Up to 12 inches of rain cuts Far North Road

Thrilled with their adventure, 50 tourists in two buses left Waitiki Landing 10 miles from Cape Reinga at 5.30 p.m. yesterday after being stranded on the northern side of the flooded stream for two hours.

Some had reached Cape Reinga, others had been held up two miles short of the lighthouse. But they had picked mushrooms in the development block paddocks, been towed through flooded paddocks at Te Paki Farm Park, and been regaled with freshly baked scones and cakes, and tea and soft drinks at the Waitiki Landing tea rooms.

The flooding was caused by some of the heaviest falls of rain within memory. In the 24 hours to 9am yesterday Cape Reinga recorded 9.43 inches, and over a period of 27 hours, 121⁄2 inches, while Te Paki Homestead had 51⁄2 inches. It was this fall that caused the trouble at the Waitiki Stream bridge on the southern boundary of the station, for it brought the water up 12 or 13 feet high so that it was waist deep on the bridge in the afternoon. The Star Mini-Tour bus driven by Mr. Ben Berghan reached the lighthouse soon after midday after travelling up the North Road.

When he returned to Te Paki Station he found it impossible to get down the Te Paki Stream, so he was forced to give up the idea of driving south along Ninety Mile Beach.

The big Trans-tour bus, with about 40 passengers, turned back short of the Cape and the two vehicles were towed across the dip at the Te Paki homestead by a tractor.

At Waitiki Landing the bridge was still blocked and the tourists settled down to wait in company with Ministry of Works and Post Office parties and several private motorists. At 5.30pm the tide had fallen and the stream was only running a few inches deep over the bridge, and Mr. H. C. Crene, the tearooms manager, walked ahead and guided the vehicles over, the only incident being that the Trans-tour bus dislodged one of the straps on the bridge.

It took its passengers to their night’s lodgings in Kaeo, and the mini-bus arrived back in Kaitaia about 7pm.

The road was scoured in places but not badly damaged, and nothing like the Cape Reinga and Te Paki figures had been registered further down the Aupouri Peninsula.

The road to Te Hapua is in fair order, and some of the local people came to Waitiki and returned during the day.

The lighthouse keepers were among the happiest people up at the top.

“No water problems now,” they exulted when they saw their tanks brimming over for the first time in months.

— April 2, 1968

Mini reaches Cape