Heavy rain, thunderstorms lash North Island, Hutt river floods
Several roads were closed in Lower Hutt overnight due to flooding from the Hutt River. File picture.
Photo:
RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
The upper North Island was hit with heavy rain and thunderstorms overnight, but a severe thunderstorm watch for Auckland has now been lifted.
A front moved east across the region, bringing downpours and thunder also in Northland, Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel Peninsula.
And in the Lower North Island, in
Lower Hutt
, several roads were closed overnight due to flooding from the Hutt River, after the Wellington region was hammered by heavy rain.
Hutt City Council said the rain had eased and its crews were out on Sunday night with all roads expected to be open by 6am today.
Meanwhile, a
teenager was rescued
after trying to cross the Ngatiawa River in Tararua Forest Park when returning from an overnight hike.
The boy was swept off his feet after rising floodwaters but managed to get to safety where he activated a locator beacon and was then able to be located and rescued.
In the South Island, road snowfall warnings were in place overnight until 7am on Monday for Arthur's Pass and Porters Pass.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter
curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

RNZ News
11 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Farmers risk being cut off as bridge funding dries up
The Wharekiri Stream can be impassable in a flood. Photo: Supplied / Shirley Millard Clarence Valley farmers have been left high and dry following a decision not to extend a funding deadline for replacing a quake-damaged bridge north of Kaikōura. Waka Kotahi - the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) - has informed the Kaikōura District Council it will not extend the 30 June sunset clause or offering additional funding for a replacement for the Glen Alton Bridge on Waiau Toa Clarence River, which was destroyed in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2016. Property owners now face an uncertain future, without year-round, all weather access to the valley. Steve and Shirley Millard have been farming in the valley for 13 years, with Mrs Millard commuting to work in Kaikōura. ''It should have been done way before now,'' Steve said. ''They said they are looking at other options, but I can't see many.'' The Clarence Valley is home to several properties, including forestry blocks, large hill country properties and Department of Conservation land. For now access in and out is via Waipapa Road, Wharekiri Stream and a paper road through several properties. But the Wharekiri Stream is prone to flooding in heavy rain events and can be impassable for up to two weeks. Access is by four-wheel-drive only. Kaikōura District Council chief executive Will Doughty said NZTA's decision is a major setback and left the council with few options. ''The project has had a number of complex issues and stakeholder challenges that, despite best efforts, council has not been able to fully overcome.'' The remains of the Glen Alton bridge in the Clarence Valley, north of Kaikōura. Photo: Supplied / Kaikōura District Council The NZTA board approved emergency works funding of $12.6 million from the National Land Transport Programme in 2019 to replace bridge - a 95 percent subsidy, but the project has been beset by challenges. The council initially applied to Environment Canterbury (ECan) for a resource consent to build a $13.5m bridge, 500 metres upstream from the previous bridge. But this was opposed by Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura on cultural grounds. Last year, the council asked its contractor, Contract Structures Ltd, to provide a cost estimate for building a bridge at the original site. Going to the original site will require the council to acquire land for an access road to the new bridge, a process expected to take up to 18 month. The council will leave the local share funding of around $500,000 in the 2025/26 annual plan budget while the next steps are considered, Doughty said. NZTA regional manager central and lower South Island Peter Brown said the agency advised the council in December its application for an extension would likely be declined unless it could provide evidence by 28 February the challenges it faced could be overcome. ''Despite some progress being made on key issues, there remained significant ongoing risks and a lack of a clear path forward.'' The NZTA board met last month and declined an extension and a funding increase to $16.5m. ''We understand there will be disappointment over this decision for Clarence Valley residents,'' Brown said. ''The prolonged delays and unresolved issues make continued investment in this project untenable.'' Brown said NZTA will continue to work with the council to explore what options are available. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Weather: Fears for extreme cold snap don't eventuate despite chilly temperatures
