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.
The railway line from Napier to Gisborne was severely damaged.
There was heavy rain along the East Coast on the 6th March 1944. It rained continuously for over 24 hours.
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).
There was a washout on the Gisborne-Wairoa highway near Awapapa.
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.
There was serious flooding throughout Gisborne flats.
Waipaoa River had a peak discharge of 100,500 cusecs (2846 cumecs) at Kaiteratahi Bridge.
Waipaoa River rose in high flood and had a peak discharge of 86,600 cusecs (2452 cumecs) at Kanakanaia Bridge.
The Waipaoa River swept across wide stretches of farmlands in the Makauri and Pahutahi areas.
The Gisborne-Opotiki highway was blocked via Matawai.
There was 6 in (0.15 m) of water over the line at Matawhero.
Ormond recorded 7.49 in (19.02 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
The road was covered by 9 ft (2.74 m) of water.
Puha recorded 6.47 in (16.43 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
The river scoured out the main road and a portion of the railway construction.
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.
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).
Tolaga Bay recorded 5.38 in (13.67 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Waipaoa River broke its stopbanks at Waerengaahika at half tide and flooded a large area of land up to Ormond.
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.
There was heavy rain over Hawke's Bay on the 5th March 1944.
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).
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.
Hastings recorded 3.42 in (8.69 cm) of rain in four days.
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.
Napier recorded 5.68 in (14.43 cm) of rain in four days.
Ngaruroro River overflowed its banks in two places.
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.
Mangaone River at Rissington rose 16 ft (4.88 m) above normal.
Tarewa recorded 6.70 in (17.02 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Tukituki River was in high flood.
Tutaekuri River was in high flood.
Wairoa recorded 4.98 in (12.65 cm) of rain in four days.
Wairoa was completely isolated.
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.
The railway line from Napier to Gisborne was severely damaged.
There was heavy rain along the East Coast on the 6th March 1944. It rained continuously for over 24 hours.
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).
There was a washout on the Gisborne-Wairoa highway near Awapapa.
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.
There was serious flooding throughout Gisborne flats.
Waipaoa River had a peak discharge of 100,500 cusecs (2846 cumecs) at Kaiteratahi Bridge.
Waipaoa River rose in high flood and had a peak discharge of 86,600 cusecs (2452 cumecs) at Kanakanaia Bridge.
The Waipaoa River swept across wide stretches of farmlands in the Makauri and Pahutahi areas.
The Gisborne-Opotiki highway was blocked via Matawai.
There was 6 in (0.15 m) of water over the line at Matawhero.
Ormond recorded 7.49 in (19.02 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
The road was covered by 9 ft (2.74 m) of water.
Puha recorded 6.47 in (16.43 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
The river scoured out the main road and a portion of the railway construction.
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.
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).
Tolaga Bay recorded 5.38 in (13.67 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Waipaoa River broke its stopbanks at Waerengaahika at half tide and flooded a large area of land up to Ormond.
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.
There was heavy rain over Hawke's Bay on the 5th March 1944.
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).
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.
Hastings recorded 3.42 in (8.69 cm) of rain in four days.
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.
Napier recorded 5.68 in (14.43 cm) of rain in four days.
Ngaruroro River overflowed its banks in two places.
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.
Mangaone River at Rissington rose 16 ft (4.88 m) above normal.
Tarewa recorded 6.70 in (17.02 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Tukituki River was in high flood.
Tutaekuri River was in high flood.
Wairoa recorded 4.98 in (12.65 cm) of rain in four days.
Wairoa was completely isolated.