Downpour aftermath lingers | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

As Tararua people mop up, others elsewhere in Wairarapa are still feeling the flow-on effects of a downpour that trashed the lower North Island this week.

The Tararua Ranges were hammered with 332mm of rain falling in the hills in 24 hours on Monday, isolating some Pahiatua families, closing over a dozen roads, and flushing a torrent of water down Wairarapa's waterways.

Oporua spillway, near Kahutara in South Wairarapa, was closed yesterday, in addition to Pukio and Pahautea roads along the Ruamahanga River.

Jenkin's Dip, on State Highway 53 near Martinborough, was using the emergency bridge alongside the roadway. Waihenga bridge reopened yesterday after being closed on Monday.

Derek Theobald, emergency manager for the South Wairarapa District Council, said there had been confusion about bridge closures.

"We got reports that the Waiohine bridge was closed which was totally untrue. I think people where getting confused between the Waiohine and Waihenga."

About 2500 homeowners suffered power cuts on Sunday and Monday with 500 homes in Featherston, Hau Nui and Martinborough hardest hit, some facing 24 hours without electricity.

Major faults were repaired by Monday evening and technicians were restoring power to a few isolated homes yesterday.

Schools were warned about road closures and Kuranui College chose to send students home early.

A spokesman for the Greater Wellington Regional Council said there was erosion on the Waingawa and Waipoua river banks but damage to stopbanks would not be known for another week.

Pahiatua and Woodville people were still heavily affected, with the Horizons Regional Council predicting the Mangatainoka River would continue to rise in a "one-in-200-year event".

Keryn Barlow, public information manager for the Tararua District Council, said two houses were flooded and two other people needed alternative accommodation on Monday night.

A welfare centre was opened at the Pahiatua School Hall and six groups of people came seeking advice on road closures.

Pahiatua residents were advised to boil water after concerns floodwater may have contaminated the town water supply. Ms Barlow said it could be three weeks before this advice to boil water was lifted.