Heavy rain and floooding were experienced in Gisborne and Hawke's Bay. There were also heavy seas around Wellington.
Very heavy rainfalls were experienced from Gisborne south as far as Wairoa and also right up the East Coast. Falls were somewhat lighter inland in the Matawai-Motu area.
There were high floods in rivers and streams on the east coast. Creeks were substantially swollen up the Coast, especially north of Tolaga Bay, on the afternoon of the 26th.
The Waipaoa River reached its peak at about 9am on the 27th, when the water at several ponts was lapping only about 4 ft (1.2 m) below the dangerous level.
Comunication on the Coast Road was interrupted.
Gisborne's mail arrangements were interrupted by the blocking of the south road.
Heavy, steady rain set in early on the 26th and continued without intermission throughout the day and night.
Since the rain started on the 23rd, a total of 1.57 in (4.0 cm) had fallen by 9am on the 26th.
5.63 in (14.3 cm) of rain fell in Gisborne in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th. The previous highest rainfall to this was registered in June 1917.
3.17 in (8.1 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 28th.
8.80 in (22.4 cm) of rain fell in the 48 hours from 9am on the 26th to 9am on the 28th.
10.37 in (26.3 cm) of rain fell in the five days ended at 9am on the 28th.
In the suburb of Mangapapa, the Matokitoki Creek overflowed on the 26th. The water rapidly spread across the low-lying areas between Ormond Road and the hills.
Flood waters entered several houses to a depth of 1 or 2 in (2.5-5.1 cm).
A foot (30.5 cm) of water covered an area measuring about 0.75 miles (1.2 km) each way. Practically all the water had disappeared by 10am on the 27th.
At about 10:25pm on the 26th, the water was measured at a depth of 13 in (33 cm) on the foothpath outside Messrs Sim and McAra's store.
The gravel roads in the vicinity of Mangapapa suffered considerably and an abutment on the bridge at the upper end of Clifford St sustained some damage.
A serious scour developed at the bridge opposite Memorial Home in Mangapapa and was expected to take a week to fix. As the result of flooding in the upper reaches of the Taruheru River, a small bridge in the Glenroy road was washed away.
The Waimata River rose very fast on the afternoon of the 26th due to heavy rain in the back country. It rose by some 8-10 ft (2.4-3.0 m) between 7pm and 9pm.
By about 9pm on the 26th, the Waimata River was 20 ft (6.1 m) above normal - the same level as it attained in the disastrous floods of February 1932.
In town, both rivers were swollen to tremendous heights on the evening of the 26th, greater than they were in February 1932. The grassy flats on the river banks were completely submerged on either side.
Flood waters scoured gardens and swept canoes and boats away.
Waikanae beach was covered in places 6 ft (1.8 m) and 8 ft (2.4 m) deep with driftwood, timber, dead stock and vegetables that had been brought down by the flooded rivers, mainly the Waipaoa. There were tree trunks up to 24 in (61 cm) and 30 in (76 cm) in circumference, timber from jetties, piers, fences and decking, and a huge buoy, which used to mark the Hawea rock near the centre of the bay.
Hundreds of pumpkins and marrows were washed down onto the beach.
Dead cattle and many sheep were washed down onto the beach.
A pipe suspended over the Waimata River, providing practically the sole water supply for three Riverside Rd residents, was swept away.
Riverside Road, beyond Brown's, was unsafe for traffic due to a number of small slips and washouts. Darwin Road beyond Oman's was also unsafe as a result of slips and washouts.
At Kaiteratahi bridge, the Waipaoa River was just over the gravel at about 9pm on the 27th.
A temporary low-level bridge on Kanakanaia Road over the Waihora Creek was swept away.
Loisel's flat was covered with water on the 27th.
At Makauri, the Taruheru was well over its banks on the morning of the 27th, and a long stretch of water extended above Tucker's. Between dusk and 8pm, the river rose 8 ft (2.4 m).
The water started coming over the road at the Ormond dip on the night of the 26th.
