rain
at
Eketahuna
Eketahuna recorded 2.42 in (6.15 cm) of rain on the 13th.
Eketahuna recorded 2.04 in (5.18 cm) of rain on the 14th.
Flooding
at
Foxton
Reports from Foxton stated that the floods there were highest ever known in the district and that all the mills ceased work.
Flooding
at
Hokowhitu
Practically the whole of Hokowhitu district was under water.
Settlers were removed in boats.
A large number of stock were reported drowned.
Water in river was a foot higher than it was during the Easter flood in 1897.
The town water supply was cut off and the pipes over Fitzherbert Bridge were breaking.
Manawatu River at Fitzherbert Bridge was three quarters of a mile wide
Manawatu River was overflowing its banks at Hokowhitu.
The peak discharge at the Fitzherbert Bridge was estimated at 152,000 cusecs (4304 cumecs).
The peak level at Fitzherbert Bridge was 100.5 ft (30.6 m).
Flooding
at
Makerua
The average water depth at Makerua was 6-8 ft (1.8-2.4 m).
Heavy Rain
at
Manawatu Gorge
The heavy rains which fell in the back country of the Manawatu district on Friday (13th) and Saturday (14th) caused an exceptional flow of water through the Manawatu Gorge.
Heavy Rain
at
Manawatu River
There was widespread rainfall over the entire eastern portion of the catchment on the 13th to the 15th following light rainfall on the previous two days.
Flooding
The Manawatu River was in its heaviest flood to be experienced for years.
Manawatu River flooded the land to a depth of between 4-24 ft (1.2-7.3 m).
Floodwaters were up to one metre higher than in 1880 and the effects were much more widespread.
The river ran near its peak for one and a half days.
Manawatu River ponded up at Upper Gorge Bridge. The gauge had a reading of 60 ft (18.3 m) which was 17 ft (5.2 m) higher than the flood in May 1941.
The peak level at the Upper Gorge Bridge was 245.6 ft (74.9 m).
The flood level at Longburn was 69.0 ft (21.0 m).
The flood level at Moutoa was 29.6 ft (9.0 m).
The flood level at Whirokino Bridge was 19.0 ft (5.8 m).
The peak discharge of the Manawatu River was 160,000 cusecs (4531 cumecs).
The swamp lands lying between Shannon and Longburn were filled up with flood water. The waters of the swamp in their spread, covered the Manawatu Railway Co's line.
The floods in the district were reported to be the heaviest known for years past.
Flooding
at
Motua
The average water depth at Motua was 6-8 ft (1.8-2.4 m).
Heavy Rain
at
Ormondville
Ormondville recorded 3.45 in (8.76 cm) of rain on the 13th.
Ormondville recorded 5.60 in (14.22 cm) of rain on the 14th.
Ormondville recorded 281 mm (28.1 cm) of rain in three days (which has a return period of 150 years).
Heavy Rain
at
Pahiatua
Pahiatua recorded 1.93 in (4.90 cm) of rain on the 13th.
Pahiatua recorded 2.13 in (5.41 cm) of rain on the 14th.
Heavy Rain
at
Palmerston North
Palmerston North recorded 91 mm (9.1 cm) of rain in three days (which has a return period of five years).
Flooding
at
Taonui
Taonui Valley was flooded to a maximaum depth depth of 33 ft (10.1 m) above high water of ordinary spring tides (HWOST).
The average water depth at Taonui was 4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m).
Wellington
Heavy Rain
at
Masterton
It was raining hard in the district on the 12th.
Flooding
The surrounding country was underwater.
Stock losses were feared to be considerable.
Up-country it was the biggest flood known for years.
Landslide
at
Mauriceville
There were slips on the railway line north of Mauriceville which blocked traffic.
Flooding
at
Carterton
The floods here were the heaviest experienced for years and considerable damage was done to low-lying grounds and small bridges.
The loss of stock was small.
The approach to the White Bridge has been washed away and the Maungatiriri Valley Bridge also.
Flooding
at
Featherston
Heavy floods were experienced in the Martinborough and Kahautara districts as a result of the heavy rains during the past few days.
The low-lying country was inundated for miles.
Canterbury
Heavy Rain
at
Canterbury
There was very heavy rain in parts of North Canterbury on the 12th.
Flooding
Rivers were in flood.
There was some damage to low-lying farms.
References
- Cowie, C.A., Attwood, A.K. (1957) Floods in New Zealand 1920-1953, The Soil Conservation Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand
- Headline: Floods on the Manawatu Line, page 5 (Papers Past)
- Evening Post, 16 June 1902.
- NZ Met Service. (2008). Meteorology of Extreme Rainfalls in New Zealand (Mark Pascoe, Ed.).
- Headline: Heavy rain and floods.
- The Wanganui Chronicle, 14 June 1902.
- Headline: The Weather, The Manawatu River in Flood.
- The Wanganui Chronicle, 16 June 1902.
June 1902 Lower North Island Flooding
(
1902-06-12
)
40 years
Heavy rain caused flooding in lower North Island. The Manawatu River was in high flood.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 4 days - The weather event lasted from the 12th to the 15th of June.
Hawke's Bay
Multi Hazard
at
Hawke's Bay
Several wash-outs occurred in the Hawkes Bay district and there were numerous slips on various parts of the New Plymouth-Wellington-Napier section.
Flooding
at
Meeanee
Houses were inundated.
Heavy Rain
at
Napier
There was continuous rain over a number of days.
Snow melt along with heavy rainfall in the back country caused the rivers to rise rapidly.