Photo: Screenshot / MetService Fears for an extreme cold snap have not eventuated, despite chilly temperatures around the motu. The country went into the latter part of the week with almost two dozen weather warnings in place, but rain eased on Friday in Tāupo and the Bay of Plenty, and the South avoided heavy snowfall. MetService meterologist Sylvia Martino told RNZ Dunedin Airport and Takapō took out the chilliest spots, at minus five overnight, while Christchurch dropped to minus one. Takapō on Thursday after an overnight snowfall. Photo: Supplied / Tanja Clauberg Snow has closed parts of State Highway 85 in Otago, State Highway 80 between Lake Pukaki and Aoraki/Mount Cook and State Highway 8 between Fairlie and Twizel. MetService had issued an orange-level heavy snow warning for inland Canterbury, from the Rakaia River southwards, overnight. A heavy snow watch remained for inland areas of Canterbury and Marlborough between the Rakaia River and Ward until later on Saturday morning. A warning was also in place for State Highway 1 on the central North Island's Desert Road, with one to three centimetres of snow to accumulate above 800 metres. Meanwhile, the Wellington Region Emergency Management Office is warning people to take extra care along the region's coastline with heavy swells forecast over the weekend. A warning is in place in Wellington, from Cape Terawhiti to Turakirae Head, and in the Wairarapa, from Turakirae Head to Mataikona, through to early Sunday morning. Cook Strait ferries have been cancelled this weekend due to forecast 6m swells. Interislander has canned all passenger sailings for Saturday due to the conditions. "All passengers are being moved to alternative sailings," it said on its website. Cook Strait ferries are being cancelled this weekend due to forecast swells. Photo: Supplied Bluebridge had also cancelled all Saturday sailings, and one in the early hours of Sunday morning. "We are monitoring the situation closely, and if further sailings are impacted, we will notify you via text and email at the earliest opportunity," the operator told customers. The MetService said waves could reach swells of 6m on Saturday, with a warning lasting to Sunday morning. The Wellington Region Emergency Management Office's regional manager, Dan Neely, said it could bring flooding and debris onto roads. He added that drivers and walkers on coastal roads, as well as surfers, divers and fishers, should take extra care. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

RNZ News
19 hours ago
- RNZ News
Cook Strait ferries cancelled as 6m swells forecast, snow descends on South Island
Lakes Camp and Clearwater near Ashburton were blanketed with snow on Friday morning. Photo: Ashburton District Council An updated forecast from MetService has pushed back the expected start time for snowfall to sweep the South Island on Friday. The fresh surge of winter weather was expected to descend on the South Island on Friday , bringing snow, sub-zero temperatures and the risk of travel disruption. Central Otago had now been downgraded from an earlier heavy snow warning to a heavy snow watch starting at 2pm. But inland Canterbury south of the Rakaia River remained under a warning, with heavy snow possible above 400 metres from 2pm. Heavy snow watches were also in place on Friday afternoon for southern Marlborough, Queenstown Lakes District, and the rest of inland Canterbury. A strong wind watch was in effect for Westland District from 6pm. Snow flurries had already been recorded earlier on Friday in the Mackenzie Country and Queenstown. Lakes Camp and Clearwater looked stunning after heavy snowfall. Photo: Ashburton District Council Ashburton District Council said late Friday afternoon the Gorge Road was now closed at Mount Somers township because of snow. "If you're planning to travel this weekend, please pay attention to the weather forecast and drive to the conditions." Meanwhile, Cook Strait ferries were being cancelled this weekend due to forecast 6m swells. Interislander had canned all passenger sailings for Saturday due to the conditions. "All passengers are being moved to alternative sailings," it said on its website. Cook Strait ferries are being cancelled this weekend due to forecast swells. Photo: Supplied Bluebridge had also cancelled all Saturday sailings, and one in the early hours of Sunday morning. "We are monitoring the situation closely, and if further sailings are impacted, we will notify you via text and email at the earliest opportunity," the operator told customers. The MetService said waves could reach swells of 6m on Saturday, with a warning lasting to Sunday morning. Wellington Region Emergency Management said the 6m swells could bring flooding and debris onto roads around high tide. An orange swell warning was in place on Wellington's south coast through to coastal Wairarapa. It said drivers and walkers on coastal roads, as well as surfers, divers and fishers, should take extra care. More to come. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.