At Patutahi, 3.56 in (9.0 cm) of rain fell between 9am and 10pm on the 26th.
At Tatapouri, a small fishing boat disappeared from the beach.
3.08 in (7.8 cm) of rain fell in Te Karaka in 24 hours.
4.63 in (11.8 cm) of rain fell in Te Karaka in 48 hours.
The Waiapou River rose rapidly and topped its banks at the Willows settlement, inundating a small area of land.
The Waimata River rose 25 ft (7.6 m) above normal in Waimata Valley.
The Waimata Road was blocked by slips in the cutting about 1/2 mile (800 m) beyond Mr A. R. Watson's turnoff. Traffic was held up there during the weekend.
At about 1:30am on the 27th, the Waipaoa River had risen by about 15 ft (4.6 m), and was still rising.
Tawhiti Station at Whatatutu reported that the flood waters were practically up to the level reached in February 1932 early on the evening of the 26th.
Apparently the only portion of the district to actually have flooded by overflow from the rivers was a small area near The Willows, where the damage was practically negligible.
Heavy rain commenced on the night of the 25th and fell almost continuously until the 28th. Heavy rain was still falling in the back country districts on the 29th.
The rivers in the northern Hawke's Bay district rose. The rivers around Napier only became dangerous around 9pm on the 29th after conditions had already improved greatly on the lowlands.
The Ngaroruru River broke its banks, flooding large areas of land.
Many roads were blocked by floodwaters.
Heavy seas were running in the Bay.
A temporary low-level bridge was washed away at Dartmoor, leaving the settlers cut off for a time.
A few fences were damaged.
12.36 in (31.4 cm) of rain fell in Eskdale in four days.
The Esk River rose to the decking of the Waipunga Bridge, exceeding the peak level of the 1924 flood.
The Ngaruroro River rose to 10 ft (3.0 m) at Fernhill.
The Ngaruroro River overflowed into the dip on the Omahu side of the bridge.
The rain was exceptionally heavy in Hastings on the morning of the 27th. The rain ceased except for occasional showers on the 29th.
3.48 in (8.8 cm) of rain fell in Hastings in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Hatuma reported heavy falls, with low-lying areas covered.
Maharakeke reported heavy falls, with low-lying areas covered.
6.11 in (15.5 cm) of rain fell at the head of Maraetotara Stream in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
It was still raining heavily in the area on the night of the 29th.
A slight break in the Tutaekuri River bank was reported at Meeanee on the 28th, but was fixed.
At 10:45pm on the 29th, the Tutaekuri River broke both its banks below Meeanee. The river broke its banks in six places. A considerable area of the Meeanee district was flooded, greater than in 1897. Floodwaters raced across paddocks, levelling fences.
A sheet of water extended for practically an area of 3 miles (4.8 km) by 2 miles (3.2 km).
The depth of the water ranged from a few inches to 3 ft (91 cm) at Meeanee.
There was 2 ft (61 cm) of water on the road at the river bend near Meeanee.
The Tutaekuri River also broke its banks at Fairy's bend, a mile above Meeanee, and inundated the Papakuru district.
Many settlers suffered considerable losses.
The flood was the worst experienced at Meeanee since 1917.
All homes in the Tannery Rd area were completely surrounded and flood water entered some houses.
The rain in Napier ceased except for occasional showers on the 29th.
Napier had a rainfall of 7 in (17.8 cm) over three days from the 27th to the 30th.
There was much water on the harbour reserves south and west of Napier.
The Ngaruroro River rose 6 ft (1.8 m) in 2 hours, with a peak level of 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m) above normal at Redcliff Bridge - the same level as in the 1924 flood.
At the Taradale bank, the water rose 6 ft (1.8 m) in 2 hours.
The flood waters of the Tutaekuri River met breaking seas at the entrance. Waves were breaking well out and rolling through the pierheads, making use of the harbour impossible to all boats. The flooding was made more extensive by the fact that the earthquake had narrowed the Tutaekuri channel by at least 1/3 of its width.
