The central North Island saw a significant rain event on the 9th and 10th of May. This caused the third most significant flood event in the last decade, albeit not by a large margin, with the Tongariro River seeing a peak from of 720.9 cubic meters per second (m3/sec). The rainfall was relatively localised, as is typical in these systems.  

 I am overseas at the present and haven’t been able to capture the immediate impact of the flush, but the anecdotal evidence suggests the impacts are less than the previous material event in 2018. In 2018 the lower reaches saw the river impact river trails materially, with regards to angler and recreational access.  

 Sediment build up in the lower reaches has been an area of concern for the Advocates over the last few years, especially with regards to the WRC Annual Works Plan and the inability to action the plan. As previously covered in this blog, a process is underway to enable the works to be undertaken by the WRC and the survey of the riverbed has been completed, which is the initial part of this process. The Advocates will keep you in touch as this process progresses. It should be noted that the WRC does not lack intent for the delayed implementation of the Annual Works Plan, but it has been an access issue that has to be worked through. 

 Below is a link to the Tongariro River Motel website blog with post flooding photos of the lower river : Tongariro River Motel Daily Report 

Once the river settles, we will send through few images of impacts of the flood across the accessible parts of the river. Please feel free to send through any recent images of note that you see out on the river, to [email protected] . 

Secretary of the AFTR Eric, kindly sent through the photo below of pig rooting activity on the river trail. This is not common and will likely see one of the local hunters on the case fairly quickly with any luck. 

AFTR committee member Alisdair Keuke has also contributed the below photo of a unfortunate vehicle that missed the turn at the State Highway bridge and crashed through the barrier and ended up on the track. Luckily it appears that no one was materially injured.