NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Schools close, exams disrupted due to flooding in lower North Island, Nelson

Patrice Dougan
By Patrice Dougan
Assistant Chief of Staff·NZ Herald·
15 Nov, 2016 01:24 AM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Wellington has been hit by torrential weather closing both state highway one and two - cutting off the city. Join Bernadine Oliver-Kerby for the latest.

A number of schools have been closed due to flooding as bad weather hits the country in the wake of yesterday's earthquake.

The flooding has disrupted exams in some areas, as thousands of students were expected to sit physics and economics NCEA tests, and French scholarship exams this afternoon.

Schools in Porirua, Lower Hutt, Nelson and Taranaki closed today because of flooding in those regions. State Highways 1 and 2 have been closed in and out of the capital.

READ MORE:
• Live: Wellington cut off as floods close highways
• Most schools to open on Tuesday after deadly earthquake
• NCEA exams can go ahead in schools unaffected by quake damage

It comes after hundreds of schools across Canterbury, Nelson-Marlborough and Wellington were closed yesterday in the aftermath of the 7.5 magnitude Hanmer Springs quake.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The Ministry of Education has offered support to those affected by the flooding, which comes as it helps schools damaged by yesterday's quake.

Six schools in Kaikoura and two in the Hurunui district are still closed due to the earthquakes.

However, one school in the district - Amuri School - will open to allow NCEA students to sit exams.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Kaikoura is still difficult to get to," a Ministry statement issued this afternoon said.

"We are working alongside other agencies to ensure those schools have the support they need, as best we can."

Fresh water was being made available to around 17 schools in the Hurunui area, the Ministry said, as a precaution.

"We will continue to respond to requests for help either due to the effects of the earthquake or flooding, although the rain is forecast to ease later," the statement said.

Discover more

New Zealand

Earthquake: what you need to know

14 Nov 03:12 AM
New Zealand|education

NCEA exams chaos after deadly quake

13 Nov 05:54 PM
New Zealand|education

Key suggests exams should be postponed

13 Nov 07:21 PM
New Zealand|education

Students sent home after seeing exam

13 Nov 10:54 PM

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) said it now expected flooding in the lower North Island to affect exams.

"If students are unable to attend an NCEA examination because their school is affected by flooding or they are unable to safely travel, the same derived grade process advised for yesterday's earthquakes will apply," the authority said.

Students who had spent the night on hills and high ground or evacuation centres following the large quake, which struck at 12.02am yesterday, were yesterday told they could apply for a derived grade instead of sitting Monday's scheduled NCEA exams.

A river rises as it nears Porirua Harbour. Schools have closed for the day in the area due to flooding. Photo / Marty Melville
A river rises as it nears Porirua Harbour. Schools have closed for the day in the area due to flooding. Photo / Marty Melville

Scholarship exams were cancelled yesterday, as the derived grade process does not apply to those tests. However, confusion reigned in the aftermath of the quakes, and students in some schools began to take their history scholarship exam, only for it to be postponed part-way through.

"New Zealand Scholarship students affected by flooding, should contact their school ASAP," NZQA said this afternoon.

"We are working with schools to make alternative arrangements for these students and ensure they are not disadvantaged."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Schools that are not affected by flooding or earthquake-related problems will open as normal and exams will continue as scheduled, NZQA said.

"Students must apply for derived grades through their schools, so if you have any questions or concerns regarding derived grades, please contact your school directly to discuss it."

Today the NZQA also advised students they can bring an emergency evacuation pack into exams, if they wish.

Students can bring emergency evacuation items into exams in a clear, sealable plastic bag. More info here: https://t.co/ucn5jHUxKI

— NZQA (@NZQAofficial) November 14, 2016

Any evacuation pack must be in a clear, sealable plastic bag, and stay under the student's chair during the exam. It cannot be touched or opened with the permission of the supervisor.

Meanwhile, Victoria University of Wellington has re-opened today after being given the go-ahead from engineers.

The university's campuses were closed yesterday following the earthquake.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The Kelburn and Te Aro campuses reopened today, Vice-Chancellor Professor Grant Guilford said, while its other campuses at Pipitea and Karori were expected to reopen once assessments were completed.

There would be limited disruption to students, Guilford said, with classes and events scheduled to take place on closed campuses relocated to other buildings.

It’s mostly business as usual at #VicUniWgtn with all classes–except for law–on today. Some buildings remain closed https://t.co/J7qk7ew7y2

— Victoria University of Wellington (@VicUniWgtn) November 14, 2016

The university is also offering accommodation to any tertiary student in the Wellington region who urgently needs a place to stay.

"We accommodated over 100 displaced students and neighbours at one of our halls of residence, Te Puni Village, in the hours after the earthquake," he said.

"Many were international students who had been evacuated from their apartments.

"We are able to provide beds, food, warmth and company and are happy to do the same for any other tertiary students in Wellington who need temporary lodgings."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

DERIVED GRADE PROCESS:
• The emergency derived grade process is designed to ensure no student is disadvantaged due to a school, regional or national emergency.
• If a student is unable to take part in all or some of the end of year NCEA exam, their school can use their marks from previous work produced during the school year, such as mock exams and essays, to submit a recommended grade to the exam body.
• Applications are made to the NZQA via schools.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

Premium
New Zealand

Asterisks, footnotes and claims of 'weasel words': Inside the battle for region's housing future

02 Jul 07:00 AM
New Zealand|crimeUpdated

Enraged 'mistress' kills innocent motorist while chasing man's wife over family photo

02 Jul 06:43 AM
New Zealand|crime

Assault charge after migrant worker allegedly beaten for hours over unpaid wages

02 Jul 06:05 AM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Premium
Asterisks, footnotes and claims of 'weasel words': Inside the battle for region's housing future

Asterisks, footnotes and claims of 'weasel words': Inside the battle for region's housing future

02 Jul 07:00 AM

The plan is years in the making, but now it's reached a cross-council 'standoff'.

Enraged 'mistress' kills innocent motorist while chasing man's wife over family photo

Enraged 'mistress' kills innocent motorist while chasing man's wife over family photo

02 Jul 06:43 AM
Assault charge after migrant worker allegedly beaten for hours over unpaid wages

Assault charge after migrant worker allegedly beaten for hours over unpaid wages

02 Jul 06:05 AM
'It's a mess': Auckland roadworks chaos to last another two years

'It's a mess': Auckland roadworks chaos to last another two years

02 Jul 06:02 AM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP