NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
March 1944 Gisborne and Hawke's Bay Flooding
(
1944-03-05
)
28 years
There was extensive flooding and heavy rain over Hawke's Bay and Gisborne. Many roads were blocked by slips, washouts and surface water. Road and rail communications were suspended.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 2 days - There was extensive flooding and heavy rain over Hawke's Bay and Gisborne from the 5th to the 7th March 1944.
The railway line from Napier to Gisborne was severely damaged.
Gisborne
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne
There was heavy rain along the East Coast on the 6th March 1944. It rained continuously for over 24 hours.
Flooding
There was extensive flooding especially in the Waipaoa River and serious damage to public works.
Many roads were blocked by slips, washouts and surface water. Road and rail communications were suspended.
There was floodwater on the railway line between Matawhero-Muriwai to a depth of 12 in (0.3 m) in places.
There were very heavy crop losses in the lower river flats and severe pasture damage.
Stock losses were small.
12,000 acres (48.56 km^2) of Poverty Bay Flats were flooded and 3000 acres (12.14 km^2) were heavily silted.
The flooding on the Poverty Bay flats was the greatest since 1916.
The total area covered by the flood was 14,000 acres (56.66 km^2).
Damage throughout the district including roads amounted to £87,906 ($6,648,250 2010 dollars).
The damage to county roads amounted to £25,325 ($1,915,300 2010 dollars).
The damage to main highways amounted to £9445 ($714,300 2010 dollars).
The damage to state highways amounted to £8525 ($644,700 2010 dollars).
Landslide
Two trains were isolated due to slips and the damage to the Gisborne-Napier line was extensive.
There were major slips on the Gisborne-Motuhora line between Puha-Waikohu, Mahaki-Otoko and Rakauroa-Matawai.
Flooding
at
Awapapa homestead
There was a washout on the Gisborne-Wairoa highway near Awapapa.
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne City
Gisborne recorded 2.85 in (7.24 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Gisborne recorded 9.70 in (24.64 cm) of rain in eight days.
Flooding
There was serious flooding throughout Gisborne flats.
Flooding
at
Kaiteratahi
Waipaoa River had a peak discharge of 100,500 cusecs (2846 cumecs) at Kaiteratahi Bridge.
Flooding
at
Kanakanaia
Waipaoa River rose in high flood and had a peak discharge of 86,600 cusecs (2452 cumecs) at Kanakanaia Bridge.
Flooding
at
Makauri
The Waipaoa River swept across wide stretches of farmlands in the Makauri and Pahutahi areas.
Flooding
at
Matawai
The Gisborne-Opotiki highway was blocked via Matawai.
Flooding
at
Matawhero
There was 6 in (0.15 m) of water over the line at Matawhero.
Landslide
at
Morere
There was a slip on the Gisborne-Wairoa highway via Morere.
Heavy Rain
at
Ormond
Ormond recorded 7.49 in (19.02 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
The road was covered by 9 ft (2.74 m) of water.
Heavy Rain
at
Puha
Puha recorded 6.47 in (16.43 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
The river scoured out the main road and a portion of the railway construction.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Karaka
Te Karaka recorded 6.57 in (16.69 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Te Karaka recorded 10.46 in (26.49 cm) of rain in seven days.
Flooding
Te Karaka township was flooded as floodwaters from the Waipaoa River backed up smaller tributaries.
Settlers had to evacuate their homes.
Waipaoa River rose 26 ft (7.92 m) above normal at Kanakanaia Bridge.
Water covered the highway to a depth of 5 ft (1.52 m).
Heavy Rain
at
Tolago Bay
Tolaga Bay recorded 5.38 in (13.67 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
at
Waerengaahika
Waipaoa River broke its stopbanks at Waerengaahika at half tide and flooded a large area of land up to Ormond.
Flooding
at
Wharekopae
In the Wharekopae Valley the Wharekopae River reached a peak level 35 ft (10.67 m) above normal.
Two small bridges were swept away by the Wharekopae River.
Water was running over the river flats.
Two electric-power plants high on banks of the stream were covered by floodwaters.
Hawke's Bay
Heavy Rain
at
Hawke's Bay
There was heavy rain over Hawke's Bay on the 5th March 1944.
Flooding
All rivers were in high flood and there was extensive flooding over the whole province.
