Weather disrupts travel in Wgtn (+pics)

Flights cancelled and ferry sailings behind schedule

More than 20 flights and two ferry sailings have been cancelled or delayed as wild weather continues to batter Wellington.
View video: Huge waves batter North Island

Travellers may face lengthy delays after some Air New Zealand flights in and out of Wellington were cancelled or rescheduled.

Some flights due to depart Wellington for Auckland, Hamilton Tauranga, Napier, Christchurch and Gisborne between 3pm and 4pm have been cancelled.

By 3.15pm, Air NZ had cancelled 20 flights

Spokeswoman Tracy Mills said high winds had prevented planes taking off or landing.

"We suggest people check the website or call our 0800 number to check before they go to the airport."

Travellers would need to consult ground staff at the airport to arrange alternative flights when the weather cleared, she said.

A strong wind warning remains in place, with MetService forecasting gusts of up to 120kmh in exposed places.

In Paraparaumu, strong winds have brought down a tree in Mazengarb Rd, causing delays on the road. It is understood the tree brought power pole down as it fell.

Some scheduled Interislander sailings were cancelled, but passengers were re-booked onto a later crossing. Services were running slightly behind schedule.

Spokesman Nigel Parry said there were swells in excess of 5m in Cook Strait so ferries were taking a longer route to make the journey "smoother".

ROADS RE-OPENED

Most major roads have been re-opened throughout the lower North Island after being closed as torrential rain and high winds caused slips and flooding.

Two slips that caused extensive peak hour traffic delays yesterday afternoon on State Highway 1 at Paekakariki and between Whenua Tapu and Pukerua Bay have been cleared.

Both lanes of Rimutaka Hill Rd have re-opened, as has Greys Rd.

Manawatu Gorge is also down to one lane after torrential rain caused a large slip late yesterday afternoon.

Heavy rainfall throughout the lower North Island yesterday dissipated overnight. During the past 24 hours 9mm of rain was recorded at Wellington airport, 20mm in Lower Hutt, 16mm in Paraparaumu, 11mm in Levin and 27mm in Masterton.

WIND WARNING

Wellington residents awoke to southerly gales of up to 117kmh lashing the region.

The strongest winds struck this morning, with wind speeds of 117kmh registered at Mt Kaukau about 6am, while the suburb of Kelburn registered winds of 106kmh.

A duty forecaster at the MetService, where the Kelburn readings are taken, said: "Fortunately we're pretty well insulated here ... looking out the window the trees are bending over here."

A severe wind warning has now been issued and is expected to remain in place for most of today.

Police are also warning motorists to watch their following distances.

HIGH SEAS

Yesterday, massive waves hurled debris over roads and almost dragged a man to his death while slips and flooding closed roads in the lower North Island.

Floodwater, knee-high in places, temporarily shut the road through Paekakariki during the evening peak hour, causing long queues for traffic that crawled along rock and debris-strewn Centennial Highway.

Water gushed through one Paraparaumu house, leaving carpets and possessions sodden.

The Parade, at Paekakariki, was shut for about an hour during the midday high tide after waves ripped out the top layer of a new walkway behind the seawall and threw rocks and debris over the road.

Paekakariki man Neil Thomas was swept off the shore by a big wave as he took photos. A woman handed her young child to a stranger and leapt into the water to drag him to safety

"I blacked out and the next thing I know there's this woman pulling me out of the water. She saved my life," he told 3 News.

Trains between Wellington and Ngaio were cancelled and replaced by buses last night because of flooding. The Johnsonville line was closed this morning because of a slip near Ngaio station which caused a minor train derailment just before 8pm last night. By 3.30pm, trains services were running to timetable again.

Inspector Mark Clausen said huge waves pounding the foreshore along Centennial Highway earlier yesterday were scary for drivers, as roading contractors continuously swept the highway to clear rocks and debris.

Paekakariki resident Dave Jamieson said he had never seen so much debris cluttering the highway.

Long-time Paekakariki resident John Porter said storm surges were the most destructive he had seen in the area since 1976.

Surges blocked a Paraparaumu Beach drain, sending water gushing through the ground floor of a house, destroying belongings including family photo albums.

Jaimie Butterworth, 9, found her bedroom, rumpus room and laundry awash. "It was scary seeing all that water, it is sad our kindergarten and baby photos got all wet, but our dog loved swimming in the driveway," she said.

Levin residents were told to boil water till further notice after flooding affected their water treatment plant. 

- © Fairfax NZ News