NZ Herald
3 October 2003

Wellington was tonight cut off by slips and flooding that closed State Highway 1 and the main trunk railway line between Plimmerton and Mackay's Crossing and by the closure of State Highway 2, the Rimutaka Hill road to Wairarapa. A flash flood also caused substantial damage in the coastal township of Paekakariki.

Police advised motorists not to try to leave or enter Wellington tonight as the Paekakariki Hill Rd was also blocked, meaning there are no detours available for SH1.

It was also reported that 200 people had been evacuated from their homes to a local hall in Paekakariki, 42km north of Wellington tonight, while staff at the Paekakiriki Hotel said both the hotel and an adjacent restaurant had been flooded. About 30 diners in the restaurant were evacuated to the hotel. Rail links north of Wellington at Paekakariki were cut off.

"There was some flash flooding came down, it's flooded the township itself", Tranz Rail spokeswoman Jenni Austin said. Ms Austin said the flooding had closed the rail line 500m south of the township and SH1 was also closed.

Ms Austin said two trains had been stranded by the flooding, one northbound and one southbound. Although the northbound train had been able to get to Paekakariki station, the southbound train with 29 passengers on board remained stranded for some time 500m south of the station.

"At one point emergency services were actually evacuating people from surrounding houses up and into the train because it was in fact on the highest ground.", Ms Austin said. Ms Austin said all of those aboard the train had now been moved to a hall in the township.

Police described the situation as "chaos in Wellington metro". All alternative routes to the north were also closed, including the Akatarawa Rd, Haywards Hill Rd, and Paekakariki Hill Rd. Road blocks were in place at Mackays Crossing and at Pukerua Bay. Only local residents were being allowed through to Pukerua Bay.