Family blame themselves for camping close to river

A family rescued from a flooded Wairarapa river flat admit they have themselves to blame for camping in a flood-prone area.

South Wairarapa District Council, which owns the land at Tora, has faced criticism over failing to advise campers of flood risks. But the family says it was a risk they took.

There were signs saying light no fires, no dogs and dispose of rubbish, but a new flood risk sign had not been put up. Councils do not carry any liability for disasters that may happen on freedom camp sites.

The nine relatives, including five children and an elderly couple, one of them wheelchair-bound, fled for their lives when their Wairarapa campsite was engulfed in floodwater early on Saturday morning.

"We could have lost our children," rescued camper Lisa Minns said. "Mostly it was our own bloody fault for camping so close to the river's edge and while it was raining."

She wished she had seen flood risk signs but did not hold the council responsible.

The extended family, from Palmerston North, arrived at Te Awaiti Reserve coastal retreat late on Friday afternoon. They had planned to stay at the edge of the Oterei River for a week.

Ms Minns' partner, Stuart Newlands, was discharged from Wairarapa Hospital yesterday after being admitted with exhaustion.

The family had been sleeping in tents and cars as the rain poured down, and awoke to find themselves swamped.

Local residents Neil and Pam Davis, who helped the family, said they had called on the council for years to erect flood warning signs.

Freedom camping in the rugged coastal area has long been a bone of contention between some home-owners and the council, with residents once demanding it shut the site because of noise and pollution.

South Wairarapa Mayor Adrienne Staples said the site, set aside for free camping, and with just a long drop, was controlled as well as the council could manage. But it had no legal obligations.

Though she had sympathy for campers caught in flash floods, they had to take personal responsibility, Mrs Staples said.

- © Fairfax NZ News