Wild weather hits Nelson region, causing floods and closing roads

The wild weather which hit the Nelson region overnight caused rivers in the Golden Bay area to reach 10-year flood levels, closed roads and brought down trees.

Wind gusts hit 105kmh in Richmond with surface flooding evident on roads around the region.

Over a five-hour period, 153mm of rain fell in the Waingaro Valley, with 41.3mm falling in one hour. 

Do you have photos or video of the flooding? Email: newstips@stuff.co.nz

Farmer Melissa Bellugue and her family are stuck in their Hamama Rd house after a flooded Waingaro River burst its banks.

"It [the water] would be over our heads down the driveway," she said at noon on Sunday.

Fortunately, the family moved all the stock to higher ground on Saturday.

"We were aware it was going to hit big time," Bellugue said.

However, while it was a relief to have no stock losses, all the fences had been ripped out by the force of water that surged through the property in the early hours of Sunday morning.

"It was pretty freaky," Bellugue said. "The fence posts around the backyard are all gone, the fences are gone. It ripped up our sheep pens and shed – it's just picked up the shed and spun it away and placed it in another position."

Holes had been carved into the land and the force of the water tore out macadamia trees on the property.

"There are logs and trees bigger than a car heading downstream," Bellugue said. "They come from our property and elsewhere."

With toddlers in the house, it was a night of worry for the family. However, the water did not breach the house, which sat higher on the property.

For Bellugue, the loss of the fences are particularly heartbreaking – she has just replaced them all after flooding last Easter.

"I just had one fence to go," she said. "Everything has just been ripped out again."

Bellugue questioned why no work had been done to repair the riverbank after the earlier flooding.

"The TDC [Tasman District Council] has done nothing."

Bellugue said she believed the riverbank needed to be repaired and a build up of gravel removed to lower the risk of future flooding.

"The riverbank has actually gone," she said. 

At noon, the river appeared to be dropping and the sun had arrived.

The corrugated iron fence at the front of Golden Bay Canine Boarding Kennels on One Spec Rd was hit by a "wall of water" when the Anatoki River and One Spec Creek both burst their banks just after 4am.

"It was a massive hit," said Rhoda McDonald, the wife of the owner.

About five panels had been knocked down; the rest of the fence was warped.

"It [the water] came right through the carport," McDonald said. "All the lawns and driveway are surrounded by water. It was not a good night for us."

However, the house and dog kennels were on higher ground and had not been hit by the flooding.

"We were watching them [the dogs] every few minutes," McDonald said. "We would have put them upstairs in the house [if the water reached the kennels]."

Fortunately, the family was warned by a farmer that the river was about to burst its banks about five minutes before the event.

"We got our cars up to higher ground."

The couple had received many offers to help to clean up, McDonald said.

Liz Davidson was camping in Kaiteriteri overnight. She said the storm was the worst she has ever experienced. 

The area was flooded, and the ground was "absolutely awash". 

"It was very, very scary," she said.

"There's a lot of damage – five awnings had to be put up again this morning after the rain and wind caused them to collapse."

Davidson said she couldn't get any sleep while listening to the "crunching" and "groaning" outside their caravan. 

"Heaven help you if you were in a tent," she said.

At the Tahuna Beach Holiday Park, general manager Marcel Fekkes said about 20 people who were in tents had been moved into the TV room about 2am.

"We have had a bit of havoc overnight with high winds," he said.

Some awnings had been "picked up here and there" and some tents had been "scattered around" but the damage wasn't serious.

SH 60 between Riwaka and Collingwood was closed earlier this morning.  It has reopened with warnings in place.  Drivers should be aware there will be delays and the road could be closed again during the day, Nelson Tasman Civil Defence spokesperson Chris Choat said.

He said the situation "was not drastic but it is certainly challenging".

"Golden Bay are feeling the effects most predominantly in Upper Takaka with the Waingaro and Anatoki river reaching 10 year flood levels."

These flows were the third highest since flow monitoring began in 1979. 

He said there was surface flooding around Takaka and there was road closures around Fern Town and on the way out of Pakawau. 

This effectively closed the route over the Takaka Hill, Choat said.

There was also surface flooding in east Motueka. Nelson city seemed to escape any serious flooding, he said, however trees had come down around the region.

Many of these trees had been cleared already, Choat said.

"People need to be aware that there is still rain coming and there is still quite a bit of water on the roads. With the winds there will be evidence of trees and branches [on the roads] so people need to be careful."

He said wind gusts did not quite reach the levels of a storm in September 2015. 

MetService said heavy rain would continue through the day and start to clear in the evening.

Network Tasman reported power outages on the Wairoa Gorge Road, Best Island and areas of Richmond.

"If you don't need to travel don't and if you are out please drive extremely carefully," Choat said.