31 Dec 2011

Campers forced out by river

12:25 pm on 31 December 2011

Several families were evacuated after their camping ground was flooded overnight by the Motupiko River.

Nelson Tasman Civil Defence controller Jim Frater says the Quinney's Bush camping ground was nearly full when the river flooded around 11pm on Friday.

He says three or four families stayed overnight at the Tapawera Hall nearby, others left on their own and some campers were relocated to higher ground.

Mr Frater says there was some flooding between Pohara and Tata Beach in Golden Bay overnight and Nelson's Rocks Road remains closed after a slip about 5.40pm.

He said on Saturday morning that rain is easing in the area.

A sewage overflow has forced the closure of Pohara Beach for swimming and gathering shellfish.

More for the record books

Parts of the Nelson Tasman region have had up to 275mm of rain over the past two days.

Record rainfall soaked the region a fortnight ago. MetService says Golden Bay had 423mm and Nelson 330mm.