Weather update Saturday 6 May
06/05/2023 9:31am
Here's what we know as of 3:00pm.
UPDATE 3:00PM
We hope everyone is okay out there.
With a welcomed pause from the rain, this will be our final update for the day unless the situation changes.
If you require urgent assistance, please call our Customer Service Centre at 03 546 0200 (phone service available 24/7).
- Follow Nelson Tasman Civil Defence for important updates.
- NZTA HIGHWAY CLOSURES for our region.
- LOCAL ROAD CLOSURES
- Check MetService New Zealand for WEATHER UPDATES
A Heavy Rain Warning Orange remains in place for our region.
Below is a roundup of all our updates throughout the day with the latest information.
Stay safe out there everyone.
*WELFARE CENTRE*
The welfare centre at Founders Heritage Park has been put on standby as of 3:00pm. Thank you to the Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Founders Heritage Park for their support in the operation of this.
The Centre is in a position to be reopened at short notice if required.
*SH6 RAI VALLEY TO HAVELOCK*
State Highway 6 has reopened following an earlier road closure.
Please drive to the conditions and be prepared for hazards such as slips, rock and treefalls, and localised flooding.
*MAITAI VALLEY ROAD*
The road is now accessible to *residents only* up to Ralphine Way.
4WD access only from Ralphine Way to the end of the sealed section (just past the Maitai Valley Motor Camp).
The road is NOT PASSABLE to any vehicles from Poleford Bridge
*UNITE CHURCH*
The temporary shelter at Unite Church will be closing tonight with the rain forecast to lessen this evening.
The facility will remain on standby should the severity increase again
*HAVEN | RĀHUI*
The heavy rain we have received over recent days has resulted in numerous sewage overflows and sustained runoff into the ocean and rivers.
As a result, a rāhui has been put in place from Separation Point to Cape Sousci.
The rāhui prevents swimming, entering the water, and the gathering of seafood and kai (including mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles, scallops, catseyes).
In-shore fishing and the gathering of crayfish, crab, kina and paua are also prohibited.
The rāhui covers all coastlines, river mouths, and floodwaters.
The decision to put a rāhui in place was made by the Iwi Emergency Management Rōpū, which works in partnership with the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Nelson/Tasman with the support of the eight iwi of Te Tauihu.
There are also large debris items in the haven; shipping is currently limited to daylight only. Crews are attempting to clean up larger items to minimise risks to shipping.
*LIBRARIES*
The Elma Turner Pop-up Library is closed today (Saturday).
*END OF UPDATE*
Roads and public transport
Road closures are in place due to the heavy rain in the Nelson Tasman region.
Maitai Valley Road is closed from Tory Street and a manned cordon is in place, with resident only access.
There is no easy access to Blenheim at present, as State Highway 6 is closed between Rai Valley and Havelock due to flooding.
Main Road Stoke between Saxton and Salisbury Link Road roundabout has now reopened.
We have opened up a NORTHBOUND route through Saxton Field. Please note this road is NOT suitable for heavy vehicles.
NBus will operate southbound to Saxton Road, then detour onto SH6. Northbound NBus services will detour via SH6 and miss Stoke (rejoining at Beatson Road)
Check https://buff.ly/41dXwAC... for the latest info on road closures. Nelson Tasman Civil Defence advises against travelling on the roads at this time, as there are a number of slips and road closures in place.
Elsewhere in our region, Waka Kotahi has closed State Highway 60 in Tākaka due to flooding at the Waitapu Bridge. As there are no detours in place, this means there is no access between Tākaka and Collingwood.Also on State Highway 60, there is localised flooding at the intersection of Riwaka-Kaiteriteri Road. A 30 km/h speed limit is in place.Contractors have been dealing with slips and rockfalls across the region’s highways overnight. These, along with localised flooding, are expected to remain a risk as the wet weather continues.
Welfare
Civil Defence has opened a welfare centre at Founders Heritage Park. Staff are on hand now to provide a warm, dry place for people who have evacuated. Please note that this is not an information point for people who have not evacuated. Tea and coffee will be provided along with trained support staff to reassure and offer guidance.
Public health
No swimming or water contact is allowed in the Haven, due to a break in a sewerage pipe. Public Health has issued this advisory, and it remains in place until further notice. Gathering of shellfish from within the Waimea Estuary is discouraged at all times. Signage is being erected from Monaco to the north end of Nelson Haven.
A warning regarding floodwaters. There have been some sewer overflows throughout the wider region, so please treat all flood waters as being potentially contaminated.
Recreation and events
Riverside Pool is closed due to the Maitai River flooding today. Please stay away from the river, as it is dangerously high with some of the footpaths underwater. Conditions can deteriorate without warning so please keep at a safe distance.
Elma Turner Library has closed early due to the weather conditions.
We advise staying off all mountain biking trails until the weather has eased and the trails have been inspected. Maitai Valley Road is closed from Nile Street with a manned cordon in place, so there is no access to the Coppermine Trail (and the other trails in that area) which should be considered off limits until further notice. There is a risk of slips, ruts and fallen trees on our MTB network.
A number of events have been cancelled due to the conditions. The tree planting event to celebrate the Coronation scheduled for 10am at Queen’s Gardens today has been postponed. We hope to reschedule once this weather event has passed.
All the sports grounds remain closed so matches have either been postponed or cancelled.
Heavy rain warnings remain in place until later this evening.
