Surfer Nathan Old heard the waves would be big and went to Whanganui's Morgan Street beach on new year's day to play in them.
He got some good rides, and was heading home at midday — but according to the MetService he is likely to have missed the biggest ones.
Boaties and coastal people had been warned that big waves would hit New Zealand yesterday. They were generated by a storm south of Australia, lashed along by strong westerly winds.
The waves had hit the South Island by mid afternoon yesterday, Monday, MetService meteorologist April Clark said. They were due to increase in Whanganui during the afternoon and evening, and ease off from today.
Swells could reach between two metres and 4m, with lulls of about 14 seconds in between — longer lulls than usual.