Come hell or high water, stalwarts stand by their beers

Riverside Bar Wanagnui, Hollie Smith and Manager of Riverside Bar Paul Sheahon. Photo / Stuart Munro, Wanganui Chronicle

Rising floodwaters entertain pub patrons.

It's takes more than the worst recorded flood in Whanganui history to put Riverside Bar regulars off a night at their favourite watering hole.

The eyes of council and emergency services workers were on the Whanganui River last Saturday as the waterway rose all day before bursting its banks just before midnight.

At Riverside Bar, on Taupo Quay and just metres from the raging floodwaters which would later wreak havoc on parts of the city, punters had one eye on the river and the other on their beer.

About 40 customers made the best of the bad situation, singing water-themed tunes and watching the unfolding show of nature's power, until the bar was forced to close four hours early at 10pm.

Publican Paul Sheahon said revellers weren't keen to go, but had enjoyed a unique night out, he said.

"These are the sort of people who go to the beach to see a tsunami wave come in."

The river provided entertainment all of its own, he said.

"There were huge logs slamming into the town bridge, it was like a crack of thunder. It was Mother Nature flexing her muscles."

The bar's deck was usually 5m from the river, but with floodwaters lapping at it, the deck remained off-limits last Saturday.

The bar was lucky — putrid, sewage-clogged floodwaters came within 2cm of flooding the venue before receding. Other local businesses weren't so fortunate.

Riverside events manager Paul Christian said water-related tunes were the choice of the night, including Talking Heads' soul hit Take Me to the River and Kiwi songstress' Hollie Smith's rendition of Bathe in the River.

Whanganui experienced its biggest flood on record last week. Photo / Bevan Conley

The latter's choice was particularly apt, with Smith playing at the Mint Cafe and Bar in Whanganui on Friday night and the Riverside Bar last night.

Creedence Clearwater Revival classic Born on the Bayou was played during an informal jam session set up after the booked band was blocked by floodwaters.

Craig 'Frog' Falconer was among regulars at the bar. He said no flood was going to stop him having a drink.

"Beers are beers for me. I'm a bit of a survivalist eh, a bit of water ain't gonna hurt me."

Civil Defence declared a state of emergency about four hours before last drinks were called.

More than 200 homes were evacuated.

Flooding damage is expected to top $120 million.

Cold, cold, cold - and forecast for wet and windy

The polar blast which saw near record low temperatures recorded across the country this week will be replaced by showers and strong winds over the coming days.

As the post-flood clean-up began in Whanganui, temperatures of -21°C and -19°C were recorded in Omarama and Twizel earlier this week. New Zealand's lowest ever recorded temperature was a bone-chilling -25.6°C at Ranfurly in 1903.

Overnight chills in the Auckland region dropped to just 0°C.

Next week a strong westerly flow is forecast to bring wet and windy conditions for much of the country.

Conditions are expected to improve on Wednesday, before more rain and winds on Thursday.