Canterbury Storm Update - Strong Winds And Rain, Waikirikiri/Selwyn River Rising, Akaroa Highway Closed
The highway to Akaroa, SH75, is closed due to flooding alongside Lake Forsyth/Te Roto o Wairewa.
Potholes will make for a slower journey between Rakaia and Glenavy, SH1 today. Five crews are working hard today and tomorrow, says NZTA. Expect to see temporary speed limits around sites of deep potholes.
Christchurch City flooding updates: https://www.facebook.com/ChristchurchCityCouncil/
Selwyn District updates: https://www.facebook.com/SelwynDistrictCouncil/
Environment Canterbury river flow data: https://www.ecan.govt.nz/data/riverflow/
SH1 Kaikōura
Minor surface flooding and slips in the Hundalee area north of Kaikōura - being cleared this morning. High winds. High tide around 8 am passed without too much trouble at places like Ōhau Point. Next high tide will be monitored.
SH75 Akaroa highway
Closed Birdlings Flat to Little River alongside Lake Forsyth/Te Roto o Wairewa. Updates: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/canterbury/closures/507845
SH1 South of Christchurch
Waikirikiri/Selwyn River very high at the SH1 bridge and being closely monitored. State Highway 1 still open. A detour may be installed if SH1 closes, however, it can also be affected by flooding, with upstream river levels still on the rise. Avoid travel through this part of the network if possible today.
Selwyn River flow graph at SH1: https://www.ecan.govt.nz/data/riverflow//sitedetails/68009
SH77 Methven highway
Minor flooding in the Rakaia Gorge – drivers need to slow down and expect a slower journey.
Snow at Lake Tekapo, Burkes Pass, SH80 Aoraki/ Mt Cook highway overnight and this morning
All highways around South Canterbury remain open with up to 150mm of snow on Burkes Pass, around Tekapo and the highway into Aoraki/ Mt Cook overnight and this morning. Drivers should be prepared for poor visibility in the circumstances and travel later in the day if possible.
https://ranginui.nz/tekapo-webcam/
Arthur's Pass (SH73)
Snow is forecast to affect the road near the summit later today, where 1 to 2 cm of snow may settle at times. Lesser amounts likely lower down.
What should drivers do?
Please slow down, avoid sudden breaking and turning, increase following distances and drive with lights on, is NZTA's advice.
Wherever possible, people should plan to avoid driving in the worst conditions and keep an eye on weather forecasts and the NZTA Journey Planner to stay up to date with the latest highway restrictions.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
6 days ago
- Scoop
Upcoming Night Works On SH1 Fanshawe Street To Greenlane
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is advising drivers to plan ahead for multiple night-time closures on State Highway 1 (SH1) between Fanshawe Street and Greenlane (southbound) over the next two weeks. The road closures are required for NZTA contractors to carry out essential work, including paving and stormwater maintenance. State Highway 16 (SH16) between Stanley Street and Wellesley Street (westbound) will also be closed. The southbound closures are scheduled between 10pm and 5am on: Sunday 20 July Tuesday 22 July Thursday 24 July Monday 28 to Wednesday 30 July For people travelling south on SH1, there will be a signposted detour via SH16 link to Port, Wellesley St, Grafton Rd, Khyber Pass Rd, Broadway, Great South Rd and Greenlane East. Emergency services will need to use the detour routes. These works are weather dependent and contingency dates have been put aside for 31 July, 7 and 8 August. Please check the Journey Planner for real-time information. From Monday 28 July, the closure may be shortened from Gillies Ave to Greenlane. If you would like to stay updated, please sign up to email alerts here. Ramp closures and lane restrictions may be in place before the advertised closure times for the mainline. Advertisement - scroll to continue reading Using Scoop for work? Scoop is free for personal use, but you'll need a licence for work use. This is part of our Ethical Paywall and how we fund Scoop. Join today with plans starting from less than $3 per week, plus gain access to exclusive Pro features. Join Pro Individual Find out more
RNZ News
16-07-2025
- RNZ News
Freezing fog and black ice on South Island's State Highways 8 and 80
Fog on State Highway 8 presents a risk for motorists, NZTA says. Photo: Supplied / NZTA Drivers in the central South Island are being warned to be aware of freezing fog and black ice over the next few days. The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said persistent freezing fog was likely for parts of State Highways 8 and 80 at least through until Sunday, along with hoar frosts and potential black ice on the roads. The area between Twizel and Tekapo on State Highway 8 was expected to be at especially high risk. NZTA maintenance contract manager Chris Chambers said fog was likely to linger all day in some places. "These types of conditions are not new for roads in the Mackenzie Basin area, but it is important that motorists take notice and adjust their driving for the conditions . Especially when there is an increased risk like this over a number of days," he said. "We are expecting the freezing fog to hang around all day in places and there is a significant risk of black ice, especially in the mornings. All of this means increased risk of accidents and injury. It's important that drivers take extra care and slow down in these conditions, increase their following distances and drive with their lights on." Roading contractors would be out checking roads and gritting or de-icing the affected highways over the coming days, he said. However, he advised people to avoid travelling if possible. "We have the option of closing sections of highway, or introducing restrictions, if the conditions warrant it. Our preference is to keep the roads open, and motorists can help us do that by driving with caution or staying off the roads if they can." