Flooding chaos for Wellington commuters

Civil defence and police were this morning on high alert in the Hutt Valley as heavy rain overnight threatened to send the Hutt River over its banks.

The Hutt Valley was not alone in feeling the vagaries of the New Zealand summer with commuters around Wellington delayed by flooding on the roads and the train link into the capital severed from the Kapiti Coast.

And in the Tararua Ranges north of the city, a tramper lay injured, with her rescuers hoping the weather would clear long enough to get a rescue helicopter in.

Sergeant Andre Kowalczyk of the police central communications centre this morning said many roads were either closed or had surface flooding.

"We've got flooding right through the Wellington area," he said.

"The Hutt River is quite high -- about halfway up the banks. Obviously, we're keeping a watching brief along with civil defence."

State Highway 1 was closed at McKay's Crossing but workers had managed to reopen one lane to allow southbound commuters to drive into the city.

The railway was not so lucky there, with trains stopped and the tracks impassable.

With the Paekakariki Hill Road and Grey's Road closed, options for commuters were limited.

State Highway 58 had reopened after being closed overnight but was marginal with flooding between Pauatahanui and the Paremata roundabaout.

Several roads in Upper Hutt were closed due to heavy flooding and there was surface flooding on State Highway 2 coming into the capital although cars were still able to pass.

In other rural areas of Wellington, slips also closed some roads.

North of the city, tramper Louise Wilkinson, 49, who got stuck between Mt Hector and Alpha Hut on the Southern Crossing track on Tuesday, lay in a shelter built by rescuers, hoping the weather would clear enough to allow a helicopter to rescue her.

Rescuers reached Ms Wilkinson at about 1.30pm yesterday, but with weather conditions appalling were forced to build a makeshift shelter around her and wait for a helicopter.

Wellington Search and Rescue search adviser Matthew Nolan this morning said it was no longer raining in the Tararua Ranges and winds had dropped.

"One of the tents was damaged overnight. Their gear is wet, however they did have dinner."

He told National Radio Ms Atkinson was "well at this time" but suffering exhaustion, post-hypothermia and a chest infection.

"We're hoping by late morning there might just be a gap in the weather."

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter and a smaller Masterton-based helicopter were on standby.

"That is the plan. Failing that, they'll be there for another night and they will be re-supplied today with more dry equipment and more food."

Ms Wilkinson had been on her second day of the Southern Crossing tramp when the weather forced her to stop.

After a night on a exposed ridge she sent a text message to her brother saying she had hypothermia and needed help.

The Southern Crossing crosses the Tararua Ranges from near Otaki Forks to Kaitoke.

- NZPA