Rain at last for most

Some people could have done without the wind that delivered the Far North's first real rain of 2013, but the moisture was very gratefully received by most.

It was not known yesterday whether the downpour was officially regarded as a drought-breaker, but as much rain fell on Kaitaia in three days than fell in all of the first three months of the year.

The 24 hours to 9am Sunday produced 6.4mm, followed by 46.1mm (the heaviest 24-hour fall recorded by the Northland Age in Kaitaia since September 2) and 6.9mm.

More than twice that was dumped in some parts of the Far North, but others largely missed out.

Whangarei's eastern hills and inland areas of the Bay of Islands copped the brunt of the rain, with the highest total, 139.5mm, recorded at Puhipuhi between noon on Monday and 7am Tuesday. The next wettest places were Wiroa Road, west of Kerikeri (119mm), Glenbervie (97.5mm), Oromahoe (95.5mm), Kaikohe (83.6mm) and Ohaeawai (83.5mm).

The heaviest rain bypassed the very Far North and the west coast, Cape Reinga recording 13.4mm and Opononi/Omapere a miserable 10mm.

The worst effects were felt in Paihia, where a fishing boat and a catamaran broke their moorings and were driven ashore by powerful easterly winds on Monday night.

The catamaran was pulled off the beach at Te Haumi late next morning, while efforts to free the Anna-Marie were expected to get under way yesterday.

The 40-foot commercial fishing boat, owned by DM Fishing and used to fish for snapper and hapuka as far afield as the Three Kings, broke her mooring at the height of the storm about 8pm, running aground at the far end of Kings Beach, where she quickly became something of a tourist attraction.

The co-owner, who did not want to give his name, said damage appeared to be minimal but that would be confirmed at low tide when he was able to dig out and inspect the port side.

Conditions had been "pretty ugly" overnight but by 4am on Tuesday the boat was safe and secured to a tree.

Northland Regional Council deputy harbourmaster Chidambaram Surendran said his initial concern was for the 400 litres of diesel on board the boat, but damage to the hull did not appear serious and the skipper had managed to isolate the tanks overnight.

Elsewhere, Paihia's Marsden Road was littered with debris from Monday night's heavy swells, the Kaeo Fire Brigade was called out to clear branches from SH10 about 10pm, and Kerikeri was called to Amuri Road, where bamboo was causing power lines to arc.

Despite the rain,a total fire ban remains in force in the Far North, but it may be lifted in coming days.