NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
October 1865 West Coast Flooding ( 1865-10-25 )
Heavy rain caused flooding and lost of communication. Holitika was the worst affected.
West Coast
Flooding
at
West Coast
All rivers between the Grey and Hokitika Rivers were in flood
Mail deliveries to and from Hokitika were suspended for three days because of the Taramakau River level
Taramakau overflowed its banks, burst through the north tip and washed away a small village there at 9pm on the 24th
Except for a small amount of property, all was lost
Heavy Rain
at
Hokitika
Duration: 2 days - Fierce north-west gale with heavy rain commenced on the 23rd and continued unabated through to the 24th
Flooding
Hokitika River was in high flood and was backed up against the high tide causing it to flood much of the lower part of Hokitika
Boats were needed to travel around the town and the water rose so fast many people prepared themselves to be evacuated
The lower end of Gibson Quay was damaged the most as the river encroached 6m into the roadway and washed away the entire wharf section of that area
Many buildings had to be moved or demolished
References
- Ben, J.L. (1990). A Chronology of Flooding on the West Coast, South Island, New Zealand 1846-1990.
- Benn, J. West Coast Regional Council Flood Data from 1846-1990 (CD Rom).
October 1865 West Coast Flooding ( 1865-10-25 )
Heavy rain caused flooding and lost of communication. Holitika was the worst affected.
West Coast
Flooding
at
West Coast
All rivers between the Grey and Hokitika Rivers were in flood
Mail deliveries to and from Hokitika were suspended for three days because of the Taramakau River level
Taramakau overflowed its banks, burst through the north tip and washed away a small village there at 9pm on the 24th
Except for a small amount of property, all was lost
Heavy Rain
at
Hokitika
Duration: 2 days - Fierce north-west gale with heavy rain commenced on the 23rd and continued unabated through to the 24th
Flooding
Hokitika River was in high flood and was backed up against the high tide causing it to flood much of the lower part of Hokitika
Boats were needed to travel around the town and the water rose so fast many people prepared themselves to be evacuated
The lower end of Gibson Quay was damaged the most as the river encroached 6m into the roadway and washed away the entire wharf section of that area
Many buildings had to be moved or demolished
References
- Ben, J.L. (1990). A Chronology of Flooding on the West Coast, South Island, New Zealand 1846-1990.
- Benn, J. West Coast Regional Council Flood Data from 1846-1990 (CD Rom).