Canterbury weather updates
What you need to know:
- A Severe Weather alert is in place for Canterbury between Amberley and Timaru, including Christchurch and Banks Peninsula due to rainfall.
- A State of Emergency has been issued for the Selwyn district and a main road in and out of Banks Peninsula is closed.
- Flooding has hit many roads in the Selwyn district and Christchurch.
- One person has got their car stuck on Oxford Terrace while another woman managed to ride her electric bike through the flowing water.
- Fire and Emergency New Zealand South Island shift manager Ian Littlejohn said they were called to 8 “non life threatening" weather incidents overnight. He said that as daylight begins they were expecting more calls. “The worst is yet to come.”
There were reports of sink holes opening up on the Rakaia highway but police and emergency services "had it under control".
- North Canterbury, north of Amberley is also under an orange heavy rain warning. Up to 150mm more rain has been forecast and this area also has a high chance of being upgraded to a red warning.
- At 3am, it was reported there were power outages north of Christchurch. A tree has fallen on power lines just north of Christchurch, cutting the power to 368 properties.
So far, power has been restored to around 140 properties but houses on Calypso Place, Hemingway Place, Heyders Road, Lower Styx Road, Nautilus Place, Riverside Lane, Seabrooke Drive, Styx River Place and Turners Road are still affected.
- The following roads in Christchurch's northern area are closed due to flooding:
Fitzgerald Avenue between Kilmore Street and Cambridge Terrace
New Brighton Road between Rawson Street and Pages Road
Avonside Drive between Wainoni Road and Kerrs Road
Avonside Drive/Swanns Road between Retreat Road and Woodham Road
- The councils are monitoring rivers, waterways and stormwater networks
Keep up to date with all weather updates across the country on the Stuff website.
MetService warnings can be found here: www.metservice.com...
4.20pm Update:
A Local State of Emergency has been declared for Christchurch and Banks Peninsula.
Mayor Phil Mauger made the declaration at 4pm due to the impact of the wet weather such as flooding, slips, landslide and falling trees, particularly on Banks Peninsula.
“We need to make sure we’re able to keep people safe by putting all of our resources into responding to any problems that arise and one of the best ways we can do this is by declaring a Local State of Emergency.”
“We expected the weather would ease, which hasn’t happened so declaring will mean we are prepared for anything that may happen overnight,” the Mayor said.
“The decision to include Christchurch was made as precautionary measure. High tide is expected at 7.41pm so declaring means we would have access to powers under the State of Emergency if they’re required.”
Secure your homes over summer
Police are reminding people to keep their homes secure during the summer months.
Inspector Glenda Barnaby, Christchurch Area Prevention manager, says daytime burglaries are just as common as nightime burglaries.
“Burglaries can be committed at any time of the day, and coming into warmer months there is more opportunity for thieves."
"Although a majority of burglaries involve forced entry through windows and doors, we are starting to see more incidents at insecure premises. Police deal with cases where burglaries are committed in broad daylight, sometimes even while the victim is at home. Good weather means open doors and windows, which makes homes more vulnerable to burglars.”
Inspector Barnaby says there’s a few things people can do to reduce their changes of a burglary being committed.
⚠️ If you’re going outside for gardening, relaxing in the sun, or working in the garage, take a moment to lock your doors and secure your windows first.
⚠️ Do the same at night when you go to bed - keep your doors and windows secure and close your curtains. Fitting window stays means you can get a breeze coming through, while keeping your windows secure.
⚠️ Get to know your neighbours - let them know if you’re going away and look out for one another.”
If you see any suspicious activity, people or vehicles in your neighbourhood, don't hesitate to contact Police.
If you witness or suspect any illegal activity, please call 111 if it is happening now, or make a report through 105 either online or over the phone, if it is after the fact.
Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.
Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔
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72.5% We work hard, we deserve a break!
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16.4% Hmm, maybe?
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11.1% Yes!
Poll: Pedestrian access is being extended to the Ōtakaro Avon River - good idea?
Pedestrian access from one of Christchurch’s favourite streets is being extended all the way to the Ōtakaro Avon River. This new 12m-wide pathway will give you a direct, easy route from the street to the river promenade ... perfect for a stroll, a coffee run, or just soaking up the riverside vibes.
We want to know: In your view, what makes a city people-friendly?
What else should our urban areas be doing to support better community connections?
Curious about the full plans? You can check them out here.
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90.5% Yes
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9.5% No
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