Record-breaking torrential rain, 77mm in an hour, has caused significant flooding in several Wellington suburbs. Residents spoke to 1News of seeing floodwaters spilling into their homes.
Follow 1News' live updates for the latest.
Wendy Lindsay said she was woken up by her son when he realised there was water in the house.
“It was loud, the water was inside the house, and it was swooshing, so he goes, ‘Guys do you know what’s happening, there’s water everywhere.”
She said she got up, put her feet down, made a splash, and thought, “Oh, we’re f***ed.”
Her and her family began to move as many things as they could higher, out of the water, but within half an hour of waking up it had begun to recede.
Outside her home, water had got into her car and garage. The spare fridge-freezer in the garage was a mix of meat and mud.
Gracie and Grace, who live on the same street, said the torrential rain woke them up at around 3am.
Gracie described watching the water level rise to window level.
Vehicles float down Wellington streets as flash flooding hits – see more on TVNZ+
“Our car has actually floated down the road and crashed into all of our neighbour’s cars, which is great,” said Grace.
They each climbed out their windows and evacuated at around 4am.
Grace’s flat was “somewhat submerged” with mud through the front two rooms, while Gracie’s was fine.
Island Bay Bowling Club member Alison Stewart said the level of interior flooding club members arrived to in the morning was “not quite what we expected”.
“This is the first time we’ve actually seen the club itself flooded out.”
She said there is a major cleanup ahead. At its highest, the water level reached around halfway up the doors.
“It’s been about a two to three-inch level right throughout the whole club.”
The club was in the process of contacting its insurance company.
SHARE ME