Serious damage was caused to roads by slips and washouts.
Several bridges were swept away.
Hawke's Bay county roads suffered damage totalling £12,040 ($910,600 2010 dollars).
State highways in the province were damaged to the extent of £33,663 ($2,545,900 2010 dollars).
Main highways in the province were damaged to the extent of £6932 ($524,300 2010 dollars).
Heavy Rain
at
Eskdale
Eskdale recorded 11.30 in (28.70 cm) of rain in four days.
Eskdale recorded 4.80 in (12.19 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Aymes recorded 20.00 in (50.80 cm) of rain in four days.
Conways recorded 14.00 in (35.56 cm) of rain in four days.
Heavy Rain
at
Hastings
Hastings recorded 3.42 in (8.69 cm) of rain in four days.
Heavy Rain
at
Kotemaori
Kotemaori recorded 10.33 in (26.24 cm) of rain in four days.
Kotemaori recorded 4.76 in (12.09 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Napier
Napier recorded 5.68 in (14.43 cm) of rain in four days.
Flooding
at
Ngaruroro River
Ngaruroro River overflowed its banks in two places.
Heavy Rain
at
Rissington
Rissington recorded 17.03 in (43.26 cm) of rain in four days.
Rissington recorded 10.75 in (27.31 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
Mangaone River at Rissington rose 16 ft (4.88 m) above normal.
Heavy Rain
at
Tarewa station
Tarewa recorded 6.70 in (17.02 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
at
Tukituki River
Tukituki River was in high flood.
Flooding
at
Tutaekuri River
Tutaekuri River was in high flood.
Heavy Rain
at
Wairoa
Wairoa recorded 4.98 in (12.65 cm) of rain in four days.
Flooding
Wairoa was completely isolated.
References
- Cowie, C.A., Attwood, A.K. (1957) Floods in New Zealand 1920-1953, The Soil Conservation Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand
- Headline: Heaviest flood since P.B. settlement began.
- The Gisborne Herald, 25 May 1948.
- Headline: Waipaoa River Breaks Banks.
- The Gisborne Herald, 7 March 1944.
- Headline: Flood recedes, trail of damage.
- The Gisborne Herald, 8 March 1944.
March 1944 Gisborne and Hawke's Bay Flooding
(
1944-03-05
)
28 years
There was extensive flooding and heavy rain over Hawke's Bay and Gisborne. Many roads were blocked by slips, washouts and surface water. Road and rail communications were suspended.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 2 days - There was extensive flooding and heavy rain over Hawke's Bay and Gisborne from the 5th to the 7th March 1944.
The railway line from Napier to Gisborne was severely damaged.
Gisborne
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne
There was heavy rain along the East Coast on the 6th March 1944. It rained continuously for over 24 hours.
Flooding
There was extensive flooding especially in the Waipaoa River and serious damage to public works.
Many roads were blocked by slips, washouts and surface water. Road and rail communications were suspended.
There was floodwater on the railway line between Matawhero-Muriwai to a depth of 12 in (0.3 m) in places.
There were very heavy crop losses in the lower river flats and severe pasture damage.
Stock losses were small.
12,000 acres (48.56 km^2) of Poverty Bay Flats were flooded and 3000 acres (12.14 km^2) were heavily silted.
The flooding on the Poverty Bay flats was the greatest since 1916.
The total area covered by the flood was 14,000 acres (56.66 km^2).
Damage throughout the district including roads amounted to £87,906 ($6,648,250 2010 dollars).
The damage to county roads amounted to £25,325 ($1,915,300 2010 dollars).
The damage to main highways amounted to £9445 ($714,300 2010 dollars).
The damage to state highways amounted to £8525 ($644,700 2010 dollars).
Landslide
Two trains were isolated due to slips and the damage to the Gisborne-Napier line was extensive.
There were major slips on the Gisborne-Motuhora line between Puha-Waikohu, Mahaki-Otoko and Rakauroa-Matawai.
Flooding
at
Awapapa homestead
There was a washout on the Gisborne-Wairoa highway near Awapapa.
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne City
Gisborne recorded 2.85 in (7.24 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Gisborne recorded 9.70 in (24.64 cm) of rain in eight days.
Flooding
There was serious flooding throughout Gisborne flats.
Flooding
at
Kaiteratahi
Waipaoa River had a peak discharge of 100,500 cusecs (2846 cumecs) at Kaiteratahi Bridge.
