It has been wet in Wellington

Flooded Wellington homes evacuated

Radio NZ,

12 November, 2016

Heavy downpours have hit central areas of the country, flooding roads and forcing houses in Wellington to be evacuated.

More than 50mm of rain fell in 12 hours in Taranaki, Wellington, the West Coast and Golden Bay, MetService said.

Flooding in Rangiora Avenue, Kaiwharawhara, after heavy downpours. Photo: RNZ / Emile Donovan

The capital has had 72mm of rain between midnight and 3pm - almost as much as the 98mm November average.

A slip and fallen tree in the suburb of Tawa blocked Main Road early evening. The council said the tree would take some hours to remove and diversions were in place for traffic.

Slips have also been reported on roads in Wadestown.

Council contractors have been kept busy clearing floodwaters from low-lying road.

Rain brought down more than 70 slips in Wellington, though none were major. Photo: RNZ / Emile Donovan

Runoff on Holloway Road, in the central Wellington suburb of Aro Valley. Photo: Supplied / Nadine Dodge

Houses in several Wellington suburbs have been evacuated as the heavy rain caused landslides.

In the suburb of Mornington, two houses were been evacuated and the tenants advised not to go back because of a landslide, the Fire Service said.

Two houses in Kaiwharawhara were evacuated, despite there being no damage, because of the risk of a creek flooding them. And people in Northland house were advised to leave shortly after midday.

Wellington City Council had more than 70 reports of slips across the city, but said none were major. Sandbags were put in place in Kaiwharawhara and Mornington to contain floodwaters.

The council was on standby to provide welfare assistance for any evacuees if needed, Civil Defence controller Simon Fleisher said.

Sandbags were being used at houses in Kaiwharawhara (pictured) and Mornington in Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Emile Donovan

The Transport Agency warned motorists to take care on roads near the capital where surface flooding made driving conditions treacherous.

Surface flooding on SH2 north of Wellington. Photo: @NZTAWgtn

Heavy rain flooded a subway at a train station at Ngauranga, near Wellington, but rail operator Metlink said the rest of the Hutt Valley line was running as usual.

Photo: RNZ / Emile Donovan

Water pooling outside a Wellington house after this morning's heavy rain. Photo: ‏@MetService