'Flash-flood' devastates small community in Motueka Valley
Photo:
RNZ/Samuel Rillstone
A "flash-flood" has carved a path of destruction through a small rural settlement in the Motueka Valley, sending weary residents back to square one.
Record rainfall has caused widespread damage across Nelson-Tasman, with Ngātīmoti hit by devastating floods not once, but twice in two weeks.
Shiloh Hobi's serene demeanour belied the sheer scale of destruction caused by Friday's rain as he showed RNZ what was once a small creek at the back of his property.
The land had been gouged out by floodwater, leaving behind it piles of silt and splintered wood in what locals estimated was a trail a couple of hundred metres long.
Ngātīmoti resident Shiloh Hobi, on Sunday, after having slash come through his property.
Photo:
RNZ/Samuel Rillstone
Hobi said the creek had only just been cleared of the mess caused by the flooding two weeks ago when Friday's rain hit - bringing with it a shocking amount of new slash.
"Thousands of tonnes of logs and silt... has come down and probably hundreds of tonnes of soil washed out to the sea that is impossible to be measured.
"I am very glad that it [the slash] stopped here, because if that had gone down into the school and houses down the road - that would have been absolutely devastating."
The source of the slash was a forestry block on steep land about two kilometres upstream, Hobi said.
He guessed a dam of water - caught behind trapped logs - reached at least five metres high before it burst - releasing a flash-flood of soil and silt into the settlement below.
"We heard the huge boulders and the logs ... it's very noisy, very noisy.
"No one really knows what happens, because it's so wild when a flood like this comes and so many logs together - it's absolutely unpredictable."
Slash in Ngātīmoti, on Sunday, following flooding and heavy rains.
Photo:
RNZ/Samuel Rillstone
Hobi said the forestry company had been very responsive, but its representatives were left speechless by what they saw on Saturday.
"They didn't know what to say because they themselves were absolutely shocked that so much has come down, so much has collapsed."
It was clear forestry practices needed to change, he said, noting that the recent damage - on top of what people were already facing - had left some reeling.
"But I have found that anger is never a solution to anything. It maybe activates us to do something, but I think real decision-making needs to comes from a place of peace.
"I see a future where this kind of complex situation can be solved."
Photo:
RNZ/Samuel Rillstone
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RNZ News
4 hours ago
- RNZ News
'Flash flood' devastates small community in Motueka Valley
A "flash flood" has carved a path of destruction through a small rural settlement in the Motueka Valley, sending weary residents back to square one. Record rainfall has caused widespread damage across Nelson-Tasman, with Ngātīmoti hit by devastating floods not once, but twice in two weeks. Shiloh Hobi's serene demeanour belied the sheer scale of destruction caused by Friday's rain as he showed RNZ what was once a small creek at the back of his property. The land had been gouged out by floodwater, leaving behind it piles of silt and splintered wood in what locals estimated was a trail a couple of hundred metres long. Ngātīmoti resident Shiloh Hobi, on Sunday, after having slash come through his property. Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone Hobi said the creek had only just been cleared of the mess caused by the flooding two weeks ago when Friday's rain hit - bringing with it a shocking amount of new slash. "Thousands of tonnes of logs and silt... has come down and probably hundreds of tonnes of soil washed out to the sea that is impossible to be measured. "I am very glad that it [the slash] stopped here, because if that had gone down into the school and houses down the road - that would have been absolutely devastating." The source of the slash was a forestry block on steep land about two kilometres upstream, Hobi said. He guessed a dam of water - caught behind trapped logs - reached at least five metres high before it burst - releasing a flash-flood of soil and silt into the settlement below. "We heard the huge boulders and the logs ... it's very noisy, very noisy. "No one really knows what happens, because it's so wild when a flood like this comes and so many logs together - it's absolutely unpredictable." Slash in Ngātīmoti, on Sunday, following flooding and heavy rains. Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone Hobi said the forestry company had been very responsive, but its representatives were left speechless by what they saw on Saturday. "They didn't know what to say because they themselves were absolutely shocked that so much has come down, so much has collapsed." It was clear forestry practices needed to change, he said, noting that the recent damage - on top of what people were already facing - had left some reeling. "But I have found that anger is never a solution to anything. It maybe activates us to do something, but I think real decision-making needs to comes from a place of peace. "I see a future where this kind of complex situation can be solved." Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
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Tasman cleans up after flooding: 'So many heartbreaking sights'
