Northern News

Flooding creates cow island in the Hokianga

- BAYLEY MOOR

Wild weather sparked flooding and cut power to parts of the Far North last week, closing schools and catching some animals off-guard.

Northland lines company Top Energy says some pockets of homes went without power in Fairburn, Kaitaia and Honeymoon Valley.

High tide saw also saw a number of cows stuck on the flooded plains on Koutu Loop, near Opononi in the Hokianga. They have since reached dry land.

Kaikohe East School principal Chicky Rudkin said the flooding at the Northland school was the worst she had seen in 48 years.

She said 120 students out of the primary school’s roll of 280 were away on June 22, due to being unable to make it to school. ‘‘I’ve never seen it like this before.’’

Kaeo School was closed, with buses unable to run. Peria School was also closed to due to flooding.

The flooding came as rain bands passed over the top of the North Island following heavy rain in parts of Northland.

Flooding and slips caused delays for motorists on State Highway 10 east of Taipa, near Doubtless Bay, the NZ Transport Agency warned.

Top Energy said trees getting into power lines had been the main cause of faults, with a long line of wattles causing an outage affecting 385 customers in Towai, east of Kawakawa.

MetService recorded Kerikeri as getting the most rainfall in the country. The rain and wind eased later in the day.

‘‘I've never seen it like this before.’’

Chicky Rudkin

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