A perfect storm is an especially bad situation caused by a combination of unfavourable circumstances and that’s what we’ve just been through.
Tasman is prone to flooding, being exposed to severe weather from three points of the compass, which is unusual in Aotearoa.
Two of the worst floods in (relatively) recent times were the 1983 widespread flood and Cyclone Gita in 2018, across Lower Motueka, Riwaka, and Upper Tākaka.
Further back, the 1877 ‘old man flood’ in the Motueka catchment was probably the most severe we have seen in European times.
This latest flood was larger and combined the widespread nature of the 1983 flood with the size of the 1877 flood but also had a cyclone Gita component embedded within it, the likes of the strong easterlies into the Lower Motueka area.
To make matters worse – damage from a single flood can be bad, but floods in quick succession are much more damaging; the saturated conditions result in more runoff, and riverbanks are also much more vulnerable. This was very evident looking at the damage from the second flood compared to the first, in particular the bank erosion and change of river course.
The two-week interval was particularly cruel; saturation was maintained by rainfall in between, but it allowed considerable investment and effort in cleanup, only to have that ripped away.
Meanwhile, Tasman Mayor Tim King is extending his thanks to all the agencies, community groups and volunteers who supported the Nelson Tasman Emergency Management response.
“Our community has faced two major weather events, and we have seen significant impacts across the region. The State of Emergency may be over, but the recovery period will be lengthy, and we will continue to assist those affected.”
Pictured: Bethany Park, Kaiteriteri