Campers rescued from rising river

A group of campers, including children and a man in a wheelchair, had to be rescued early this morning when their campsite was flooded by a rising river on the south Wairarapa Coast.

The group of about eight people, including four or five children, got into trouble when the Oterei River at Te Awaiti Bay, about 50km southeast of Martinborough, flooded about 4am, resident Chris Bargh said.

Some of the group were able to make it to Mr Burgh's neighbours, Neil and Pam Davis, to raise the alarm.

Mr and Mrs Davis helped rescue the rest and put them up for the morning.

Mr Burgh said the area had 67mm of rain fall overnight and more was expected for the next two days.

- NZPA