Flooding
All low-lying country between Napier and Hastings, on both sides of the railway line, was underwater.
It was the heaviest flood experienced in Napier for years.
Napier was isolated.
There was no communication possible either by road or rail.
Flooding
at
Pakowhai
Houses were inundated.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Heavy Rain
at
Ashhurst
Ashhurst recorded 2.29 in (5.82 cm) of rain on the 13th.
Ashhurst recorded 2.11 in (5.36 cm) of rain on the 14th.
Heavy Rain
at
Dannevirke
Dannevirke recorded 2.30 in (5.84 cm) of rain on the 13th.
Dannevirke recorded 3.4 in (8.64 cm) of rain on the 14th.
Heavy Rain
at
Eketahuna
Eketahuna recorded 2.42 in (6.15 cm) of rain on the 13th.
Eketahuna recorded 2.04 in (5.18 cm) of rain on the 14th.
Flooding
at
Foxton
Reports from Foxton stated that the floods there were highest ever known in the district and that all the mills ceased work.
Flooding
at
Hokowhitu
Practically the whole of Hokowhitu district was under water.
Settlers were removed in boats.
A large number of stock were reported drowned.
Water in river was a foot higher than it was during the Easter flood in 1897.
The town water supply was cut off and the pipes over Fitzherbert Bridge were breaking.
Manawatu River at Fitzherbert Bridge was three quarters of a mile wide
Manawatu River was overflowing its banks at Hokowhitu.
The peak discharge at the Fitzherbert Bridge was estimated at 152,000 cusecs (4304 cumecs).
The peak level at Fitzherbert Bridge was 100.5 ft (30.6 m).
Flooding
at
Makerua
The average water depth at Makerua was 6-8 ft (1.8-2.4 m).
Heavy Rain
at
Manawatu Gorge
The heavy rains which fell in the back country of the Manawatu district on Friday (13th) and Saturday (14th) caused an exceptional flow of water through the Manawatu Gorge.
Heavy Rain
at
Manawatu River
There was widespread rainfall over the entire eastern portion of the catchment on the 13th to the 15th following light rainfall on the previous two days.
Flooding
The Manawatu River was in its heaviest flood to be experienced for years.
Manawatu River flooded the land to a depth of between 4-24 ft (1.2-7.3 m).
Floodwaters were up to one metre higher than in 1880 and the effects were much more widespread.
The river ran near its peak for one and a half days.
Manawatu River ponded up at Upper Gorge Bridge. The gauge had a reading of 60 ft (18.3 m) which was 17 ft (5.2 m) higher than the flood in May 1941.
The peak level at the Upper Gorge Bridge was 245.6 ft (74.9 m).
The flood level at Longburn was 69.0 ft (21.0 m).
The flood level at Moutoa was 29.6 ft (9.0 m).
The flood level at Whirokino Bridge was 19.0 ft (5.8 m).
The peak discharge of the Manawatu River was 160,000 cusecs (4531 cumecs).
The swamp lands lying between Shannon and Longburn were filled up with flood water. The waters of the swamp in their spread, covered the Manawatu Railway Co's line.
The floods in the district were reported to be the heaviest known for years past.
Flooding
at
Motua
The average water depth at Motua was 6-8 ft (1.8-2.4 m).
Heavy Rain
at
Ormondville
Ormondville recorded 3.45 in (8.76 cm) of rain on the 13th.
Ormondville recorded 5.60 in (14.22 cm) of rain on the 14th.
Ormondville recorded 281 mm (28.1 cm) of rain in three days (which has a return period of 150 years).
Heavy Rain
at
Pahiatua
Pahiatua recorded 1.93 in (4.90 cm) of rain on the 13th.
Pahiatua recorded 2.13 in (5.41 cm) of rain on the 14th.
Heavy Rain
at
Palmerston North
Palmerston North recorded 91 mm (9.1 cm) of rain in three days (which has a return period of five years).
Flooding
at
Taonui
Taonui Valley was flooded to a maximaum depth depth of 33 ft (10.1 m) above high water of ordinary spring tides (HWOST).
The average water depth at Taonui was 4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m).
Wellington
Heavy Rain
at
Masterton
It was raining hard in the district on the 12th.
Flooding
The surrounding country was underwater.
Stock losses were feared to be considerable.
Up-country it was the biggest flood known for years.
Landslide
at
Mauriceville
There were slips on the railway line north of Mauriceville which blocked traffic.
Flooding
at
Carterton
The floods here were the heaviest experienced for years and considerable damage was done to low-lying grounds and small bridges.
The loss of stock was small.
The approach to the White Bridge has been washed away and the Maungatiriri Valley Bridge also.
Flooding
at
Featherston
Heavy floods were experienced in the Martinborough and Kahautara districts as a result of the heavy rains during the past few days.
The low-lying country was inundated for miles.
Canterbury
Heavy Rain
at
Canterbury
There was very heavy rain in parts of North Canterbury on the 12th.
Flooding
Rivers were in flood.
There was some damage to low-lying farms.
References
- Cowie, C.A., Attwood, A.K. (1957) Floods in New Zealand 1920-1953, The Soil Conservation Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand
- Headline: Floods on the Manawatu Line, page 5 (Papers Past)
- Evening Post, 16 June 1902.
- NZ Met Service. (2008). Meteorology of Extreme Rainfalls in New Zealand (Mark Pascoe, Ed.).
- Headline: Heavy rain and floods.
- The Wanganui Chronicle, 14 June 1902.
- Headline: The Weather, The Manawatu River in Flood.
- The Wanganui Chronicle, 16 June 1902.