Back
1164 days ago

MetService issues Severe Weather Warnings, Red Warning for Buller and Westland

Neighbourly.co.nz

UPDATE
July 15 4:44pm

A rare Red Weather warning has been issued for Buller and Westland from 9pm tonight until early Saturday.

The current warning in place forecasts between 300mm and 400mm of rain to fall in the region, almost twice its monthly rainfall. Peak rates of 20-30mm per hour is set to fall on Friday afternoon.

MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris said that there would be significant impact on West Coast communities and transport links to other regions, with the possibility of roads becoming impassable and possibly isolating communities.

"We are asking people to act now to keep themselves and their whānau safe and to heed the advice of authorities," adds Ferris. "Anyone with travel plans in Westland and Buller on Friday and Saturday are urged to keep up to date with road information from Waka Kotahi NZTA. This is especially relevant due to the school holidays bringing more families to the West Coast."
______________________________________________________________

MetService has issued several severe weather warnings for regions in the South Island and central New Zealand.

An active front is moving slowly across southern and central New Zealand today, bringing with it heavy rain in western areas and northerly, gale force winds for central regions.

In a statement, MetService said rain across Westland to northwest of Nelson is set to be significant, with the potential for flooding and disruptions for commuters.

Severe northerly gales are forecast in Wellington, with the agency informing residents to expect power outages and damage to insecure structures.

The Orange Weather Warnings affect the following areas:

Orange Rain Warning:
- Nelson west of Motueka from 6am Friday. Valid from 6am Friday
- Buller. Valid from 1pm Thursday
- Western ranges of Marlborough including the Richmond and Bryant ranges. Valid from 4pm Friday
- The headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers from the Rakaia river northwards. From 11pm Thursday
- Westland north of Fox Glacier. Valid from 6pm Thursday
- The headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers between Mount Cook and the Rakaia river. Valid from 4am Friday.
- Westland south of Fox Glacier. Valid from 9pm Thursday

Orange Wind Warning:
- Taranaki Region: gusts up to 120kmh in exposed places. Valid from 8pm Friday
- Marlborough Region: gusts of 120kmh. Valid from 1pm Friday
- Wellington, and Wairarapa south of Featherston: north to northwest severe gales gusting 140 kmh in exposed areas. Valid from 3pm Friday

For more information and to keep up to date with any developments, visit the MetService's warning page.

Neighbourly will update this message as further information is released from the MetService wire.

Image
More messages from your neighbours
5 days ago

Poll: Should drivers retake the theory test every 10 years?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Drivers get where they need to go, but sometimes it seems that we are all abiding by different road rules (for example, the varying ways drivers indicate around a roundabout).
Do you think drivers should be required to take a quick driving theory test every 10 years?

Vote in the poll and share any road rules that you've seen bent! 😱

Image
Should drivers retake the theory test every 10 years?
  • 48.1% Yes
    48.1% Complete
  • 50% No
    50% Complete
  • 1.9% Other - I'll share below
    1.9% Complete
3273 votes
3 days ago

Here's Thursday's thinker!

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

I am lighter than air, but a hundred people cannot lift me. What am I?

Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.

Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.

Image
4 days ago

Hero

The Team from Humans of Christchurch Ōtautahi

“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.

I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.

I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.

It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.

One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.

I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.

I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?

Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.

I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”

- Hero

View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org......

Image