At the Pakowhai road, the Ngaruroro River broke free, covering the road up to a depth of 3 ft (91 cm).
Porangahau reported heavy falls, with low-lying areas covered.
14.21 in (36.1 cm) of rain fell in Puketapu in four days.
The Puektapu flats were covered with water on the night of the 29th. It was reported that the conditions were the worst ever known.
The flats were flooded to a depth of 2 ft (61 cm).
Many fences were washed away.
Heavy rain was still falling in Tangoio on the 27th.
6.50 in (16.5 cm) of rain fell in Te Aratipi in 24 hours.
3.73 in (9.5 cm) of rain fell in Undercliff in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
2.73 in (6.9 cm) of rain fell in Waimarama in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Waimarama had exceptionally heavy rain and gale force winds.
5.07 in (12.9 cm) of rain fell in Waipawa in three days.
5.30 in (13.5 cm) of rain fell in Waipukurau in three days.
2.98 in (7.6 cm) of rain fell in Waipukurau in the 24 hours to 9am on the 29th.
It was the heaviest fall there for some years.
Creeks and streams overflowed their banks. At the Waipukurau railway, the river overflowed its banks and spread over a wide area.
There was minor flooding, where stormwater entered premises. Most low-lying areas were under water. Central Park was underwater and the river overflowed into Russell Park.
The river inundated the area at Pah flats.
Several shops and business premises were flooded to 3 in (7.6 cm) with silt and water.
It was still raining in Wairoa on the evening of the 28th.
Wanstead reported heavy falls, with low-lying areas covered.
There was tremendous rain at whanawhana.
2.80 in (7.1 cm) of rain fell in Whanawhana in seven hours.
3.60 in (9.1 cm) of rain fell in Whanawhana in 24 hours.
2.5 in (6.4 cm) of rain fell in Whanawhana in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Heavy seas were reported to be running in Cook Strait on the 29th.
Bad weather - fog, rain and wind - held up all shipping movements at Wellington on the 29th.
Heavy rain and floooding were experienced in Gisborne and Hawke's Bay. There were also heavy seas around Wellington.
Very heavy rainfalls were experienced from Gisborne south as far as Wairoa and also right up the East Coast. Falls were somewhat lighter inland in the Matawai-Motu area.
There were high floods in rivers and streams on the east coast. Creeks were substantially swollen up the Coast, especially north of Tolaga Bay, on the afternoon of the 26th.
The Waipaoa River reached its peak at about 9am on the 27th, when the water at several ponts was lapping only about 4 ft (1.2 m) below the dangerous level.
Comunication on the Coast Road was interrupted.
Gisborne's mail arrangements were interrupted by the blocking of the south road.
Heavy, steady rain set in early on the 26th and continued without intermission throughout the day and night.
Since the rain started on the 23rd, a total of 1.57 in (4.0 cm) had fallen by 9am on the 26th.
5.63 in (14.3 cm) of rain fell in Gisborne in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th. The previous highest rainfall to this was registered in June 1917.
3.17 in (8.1 cm) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 28th.
8.80 in (22.4 cm) of rain fell in the 48 hours from 9am on the 26th to 9am on the 28th.
10.37 in (26.3 cm) of rain fell in the five days ended at 9am on the 28th.
In the suburb of Mangapapa, the Matokitoki Creek overflowed on the 26th. The water rapidly spread across the low-lying areas between Ormond Road and the hills.
Flood waters entered several houses to a depth of 1 or 2 in (2.5-5.1 cm).
A foot (30.5 cm) of water covered an area measuring about 0.75 miles (1.2 km) each way. Practically all the water had disappeared by 10am on the 27th.
At about 10:25pm on the 26th, the water was measured at a depth of 13 in (33 cm) on the foothpath outside Messrs Sim and McAra's store.
The gravel roads in the vicinity of Mangapapa suffered considerably and an abutment on the bridge at the upper end of Clifford St sustained some damage.