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
1News
16-07-2025
- 1News
'Very big mess' - Tasman's flood clean-up to take 'months and months'
Tasman's mayor says the region faces "months and months" of clean-up work as it recovers from historic flooding that's devastated parts of the district. More than 800 properties are being assessed for damage while the region grapples with 51 road closures, from local roads to State Highway 6 at Rocks Rd in Nelson, which NZTA said would be closed for "at least the next two days". Nelson Tasman remains under a state of emergency. Mayor Tim King told Breakfast it was easy to see from the air the hardest-hit properties. Tasman Mayor Tim King spoke to Breakfast following more bad weather over the weekend. (Source: Breakfast) ADVERTISEMENT "There are large areas that are a very big mess," King said of the most recent inclement weather. "The damage that's been done this time around compounds the damage - a lot of the same areas have been affected [with the] same property owners." Strong winds over the weekend had been the "big difference" and resulted in "hundreds and hundreds" of falling trees on property and blocking roads, he said. The mayor added weather had mostly impacted rural land. "It's the biggest flood we've had in this region since the late 1800s," he said. King said the weather forecast looked better over the next week, but that "the message is still, if you don't need to travel, please don't" today. ADVERTISEMENT "Complete rebuild" after Tasman homes and businesses hammered by repeated weather events. (Source: 1News) NZTA Nelson/Tasman system manager Rob Service said further inspections at Rocks Rd were completed this morning. "Geotechnical investigations confirm that heavy rain has created another unstable wedge of soil, with vegetation and rocks hanging above the highway. Pieces of debris are continuing to fall intermittently." While sluicing to remove debris had begun, Service said the road must remain closed for "at least two days" due to the ongoing risk. "At this stage, we do not expect to have SH6 Rocks Road open before Thursday." State Highway 6 at Rocks Rd would remain closed until further notice, NZTA said. (Source: NZTA) Six schools and early learning centres remain closed today: Tapawera Area School, Riwaka School, Brooklyn School, Parklands School, Tapawera Kindergarten and Horizons Montessori Riwaka. ADVERTISEMENT Around 80 customers remained without power this morning, with crews working to restore electricity to the hardest-hit parts of Thorpe-Dovedale, where flooding has made access to damaged poles on private land difficult. The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including a fire at an Auckland chapel, new plan for international students, and a first time Wimbledon winner. (Source: 1News) Council property assessment teams visited 417 properties yesterday and will continue today where they're aiming to visit a further 413 properties, according to Civil Defence. "We will be focusing on the south of Tapawera, Rocky River, Dovedale, Baton River, Pretty Valley, Trass Valley and Hoult Valley areas." Picking up the pieces Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said that the Government was focused on supporting the clean-up, but that the scope of support was still being decided on. The Prime Minister spoke to Breakfast as the Nelson Tasman region began recovery from flooding. (Source: Breakfast) ADVERTISEMENT "Let's get a sense of what the scope of recovery is needed and support is needed. I've been pleased with the way that central government and local government work together very seamlessly," he told Breakfast. King said it would take "months and months" to pick up the pieces from the floods. He said there would be "a lot of difficult discussions" to have over the years ahead about how to improve the region's resilience to bad weather and "build back better". Torrential downpours deluge districts still trying to recover from last week's floods. (Source: 1News) "Trying to ensure that where we're repairing roads that they may have bigger culverts through them. In the rivers, there'll be a case of exactly, where do you put back protection? "Where is it needed? How much of the river needs to be given room to move in? Then stop banks in the lower areas, which, very fortunately, in this event, held up really well, but they were tested to their absolute maximum. "There'll be a lot of difficult discussions to have over the months and years ahead." ADVERTISEMENT
