“We’ve also mobilised additional crews from across the North Island, with over 150 people now working on the response,” a spokesperson said.
A Northpower lines worker clears a tree from a power line on Hatea Drive, Whangārei, as strong winds from ex-tropical Cyclone Tam batter the region. Photo / Mike Dinsdale
Top Energy reported earlier today about half of its network had lost power.
The company urged customers to prepare for “prolonged outages” as its network had suffered “extensive damage” from trees and high winds.
“We know people are having a hard time, and this storm is testing their resilience,“ a spokesperson said.
“Our teams are focused on repairing the damage to the backbone of the network, but the conditions are making this very challenging.”
A farmer reportedly pulled the car and its driver to safety.
The Mini trapped in floodwaters on Rangiahua Bridge, SH1 in Hōreke. Photo / Joe Marshall
Fire and Emergency’s Auckland-based swift water rescue team assisted.
Hato Hone St John said a patient was assessed at the scene and no treatment or transport was required.
Flooding across Rangiahua Bridge is reported to be blocking both lanes. Motorists are asked to follow the directions of response crews in the area.
Civil Defence Northland spokesman Zachary Woods reported no evacuations or welfare centres had been needed.
Graeme Quensell, Fire and Emergency NZ group manager for Northland, said firefighters had dealt with 120 weather-related calls since midnight.
The majority were trees and power lines toppled on to roads but there were also two calls during the night about trees landing on houses.
During the day firefighters were called to a fire in a tree, which had fallen on to power lines in rural Matapouri.
Fire and Emergency staff also helped a Paihia family secure their belongings after the roof on their Panorama Ave house was blown completely off by high winds. Another roof came off an unoccupied property at Wintell St, Mangawhai Heads.
When will the wild weather stop?
MetService says the wild weather is set to continue until at least 9pm.
Northlanders have been told to expect 40 to 70mm of rain in the next nine hours on top of what has already fallen.
MetService meteorologist Oscar Shiviti said Northland had “significant accumulations” of rain over the past 12 hours.
Kaikohe had the most with 76mm, followed by Whangārei, 58.9mm; Kerikeri, 42.8mm and Kaitāia, 37mm. Cape Rēinga copped 12mm of rain and Dargaville 5.6mm.
Floodwater near Umawera. Photo / Matthew Davison
Shiviti said the heavy rain warning was still expected to stay in place until 9pm before the rain moved south.
The strong wind warning was also expected to be in place until 8pm.
“Both of these rain and winds should ease off later tonight, however, it will be an easing trend, it doesn’t mean it’s going to be completely dry.”
Wind had caused trees to fall on roads and powerlines throughout Northland, while flooding has caused problems on crucial state highways.
Whangārei resident Andy Mayhew says this tree fell on his Kauri driveway yesterday, cutting power, which was restored in the middle of the night. Photo / Andrew Mayhew
The top of the country recorded 155km/h wind gusts at Cape Rēinga at 2am, MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said.
On the Beaufort Wind Scale, 155km/h is hurricane strength and the highest category on that scale.
Makgabutlane was unsure if the winds would reach that strength again but said “pretty strong” gusts were expected until this evening.
Even in areas that are more sheltered there were severe gusts, such as a 96km/h reading recorded in Whangārei.
The strong winds caused numerous power and phone outages.
Cellphone towers down
Northland police said transmission towers in the region’s east and north were damaged overnight.
Cell phone reception has been affected in some areas but landlines were still operating.
The affected areas include Tikitikioure, Taupō Bay, Domain Rd, Karikari Central, Mangōnui, Waimauku, Matapōuri, Huruiki and Helena Bay.
Crews are working to restore services but police advise anyone needing emergency services to call 111 from a landline.
Flooding in Kāeo
Far North rivers have risen overnight, with the Kāeo River having flooded on to SH10.
The Kāeo River flooded State Highway 10 this morning but has receded. Photo / Northland Regional Council webcam
Motorists have reported the highway is now clear of floodwaters that peaked around high tide at 10.15am today.
Flooding in Kāeo. Photo / Esme Sherwin
Mike Butler, who co-ordinates Civil Defence in Kawakawa and Moerewa, earlier said rivers were full and breaching, and farmers were taking their cows to higher ground.
The Kawakawa River at the Taumarere bridge was “right on borderline”, as was the river at the Waiomio Bridge.
Council said all single-lane locations were scheduled to be remedied today except Sandy Beach Rd, as its timeframe was unconfirmed because of a downed powerline.
Swells up to 12m recorded
Northland harbourmaster Jim Lyle said it had been a windy night in Ōpua where he is based.
A wave buoy north of the Bay of Islands recorded huge 12m swells and an Okaihau wind gauge recorded 65 knots (120km).
The Northland Regional Council reported on its website that the colossal swell hit shores at 4.21am, and 10m and 11m waves were recorded at 8am and 9am.
Waves run over the foreshore at Helena Bay, northeast of Whangārei central, at high tide on Thursday morning. Photo / Denise Piper
A launch that beached at One Tree Point today is one of four to wash ashore in Whangārei during the storm so far, Lyle said.
Three other vessels had ended up on the muddy edges of the Hātea River near Kissing Point. Further north, there was a report of a boat upside down at Mangōnui.
Most of the owners of the stranded vessels had been contacted but Lyle said he was still trying to contact the owner of the launch at One Tree Point.
A launch washed up on the beach at One Tree Point today during ex-tropical Cyclone Tam. Photo / Supplied
Lyle said some ships had to removed from Port of Whangārei to wait out the bad weather further out at sea.
A cement ship scheduled to enter the harbour on Wednesday also had to remain out at sea.
Civil Defence Northland spokesman Zachary Woods warned Northlanders to stay away from coastal areas.
Boats rolling in the increasing swell at Parua Bay on Thursday morning. Photo / Karina Cooper
“Today’s not necessarily the day that you need to go to the beach,” he said.
Many rivers are very high, especially in the Far North and eastern Northland, and a combination of high tide, strong wind and swells could bring flooding to coastal areas today, Woods explained.
Whangārei Falls as heavy rain from ex-tropical Cyclone Tam pounds Northland. Photo / Mike Dinsdale
‘Unacceptable’: Northland MP on Paihia storm damage
Northland MP Grant McCallum said storm damage at Paihia was unacceptable both for tourism businesses and local residents.
State Highway 11 (Marsden Rd) is closed due to storm inundation, with a short detour in place.
But McCallum said the highway was completely undermined, with cabling and pipes now exposed.
A long-term solution was needed to stop the repeated flooding and storm surges in Paihia, which is heavily reliant on tourists, he said.
Previous solutions have included a breakwater, which some local residents opposed due to environmental concerns.
McCallum said he was not an expert, but an acceptable solution is needed quickly.
This article’s final update was at 4.45pm.
Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.
