Wellington burst pipe spews geyser in central streets

6:17 pm on 5 March 2021

A geyser of water higher than a two-storey building has erupted on a central Wellington street after a road repair crew hit a pipe.

A burst pipe in Mount Victoria, Wellington, has been spraying water high in the air. 5/3/21

A burst pipe in Mount Victoria, Wellington, has been spraying water high in the air. Photo: RNZ / Rachel Thomas

Wellington Water spokesperson Alex van Paassen said the small service pipe in Marjoribanks Street, Mount Victoria was punctured about 3pm.

The geyser has damaged windows in a century-old heritage building designed by Thomas Turnbull in 1904 which is part of the Apollo Lodge Motel.

Wellington Water serviceman Ben Matthews earlier said water would be shut off when contractors attempted to repair the pipe tonight.

"At the moment there's no disruption, they've still got water, we haven't actually shut off the mains - we're in the process of doing that.

"The mains will be turned off for most likely two, three hours and repaired, turned back on, and everyone can go home."