Severe Weather in Westland, South Island New Zealand
1,656 views · Published 10 January 2013 · 3:27 · Indexed 25 October 2026
Channel: geoffmackley · 2013 · News & Politics
River and lake levels were continuing to rise in the Wakatipu, Wanaka, and Hawea lakes catchments. Lakes Wanaka and Wakatipu are high and rising. Both were now expected to peak around midday tomorrow, a spokesman said. Lake Wakatipu was at 311.01 metres and rising, and was expected to peak at 311.4m, which could cause minor flooding in low-lying parts of Queenstown. Lake Wanaka was at 279.3m and rising and was expected to peak at 280m. It could also cause flooding of low-lying areas around the Wanaka waterfront, the spokesman said. All South Island roads closed by slips and washouts today were expected to reopen tomorrow. The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) acting southern region director Ian Duncan said contractors had cleared and temporarily repaired the three washouts on State Highway 6 near Makarora, and were working on two sizeable slips in the Haast Pass area. "Good progress has been made clearing these slips - one at Pivot Creek, 10kms north of the Haast Pass summit and the other near the Gates of Haast - and work is continuing in an attempt to get the road opened later tonight." Mr Duncan said State Highway 94 from Lumsden to Te Anau would reopen tomorrow morning. A slip 5kms west of Klondyke Corner closed State Highway 73 from Cass to Arthur's Pass for much of the day. About 500 cubic metres of debris fell onto the road and contractors were on site clearing the road. SH 94 Milford Road, from Hollyford to Milford Sound, had reopened but only for bus convoys carrying cruise ship passengers back to Milford Sound and bringing out walkers from the Milford Track. It remained closed to all other traffic until tomorrow morning. NZ Herald