A serious scour developed at the bridge opposite Memorial Home in Mangapapa and was expected to take a week to fix. As the result of flooding in the upper reaches of the Taruheru River, a small bridge in the Glenroy road was washed away.
The Waimata River rose very fast on the afternoon of the 26th due to heavy rain in the back country. It rose by some 8-10 ft (2.4-3.0 m) between 7pm and 9pm.
By about 9pm on the 26th, the Waimata River was 20 ft (6.1 m) above normal - the same level as it attained in the disastrous floods of February 1932.
In town, both rivers were swollen to tremendous heights on the evening of the 26th, greater than they were in February 1932. The grassy flats on the river banks were completely submerged on either side.
Flood waters scoured gardens and swept canoes and boats away.
Waikanae beach was covered in places 6 ft (1.8 m) and 8 ft (2.4 m) deep with driftwood, timber, dead stock and vegetables that had been brought down by the flooded rivers, mainly the Waipaoa. There were tree trunks up to 24 in (61 cm) and 30 in (76 cm) in circumference, timber from jetties, piers, fences and decking, and a huge buoy, which used to mark the Hawea rock near the centre of the bay.
Hundreds of pumpkins and marrows were washed down onto the beach.
Dead cattle and many sheep were washed down onto the beach.
A pipe suspended over the Waimata River, providing practically the sole water supply for three Riverside Rd residents, was swept away.
Riverside Road, beyond Brown's, was unsafe for traffic due to a number of small slips and washouts. Darwin Road beyond Oman's was also unsafe as a result of slips and washouts.
At Kaiteratahi bridge, the Waipaoa River was just over the gravel at about 9pm on the 27th.
A temporary low-level bridge on Kanakanaia Road over the Waihora Creek was swept away.
Loisel's flat was covered with water on the 27th.
At Makauri, the Taruheru was well over its banks on the morning of the 27th, and a long stretch of water extended above Tucker's. Between dusk and 8pm, the river rose 8 ft (2.4 m).
The water started coming over the road at the Ormond dip on the night of the 26th.
At Patutahi, 3.56 in (9.0 cm) of rain fell between 9am and 10pm on the 26th.
At Tatapouri, a small fishing boat disappeared from the beach.
3.08 in (7.8 cm) of rain fell in Te Karaka in 24 hours.
4.63 in (11.8 cm) of rain fell in Te Karaka in 48 hours.
The Waiapou River rose rapidly and topped its banks at the Willows settlement, inundating a small area of land.
The Waimata River rose 25 ft (7.6 m) above normal in Waimata Valley.
The Waimata Road was blocked by slips in the cutting about 1/2 mile (800 m) beyond Mr A. R. Watson's turnoff. Traffic was held up there during the weekend.
At about 1:30am on the 27th, the Waipaoa River had risen by about 15 ft (4.6 m), and was still rising.
Tawhiti Station at Whatatutu reported that the flood waters were practically up to the level reached in February 1932 early on the evening of the 26th.
Apparently the only portion of the district to actually have flooded by overflow from the rivers was a small area near The Willows, where the damage was practically negligible.
Heavy rain commenced on the night of the 25th and fell almost continuously until the 28th. Heavy rain was still falling in the back country districts on the 29th.
The rivers in the northern Hawke's Bay district rose. The rivers around Napier only became dangerous around 9pm on the 29th after conditions had already improved greatly on the lowlands.
The Ngaroruru River broke its banks, flooding large areas of land.
Many roads were blocked by floodwaters.
Heavy seas were running in the Bay.
A temporary low-level bridge was washed away at Dartmoor, leaving the settlers cut off for a time.
A few fences were damaged.
12.36 in (31.4 cm) of rain fell in Eskdale in four days.
The Esk River rose to the decking of the Waipunga Bridge, exceeding the peak level of the 1924 flood.
The Ngaruroro River rose to 10 ft (3.0 m) at Fernhill.
The Ngaruroro River overflowed into the dip on the Omahu side of the bridge.
