Flight chaos as wild weather smashes parts of NZ
Wild weather is wreaking havoc across New Zealand with torrential rain and gale force winds causing major flight disruptions.
Flights in and out of Wellington Airport have been cancelled as severe weather conditions smash New Zealand’s east coast.
Large parts of the country are being hammered as torrential rain and gale force winds set in for the next few days.
A state of emergency declared for the Selwyn district in Canterbury, on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island with schools forced to shut and residents asked to evacuate as rivers continue to rise.
MetService’s heavy rain warning and watches also remain in place for Gisborne, the Eastern Bay of Plenty, Kaikōura, Christchurch and Banks Peninsula.
“Heavy rain continues to fall, with a warning in place until 6pm this evening. Please DO NOT DRIVE on the roads unless necessary,” Selwyn Council warned in a statement.
“Although precautionary, we are asking that residents in Selwyn Huts self-evacuate from the area due to concerns of flooding from the Selwyn River.”
Air New Zealand chief operating officer, Alex Marren, said due to severe high winds in Wellington this morning, the majority of flights in to and out of the capital have been cancelled through to midday.
“Current conditions are expected to continue impacting our network throughout the day, so we encourage customers travelling to check the Air New Zealand app or the arrivals and departures page on our website for the latest updates,” Mr Marren told news.com.au.
He also recommended ensuring contact details are up to date in bookings so the airline can reach customers directly with any important information.
“As the wind is likely to continue throughout the day, we’re offering flexibility for those with travel to and from Wellington. Customers are encouraged to self-serve and change or defer their travel plans where possible.”
He said, where eligible, this can done via ‘Manage My Booking’ through the Air NZ app or the website.
Meanwhile, Jetstar says they’ve had one diversion (JQ251) and eight cancellations as a result of the conditions in Wellington this morning.
“Safety is our number one priority and our teams are continuing to monitor the conditions for flights later today,” a spokesperson told the NZ Herald.
At least four departing flights and eight arriving flights have been cancelled this morning at Christchurch Airport. Most of these relate to flights in and out of Wellington Airport.
Auckland Airport is currently operating as normal.
“If you have travel booked, particularly on a domestic flights, please check your airline’s website, app, or emails for the latest info,” Auckland Airport said in a statement.
Twenty-four weather warnings and watches are in place around Auckland, the East Cape, lower North Island, top of the South, Canterbury and the West Coast for Thursday, Radio New Zealand (RNZ) reported.
They include snowfall warnings around Christchurch, the Canterbury High country, and Porters, Arthurs, and Lindis passes overnight on Wednesday and Lewis Pass from Thursday.
Christchurch City Council is warning residents that the heavy rainfall slamming the region may inundate the stormwater network.
“This can affect the mains, meaning that in some areas people may be experiencing ‘slow’ or ‘no’ service,” it said.
“Toilets, showers and sinks may empty slowly or in the worst cases not at all.
“If this was to happen, the council will arrange any clean-up to property or the environment following being notified of overflows.”
Road closures in South Christchurch include Hunter Terrace, Riverlaw Terrace, Clarendon Terrace, Richardson Terrace and Eastern Terrace.
