Damage assessed as storm abates

Vineyards in Rarangi, near Blenheim, flooded after today's storm. Photo / NZPA

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Councils are assessing damage, roads remain closed and campers are mopping up as a storm that battered many parts of the country at the peak of the summer holiday season abates.

State Highway 1 is closed at the Rakaia Bridge in Canterbury and a detour is in place, State Highway 73 through Arthur's Pass is closed due to a bridge washout, and flooding has closed State Highway 6 from Renwick to Nelson. Roads on the West Coast are also closed.

Caution is also advised on a number of North Island roads.

Golden Bay at the top of the South Island was badly affected, particularly around the Aorere River, while in Marlborough the Wairau River has flooded.

Campers at the Pelorus Bridge campground, 59km north west of Blenheim, got a rude awakening early today, fleeing on foot as the river surged through the campground, lifting a caravan and tents and leaving a silty mess when the flood receded.

Residents of Havelock in the Marlborough Sounds are being urged to conserve water until power is restored and the local reservoir can be refilled and to avoid walking in areas contaminated by sewage overflows.

The worst hit areas in Marlborough region are the Rai Valley, Canvastown, Northbank and the Marlborough Sounds. Power is out in some of these areas and many roads may remain closed for several days.

The MetService said a cold front was moving quickly across the North Island this afternoon and should lie east of the island this evening.

All South Island warnings for wind and rain are now lifted. Also the rainfall warnings for Taranaki, central North Island, Horowhenua, Kapiti Coast, Wellington and the Tararua ranges are now lifted. Wind warnings for Wellington and the central North Island are also lifted.

A heavy rain warning is in force for the ranges of eastern Bay of Plenty, but this rain should ease this evening. Wind warnings are still in place for Gisborne, Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa. These winds should ease late afternoon or evening.

In the Tasman Region, farmers are starting to assess stock and property losses, particularly in the Aorere valley.

The Aorere River, which can normally be forded on foot during summer, was flowing at 3500cu m per second at the peak.

Crews are working to restore power to the Rockville and Bainham areas. The James Road bridge in Bainham has been washed away. Bainham is on the Aorere River, seventy-five miles from Nelson.

"The recovery process will involve a number of steps including checking damage to infrastructure such as roads, bridges and water and waste water services. We will be working with the individuals and services affected to ensure they are supported while repairs are made," Nelson Tasman civil defence group controller Jim Frater said.

Weatherwatch.co.nz said winds strengthened across a number of major North Island centres this afternoon with gusts of 80 to 125kmh in Auckland, 90kmh in Napier and 70kmh in Gisborne.

Police in Wellington said they received a call every two minutes between 7am and midday today from people seeking information as the strong winds caused havoc in the city.

The wind has dropped in Wellington where gusts reached over 170kmh at Mt Kaukau.

Police are warning motorists to be careful and not to put themselves at risk by ignoring road closure signs.

Most of the country will enjoy a dry New Year's Eve, WeathherWatch.co.nz chief analyst Philip Duncan predicted. "Once this weather has cleared by Wednesday morning, we can all go back to having summer weather again."

MetService reported the weather system was moving quickly across the country and more settled weather was likely to follow for the first week of the New Year.

- NZPA, NZ Herald staff