Campers tough it out amid downpours and slips
‘‘Keep calm and camp on’’ seems to be the motto for holidaymakers determined wet weather won’t ruin their plans.
Under a grey sky and warnings of severe thunderstorms, most patrons of Taranaki’s Oakura Beach Holiday Park were staying put yesterday afternoon, staff said.
The already-soggy conditions had seen a few pack up early but with a break in the rain, a volleyball game in full swing and a few kayaks in the choppy water, plenty more were still having fun.
‘‘The kids are happy, so the parents are happy; it’s kind of the Kiwi way.’’
So, too, in Temuka, where happy bowlers at the 3000 Temuka Bowls Tournament yesterday donned wet weather gear and simply got on with it - as more than 100 bowlers had looked forward to the annual competition.
Meanwhile, wet weather that’s already cancelled concerts and caused havoc on the roads is set to stick around.
A warning of severe
thunderstorms above the central North Island was issued yesterday afternoon.
Heavy downpours had already caused widespread road closures and surface flooding at the Coromandel Peninsula. Slips across the Peninsula – parts of State Highway 25 were closed – had cut or made access to towns difficult.
Thames Coromandel deputy mayor Terry Walker said yesterday there was still a bit of rain about and sea fog was making things look somewhat like a
white Christmas.
While many campers had left the Peninsula, people were out and about and the popular destination of Whangamata¯ was ticking along nicely.
Despite that, Walker was hoping the region’s summer would improve as holidaymakers that had left early, and others who might stay away, would affect local businesses.
‘‘A lot of the town’s revenue is generated over the summer period, so hopefully things get turned around. The tourists can’t go boating or golfing at the moment, so hopefully they’re in town spending money at the shops.’’
Although Coromandel’s deluge had eased to become more ‘‘showery’’, MetService meteorologist Peter Little said another low moving in from the subtropics could bring yet more rain.
Taranaki, southern Waikato, the Hawke’s Bay ranges and Wairarapa were all under a heavy-rain watch , expected to be lifted by 6am today.
Strong winds are also likely throughout the Nelson and Marlborough regions. In exposed places, gales were forecast until this morning.
Little said the unsettled weather was caused by a set of recurring ‘‘blocking highs’’ near the Chatham Islands. Highpressure systems sitting to the southeast of mainland New Zealand provide little room for lowpressure systems from the north to depart the country.
The good news is that better weather might arrive for the country about Wednesday, he said. ‘‘But it’s a bit early to say for sure.’’