Flooding

Hawke’s Bay regional councillors have decided they cannot support a new housing development in an area they say is known for “severe flooding risks”.

A Tāneatua early childhood centre has now suffered three floods in as many years and its owners say the town’s stormwater system is failing residents.

A planned road blockade protest was ruined when flood waters arrived before the activists did.

Clutha District Council has declared a state of emergency.

The Otago region is experiencing its wettest day in over a century with flooding in many areas and roads blocked.

Numbers of evacuees overnight were unclear, but the St Clair Golf Club was full by 2:50 am, according to RNZ, and further evacuees were advised to go to the stadium.

Two “urgent” reviews into what caused the flooding of Wairoa in June are expected to be completed soon.

Timber frames, a bath and a shower are all that remains in Marie Tuahine’s home after it was left severely damaged by June’s flood.

Only the timing of Wairoa’s devastating flood stopped people from dying, the town’s mayor says.

The flood response in Wairoa will be at the centre of a rapid government review, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds has announced this morning.