Auckland suburbs flood as rain hits

Last updated 12:55 03/09/2012
Ian Bishop

Footage of flooding in Forrest Hill on Auckland's North Shore.

Flooding September 3
ROBYN WATERFALL Zoom
Water covers the street in Portland Rd, Remuera.

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An Auckland woman who couldn't leave her flooded property amid heavy rain today says she has repeatedly warned the council about the "danger zone".


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Rubbish bins floated past Robyn Waterfall's home in Portland Rd, Remuera, and the single mum says she has lobbied Auckland Council for several years but was told water gates couldn't deal with sudden downpours or king tides. 

Fire crews in Auckland were inundated with calls from home owners battling flooding this morning, mostly from the North Shore.

A spokesman said they had received 30 to 40 calls from property owners in Browns Bay, Takapuna and Devonport, mainly about overflowing drains.

Waterfall says her street becomes dangerous as cars U-turn and speed to get through the water quickly.

"There are many children in this area and when it rains like this it is extremely hazardous especially as Victoria Ave Primary is above my driveway, and children use our driveway as a shortcut to reach Portland Rd," she said.

"Once again I was unable to leave my property to go to an important appointment.

"Does one really have to live in these conditions in a country like New Zealand and have the council fob you off with an attitude of it can't be fixed?"

Waterfall, a single parent living in Remuera simply to give her child "the best education", said she was sick of the stereotype that the suburb was "highly affluent" and the people there didn't need help because they were "rolling in cash".

"To have this happen every time it rains heavily is not something we have to put up with and take it as part and parcel that Portland Rd is known to flood.

"This two-bedroom flat is all my family could afford to help make a better life for my daughter and I and it is disappointing to invest in such a huge sum of money where your road is repeatedly flooded."

Fire crews have also dealt with flooding at a house in McKinley Rd, Warkworth, and were helping pump water from the Rodney Surgical Centre on Morrison Dr.

The spokeswoman said the basement of the surgical centre flooded about 9.20am.

DELUGE IN WEST

Buller, Nelson and Marlborough had experienced heavy rainfall this morning, while "anywhere in the North Island from Taranaki up to Bay of Plenty" could also expect to be drenched today, MetService duty forecaster Heath Gullery said.

Heavy rain eased in Fiordland overnight as the front moved slowly eastwards over the South Island.

The rain would ease this afternoon but the next few days would be marked by an "unsettled showery regime," Gullery said.

"They'll be on and off from today. It will be windy easterlies and westerly showers."

While most of western New Zealand could expect a few wet days ahead, eastern New Zealand would be calm, and dry.

Canterbury, Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa and Marlborough would be "mild and warm" from Wednesday through to Friday, Gullery said.

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- © Fairfax NZ News

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