The rain was exceptionally heavy in Hastings on the morning of the 27th. The rain ceased except for occasional showers on the 29th.
3.48 in (8.8 cm) of rain fell in Hastings in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Hatuma reported heavy falls, with low-lying areas covered.
Maharakeke reported heavy falls, with low-lying areas covered.
6.11 in (15.5 cm) of rain fell at the head of Maraetotara Stream in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
It was still raining heavily in the area on the night of the 29th.
A slight break in the Tutaekuri River bank was reported at Meeanee on the 28th, but was fixed.
At 10:45pm on the 29th, the Tutaekuri River broke both its banks below Meeanee. The river broke its banks in six places. A considerable area of the Meeanee district was flooded, greater than in 1897. Floodwaters raced across paddocks, levelling fences.
A sheet of water extended for practically an area of 3 miles (4.8 km) by 2 miles (3.2 km).
The depth of the water ranged from a few inches to 3 ft (91 cm) at Meeanee.
There was 2 ft (61 cm) of water on the road at the river bend near Meeanee.
The Tutaekuri River also broke its banks at Fairy's bend, a mile above Meeanee, and inundated the Papakuru district.
Many settlers suffered considerable losses.
The flood was the worst experienced at Meeanee since 1917.
All homes in the Tannery Rd area were completely surrounded and flood water entered some houses.
The rain in Napier ceased except for occasional showers on the 29th.
Napier had a rainfall of 7 in (17.8 cm) over three days from the 27th to the 30th.
There was much water on the harbour reserves south and west of Napier.
The Ngaruroro River rose 6 ft (1.8 m) in 2 hours, with a peak level of 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m) above normal at Redcliff Bridge - the same level as in the 1924 flood.
At the Taradale bank, the water rose 6 ft (1.8 m) in 2 hours.
The flood waters of the Tutaekuri River met breaking seas at the entrance. Waves were breaking well out and rolling through the pierheads, making use of the harbour impossible to all boats. The flooding was made more extensive by the fact that the earthquake had narrowed the Tutaekuri channel by at least 1/3 of its width.
At the Pakowhai road, the Ngaruroro River broke free, covering the road up to a depth of 3 ft (91 cm).
Porangahau reported heavy falls, with low-lying areas covered.
14.21 in (36.1 cm) of rain fell in Puketapu in four days.
The Puektapu flats were covered with water on the night of the 29th. It was reported that the conditions were the worst ever known.
The flats were flooded to a depth of 2 ft (61 cm).
Many fences were washed away.
Heavy rain was still falling in Tangoio on the 27th.
6.50 in (16.5 cm) of rain fell in Te Aratipi in 24 hours.
3.73 in (9.5 cm) of rain fell in Undercliff in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
2.73 in (6.9 cm) of rain fell in Waimarama in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Waimarama had exceptionally heavy rain and gale force winds.
5.07 in (12.9 cm) of rain fell in Waipawa in three days.
5.30 in (13.5 cm) of rain fell in Waipukurau in three days.
2.98 in (7.6 cm) of rain fell in Waipukurau in the 24 hours to 9am on the 29th.
It was the heaviest fall there for some years.
Creeks and streams overflowed their banks. At the Waipukurau railway, the river overflowed its banks and spread over a wide area.
There was minor flooding, where stormwater entered premises. Most low-lying areas were under water. Central Park was underwater and the river overflowed into Russell Park.
The river inundated the area at Pah flats.
Several shops and business premises were flooded to 3 in (7.6 cm) with silt and water.
It was still raining in Wairoa on the evening of the 28th.
Wanstead reported heavy falls, with low-lying areas covered.
There was tremendous rain at whanawhana.
2.80 in (7.1 cm) of rain fell in Whanawhana in seven hours.
3.60 in (9.1 cm) of rain fell in Whanawhana in 24 hours.
2.5 in (6.4 cm) of rain fell in Whanawhana in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Heavy seas were reported to be running in Cook Strait on the 29th.
Bad weather - fog, rain and wind - held up all shipping movements at Wellington on the 29th.