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A State of Emergency remains in place for the Kaikōura district as Canterbury deals with widespread flooding, road closures and damaged bridges, while further south the Mackenzie Region is bracing for heavy snow ahead of one of the busiest weekends of the year.
State Highway One near Conway River / Supplied
State Highway 1 north of Kaikōura reopened at 5pm on Wednesday, but NZTA warned drivers the route would not be in its usual condition, with some sections down to one lane.
Motorists are urged to take extra care and allow plenty of time.
Work underway to clear SH1 near Kaikōura
SH1 south of Kaikōura remains closed, along with the Inland Kaikōura Road (Route 70), where significant damage, including to bridges, is still being assessed.
Photo: Charmaine McFarlane, farmland / Inland Road near Kaikoura
Canterbury Civil Defence Emergency Management said surface flooding remained in several places across the region on Wednesday evening, including Kaikōura, Hurunui in the north and Waitaki in the south, with multiple road and bridge closures across Kaikōura and Hurunui.
Photo: Charmaine McFarlane, farmland / Inland Road near Kaikoura
“Do not attempt to drive through floodwater or across closed roads,” the agency said, reminding everyone to respect all closures, barriers, signs and traffic management measures.
Impact of the high Conway River levels on State Highway 1 near Hawkswood in North Canterbury. Photo: NZTA
Kaikōura District Council is urging residents who were evacuated not to return home until building assessments are complete.
State Highway One near Conway River / Supplied
People who self evacuated may return if their property is undamaged and they were not subject to an official evacuation request.
Photo: Charmaine McFarlane, farmland / Inland Road near Kaikoura
A Yellow Heavy Rain Watch remains in place between Ward in Marlborough and Hanmer in Canterbury until 6pm Thursday.
Damage at Tyntesfield bridge, Waihopai Valley / photo: Gavin Hadfield
Meanwhile, visitors heading to the Mackenzie Region over the coming days are being urged to plan ahead as severe winter weather collides with the school holidays and the Matariki long weekend.
Heavy snowfall is expected to cause hazardous driving conditions and temporary road closures across the district until Thursday, followed by freezing temperatures and a high risk of black ice over the long weekend. Fresh snow on the ski fields is expected to attract even more visitors.
Accommodation, particularly in Lake Tekapo, is already in short supply, and anyone delayed by road closures or changing weather may struggle to find a bed at short notice. Earlier this week several visitors turned to local community social media pages after failing to find last minute accommodation in the town.
Lake Tekapo / The MaGik in ME Photography
Mackenzie Mayor Scott Aronsen said safety must come first.
“Visitors should be prepared for snow, ice, road closures and travel delays, and have a backup plan if conditions deteriorate,” he said.
Lake Tekapo / The MaGik in ME Photography
“With school holidays, Matariki weekend and fresh snow attracting visitors to the region, accommodation in Lake Tekapo is already under pressure. We strongly encourage people to book accommodation before they travel, monitor weather and road conditions, and be prepared to adjust their plans if necessary.
Lake Tekapo / The MaGik in ME Photography
“A little planning before you leave can make all the difference to ensuring a safe and enjoyable visit.”
State of emergency continues in Waitaki as boil water notice issued and sports grounds close
A State of Emergency remains in place for the Waitaki District as the region deals with the aftermath of heavy rain, high river flows and snow.
The yellow rain watch for the district was lifted on Wednesday afternoon, but a MetService Heavy Snow Watch remains in place until midnight Wednesday for Inland Otago and the Canterbury High Country south of the Rangitata River.
A boil water notice has been issued for the Lower Waitaki Water Supply, while conserve water notices are in place for the Tokarahi, Awamoko and Lower Waitaki supplies. Residents are urged to follow information from their local council to ensure they are using water safely.
The significant impact of recent rainfall means all sports grounds maintained by Waitaki District Council will be closed this weekend. The Oamaru Public Gardens and Oamaru Cemetery are also closed due to the weather.
Photo: Waitaki District Council
On the roads, State Highway 1 to the north, including the Waitaki Bridge, has reopened following a period of closure on Wednesday afternoon. State Highway 83 is open between Pukeuri and Kurow with a temporary 30kph speed limit in place due to flooding, and drivers are asked to take extra care on the route. SH85 remains closed from Kyeburn to Palmerston because of snow and ice.
The council warned it could not get to every affected road.
“Council and our contractors currently don’t have the manpower or the signage to go around all impacted areas and close all affected roads. Please use extreme caution on all Waitaki District roads and don’t drive through floodwaters,” it said, adding that back roads to Duntroon need particular caution.
Photo: Waitaki District Council
Residents are urged to avoid all floodwater, stay away from closed roads and rivers, and follow the advice of emergency services. Anyone who comes into contact with floodwater should thoroughly clean their hands, clothes and any property touched.
People are also encouraged to check on neighbours, friends and whānau, and to monitor their local council’s social media pages for updates on road closures, with NZTA Waka Kotahi the source for state highway information.