The Nelson Tasman district remains in a state of emergency after Friday's devastating foods. Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone The Tasman mayor is still grappling with what area has been hit the hardest, after weeks of flooding that has caused widespread devastation in the region. The district remains in a state of emergency after Friday's devastating floods. Tasman Mayor Tim King says he has never seen anything like this before. "It's everywhere. I've been asked so often, where's the worst, I don't think there's a worst. "There are just so many different impacts on different people, whether it's smaller properties, people's houses affected, larger properties that have had, you know, significant impacts on them and their businesses, farms, lifestyle blocks, now forestry companies and private forestry owners. "So there are so many heartbreaking sights... you go up lots of these smaller valleys and you talk to people and they just devastated about the impact on whether it's their house or their property, the landscape that they kind of love and that's what they love living there. "People just haven't seen this level of damage in most people's lifetimes, in most of the areas that have been affected. So yeah, it's very hard to pick a worst." King said the focus this week will be reopening closed roads and rebuilding river stopbanks to ensure they can hold up for future rain. Meanwhile, dozens of people still remain in emergency accommodation and hundreds of flood damaged properties still have to be assessed following Friday's devastating floods in Nelson-Tasman. Nelson Tasman Civil Defence group controller James Thompson said teams assessed 400 properties on Sunday and that there were still 350 homes that need to be checked for damage, which would continue on Monday. As of Sunday night, four homes have been red stickered and 21 yellow stickered since the first deluge. Flooding damage in Otuwhero Valley and Sandy Bay Road near Marahau, 12 July, 2025. Photo: Supplied/ Jodie Reed About 43 people remained in emergency accommodation on Sunday night and the Motueka Recreation Centre will be open today with agencies on-site for people to chat about any specific welfare needs. Multiple schools and early childhood centres remain closed and parents are being urged to check on social media for the latest on the closures. Confirmed closures on Monday: Thompson said the rain over the past few weeks was something you see only once every 100 years. "This 2025 flood, is one of the largest we've seen. It's sort of been classified as a one in 100 year flood and because it's the second time we've had it [heavy rain and flooding] and very close succession it, makes the damage even more because of the saturated conditions. "So that's why we're seeing, you know, why so much has happened in this second flooding." Thompson said teams will continue prioritising re-opening roads, restoring power and assessing longer-term welfare needs on Monday. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
15 hours ago
- RNZ News
'Flash-flood' devastates small community in Motueka Valley
Ngātīmoti resident Shiloh Hobi on 13 July, 2025, after slash came through his property. Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone A "flash-flood" has carved a path of destruction through a small rural settlement in the Motueka Valley, sending weary residents back to square one. Record rainfall has caused widespread damage across Nelson-Tasman, with Ngātīmoti hit by devastating floods not once, but twice in two weeks. Shiloh Hobi's serene demeanour belied the sheer scale of destruction caused by Friday's rain as he showed RNZ what was once a small creek at the back of his property. The land had been gouged out by floodwater, leaving behind it piles of silt and splintered wood in what locals estimated was a trail a couple of hundred metres long. Ngātīmoti resident Shiloh Hobi, on Sunday, after having slash come through his property. Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone Hobi said the creek had only just been cleared of the mess caused by the flooding two weeks ago when Friday's rain hit - bringing with it a shocking amount of new slash. "Thousands of tonnes of logs and silt... has come down and probably hundreds of tonnes of soil washed out to the sea that is impossible to be measured. "I am very glad that it [the slash] stopped here, because if that had gone down into the school and houses down the road - that would have been absolutely devastating." The source of the slash was a forestry block on steep land about two kilometres upstream, Hobi said. He guessed a dam of water - caught behind trapped logs - reached at least five metres high before it burst - releasing a flash-flood of soil and silt into the settlement below. "We heard the huge boulders and the logs ... it's very noisy, very noisy. "No one really knows what happens, because it's so wild when a flood like this comes and so many logs together - it's absolutely unpredictable." Slash in Ngātīmoti, on Sunday, following flooding and heavy rains. Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone Hobi said the forestry company had been very responsive, but its representatives were left speechless by what they saw on Saturday. "They didn't know what to say because they themselves were absolutely shocked that so much has come down, so much has collapsed." It was clear forestry practices needed to change, he said, noting that the recent damage - on top of what people were already facing - had left some reeling. "But I have found that anger is never a solution to anything. It maybe activates us to do something, but I think real decision-making needs to comes from a place of peace. "I see a future where this kind of complex situation can be solved." Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