Flooding
at
Kanakanaia
Waipaoa River rose in high flood and had a peak discharge of 86,600 cusecs (2452 cumecs) at Kanakanaia Bridge.
Flooding
at
Makauri
The Waipaoa River swept across wide stretches of farmlands in the Makauri and Pahutahi areas.
Flooding
at
Matawai
The Gisborne-Opotiki highway was blocked via Matawai.
Flooding
at
Matawhero
There was 6 in (0.15 m) of water over the line at Matawhero.
Landslide
at
Morere
There was a slip on the Gisborne-Wairoa highway via Morere.
Heavy Rain
at
Ormond
Ormond recorded 7.49 in (19.02 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
The road was covered by 9 ft (2.74 m) of water.
Heavy Rain
at
Puha
Puha recorded 6.47 in (16.43 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
The river scoured out the main road and a portion of the railway construction.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Karaka
Te Karaka recorded 6.57 in (16.69 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Te Karaka recorded 10.46 in (26.49 cm) of rain in seven days.
Flooding
Te Karaka township was flooded as floodwaters from the Waipaoa River backed up smaller tributaries.
Settlers had to evacuate their homes.
Waipaoa River rose 26 ft (7.92 m) above normal at Kanakanaia Bridge.
Water covered the highway to a depth of 5 ft (1.52 m).
Heavy Rain
at
Tolago Bay
Tolaga Bay recorded 5.38 in (13.67 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
at
Waerengaahika
Waipaoa River broke its stopbanks at Waerengaahika at half tide and flooded a large area of land up to Ormond.
Flooding
at
Wharekopae
In the Wharekopae Valley the Wharekopae River reached a peak level 35 ft (10.67 m) above normal.
Two small bridges were swept away by the Wharekopae River.
Water was running over the river flats.
Two electric-power plants high on banks of the stream were covered by floodwaters.
Hawke's Bay
Heavy Rain
at
Hawke's Bay
There was heavy rain over Hawke's Bay on the 5th March 1944.
Flooding
All rivers were in high flood and there was extensive flooding over the whole province.
Serious damage was caused to roads by slips and washouts.
Several bridges were swept away.
Hawke's Bay county roads suffered damage totalling £12,040 ($910,600 2010 dollars).
State highways in the province were damaged to the extent of £33,663 ($2,545,900 2010 dollars).
Main highways in the province were damaged to the extent of £6932 ($524,300 2010 dollars).
Heavy Rain
at
Eskdale
Eskdale recorded 11.30 in (28.70 cm) of rain in four days.
Eskdale recorded 4.80 in (12.19 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Aymes recorded 20.00 in (50.80 cm) of rain in four days.
Conways recorded 14.00 in (35.56 cm) of rain in four days.
Heavy Rain
at
Hastings
Hastings recorded 3.42 in (8.69 cm) of rain in four days.
Heavy Rain
at
Kotemaori
Kotemaori recorded 10.33 in (26.24 cm) of rain in four days.
Kotemaori recorded 4.76 in (12.09 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Napier
Napier recorded 5.68 in (14.43 cm) of rain in four days.
Flooding
at
Ngaruroro River
Ngaruroro River overflowed its banks in two places.
Heavy Rain
at
Rissington
Rissington recorded 17.03 in (43.26 cm) of rain in four days.
Rissington recorded 10.75 in (27.31 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
Mangaone River at Rissington rose 16 ft (4.88 m) above normal.
Heavy Rain
at
Tarewa station
Tarewa recorded 6.70 in (17.02 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
at
Tukituki River
Tukituki River was in high flood.
Flooding
at
Tutaekuri River
Tutaekuri River was in high flood.
Heavy Rain
at
Wairoa
Wairoa recorded 4.98 in (12.65 cm) of rain in four days.
Flooding
Wairoa was completely isolated.
References
- Cowie, C.A., Attwood, A.K. (1957) Floods in New Zealand 1920-1953, The Soil Conservation Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand
- Headline: Heaviest flood since P.B. settlement began.
- The Gisborne Herald, 25 May 1948.
- Headline: Waipaoa River Breaks Banks.
- The Gisborne Herald, 7 March 1944.
- Headline: Flood recedes, trail of damage.
- The Gisborne Herald, 8 March 1944.