Noel Edmonds 'not sure of the way forward' after flood ravages his New Zealand estate - with 'three years of hard graft destroyed in a few hours'
The TV personality and his wife, Liz, relocated in 2019 and own an 800-acre estate, River Haven, which features a restaurant, a vineyard, a pub and a wellness centre.
However, a natural disaster on New Zealand's South Island has left them unsure of the future after floodwater wrecked their stunning home and business.
The Motueka river burst its banks last week following heavy rain and has flooded Tasman and Marlborough areas.
Noel uploaded a video to YouTube detailing the impact it has had on the local land.
He acknowledged him, Liz and their team were 'very fortunate' and haven't had any injuries or had their livelihood destructed.
The former Deal Or No Deal presenter stressed that 'thousands of Kiwis on New Zealand's south island have suffered in this terrible disaster'.
'However, I can't conceal the fact that Liz and I are in a state of shock and at this point we're not quite sure of the way forward,' Noel added.
'You might have seen films of our beautiful vineyard setting in the Moteuka valley, however our river valley, our paradise now looks very different.'
Video footage showed fast-flowing water gushing over the land.
'We've spent the last three years creating a wonderful wellness centre, it was constructed in accordance to all of the local regulations, it was about 50m away from the river bank and some 10m above the normal water level,' Noel explained.
'However this is a quite extraordinary event and our wellness centre has taken the full brunt of the torrent.'
Two of the estate's treatment suites were left 'wrecked' and one was even 'torn from its foundations'.
While the main building is 'covered in a thick layer of silt and mud'.
Noel commented: 'Three years of hard graft destroyed in just a few hours.'
The TV star acknowledged the positivity of the local community and said: 'I'm in total awe of the way in which our Kiwi neighbours have picked themselves up pulled together as a community.
'You know Kiwis always say 'Oh I'll give it a go'. And I saw one interview where some people who had had their home washed away said 'Well we'll come back and we'll rebuild our lives'.'
However, the future still looks uncertain for Noel and his wife as they start to look at their next steps.
'Liz and I are not feeling sorry for ourselves but I have to say, we're not really sure of the way forward and there is one really important factor that is beyond our control,' he explained.
The foundations of the highway were damaged by the flood and restrictions on accessing it could cause issues to local businesses.
'It's fair to say Liz and I now have to review our three year venture and wonder about what the future holds,' Noel said.
This isn't the first time Noel and Liz have had to deal with extreme weather in New Zealand.
The TV star recalled one particular incident to The Sun and recounted how an earthquake 'really shook the house'.
He revealed they have experienced three earthquakes whilst living on the estate.
Noel told the publication: 'During the first one, we were sitting outside with a glass of wine, and I noticed the surface of the wine rippling.
'That was a mild one.
'The biggest one really shook the house — the cutlery drawer rattled, and Liz and I each grabbed a dog and ran outside.'
Fortunately, the incident didn't cause any structural damage to the property.
He added: 'But, yes, earthquakes — and a dormant volcano just up the way. At least, we hope that it's dormant.'
Noel described the weather as having an 'attitude' because of how severe it can get.
He recalled trees falling down in strong winds, 'tropical rain' and landslips.
His new documentary, Noel Edmonds' Kiwi Adventure, hit screens earlier this month on ITV and follows the couple as they navigate life together in New Zealand.
The TV personality and radio presenter was best known for his stint hosting the Channel 4 game show from 2005 to 2016 when it ended, before its revival with Stephen Mulhern in 2023.
But after more than 50 years on British TV and radio, Noel left the UK in 2018 with Liz to build a new life in New Zealand.
They have now opened a hospitality business in the small rural, riverside town of Ngatimoti.
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