Residents of Nelson are cleaning up and counting the cost of flood damage across the region, while authorities work to fix roads, clear slips and rebuild infrastructure.
RNZ has collated photos showing some of that destruction caused by this week’s weather bomb.
See how today’s events unfolded with RNZ’s blog.
An Atawhai local looking at the overflowing Oldham Creek.
Photo: RNZ/Kirsty Frame
Debris in the Buller River gets tangled on a bridge.
Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
More damage near the Buller River.
Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
A bench outside a residential property in Nelson is hit with water flow.
Photo: Nelson City Council
Photo: Facebook / Rai Valley residents group
Damage to the Racecourse Bridge on State Highway 14.
Photo: RNZ
Flood damage in a residential area of the city.
Photo: RNZ/Kirsty Frame
Road damage after flood water receded.
Photo:
Raging water flows wash away debris and top soil from land in Nelson.
Photo: RNZ/Kirsty Frame
More than 400 homes had to be evacuated over the past number of days after the Maitai River burst its banks. Nelson’s mayor Rachel Reece said “it will take years, not months” for the city to recover.
The overflowing Oldham Stream in Atawhai caused a footbridge to collapse, splintering the stream to the playground on one side, and through a neighbour’s property on the other.
An Atawhai local edging on the overflowing Oldham Creek said the pedestrian bridge collapsed yesterday and the build up of debris had sent water gushing either direction, flooding their properties. His neighbour, who lives next to the creek, evacuated yesterday.
He said they were worried for what might happen once high tide comes back, the forecasted downpour later today, and if more debris piles up. Other locals that spoke to RNZ said they had never had flooding like this.
Either side of the bridge is a park and a cycle track. A pump track, fundraised by the local community, is ruined.
Meanwhile traffic has piled up from Atawhai into Nelson as multiple slips block parts of State Highway 6 – the only connection road for Atawhai.
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