A desperate search is underway for a Karori man missing in severe flooding that has inundated the Wellington region, forcing evacuations, closing key bridges and prompting a local state of emergency.
Police are searching for Philip Sutton, a man in his 60s, who was reported missing from his Karori South Road home on Monday morning. A family member raised the alarm around 7am after being unable to contact him. Emergency services arrived to find his property damaged by floodwaters and debris.
Search and Rescue teams spent hours at the scene, but the search has been hampered by the dangerous conditions. "They have operated in challenging conditions but unfortunately have been unable to find him," Wellington District Prevention Manager Inspector Fleur de Bes said in a statement.
"We have cleared his residence, but the weather has hampered aspects of the search and made searching some flooded areas too dangerous. We will continue to make enquiries and will resume the search as soon as conditions allow."
Hundreds of callouts stretch emergency services
The severe weather has stretched emergency services to their limit. Since 3am on Monday, Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) crews have responded to approximately 200 weather-related incidents across the region, from flooded homes to landslides.
"With further heavy rain forecast we have pre-positioned specialist resources including teams with enhanced rescue and water response capability in the Wairarapa and Hutt Valley," FENZ Regional Manager Bruce Stubbs said. He urged residents to stay out of floodwaters, which can conceal hidden dangers.
The downpour follows another weekend of heavy rain, compounding the pressure on the capital's already strained stormwater infrastructure. The ongoing situation echoes previous flooding events, such as the torrential rains that forced evacuations in other parts of the city in recent years, highlighting the region's vulnerability to extreme weather.
Key bridges close as river levels rise
In Lower Hutt, rising water levels have forced the closure of major transport links. The Hutt River has swollen to dangerous levels, prompting authorities to close both the Melling Bridge and the Kennedy Good Bridge, effectively severing key routes across the city and causing significant disruption.
Across the wider Wellington area, roads are treacherous. Slips and surface flooding are widespread, and there are growing concerns about overloaded stormwater systems failing to cope with the deluge. Authorities are advising against all non-essential travel.
The closures and dangerous road conditions are a stark reminder of the region's long-standing infrastructure challenges, an issue Wellington continues to confront as it plans for a future with more frequent extreme weather events. The city's struggle with infrastructure woes has been a topic of intense debate, with the latest flooding likely to amplify calls for urgent investment and upgrades.
'Water everywhere' as homes evacuated
The human impact of the storm is most evident in the city's southern suburbs. Homes in Happy Valley, Brooklyn, Berhampore and south Karori have been particularly hard-hit. While officials state the number of affected properties is relatively small, the damage in some cases is severe.
In Mount Cook, residents awoke to find their streets transformed into rivers. Jane Loughnan, a resident of Wright Street, said she woke around 4:30am to see "water everywhere". She described watching half a dozen cars floating down the street after the nearby Pāpāwai Stream burst its banks, sending a torrent of water and debris through the neighbourhood.
"There was water down the bottom of my path, which has never happened before," she said. Neighbours emerged with shovels and brooms to clear thick mud from footpaths as tow trucks tried to figure out how to retrieve the submerged vehicles. While Ms Loughnan's home was spared, others were not so lucky, with water reaching their front doors.
Several families across the city have been evacuated or displaced from their homes. Support is being provided through the Wellington City Mission’s Whakamaru facility. Public facilities, including all council-operated libraries, community centres, and pools, will remain closed through Tuesday under the active MetService Red Weather Warning.
Calls for government support as region braces for more rain
With the situation ongoing, the Green Party has called on the government to immediately activate the Civil Defence Payment to provide financial assistance to those affected.
People who have just been evacuated shouldn’t have to produce paperwork to prove they need help replacing their food or their bedding.
Ms Paul said the payment exists for exactly this type of emergency and would provide much-needed relief for families, many of whom are already facing significant cost-of-living pressures.
As emergency crews continue to assess the damage and reach homes cut off by slips, the focus remains firmly on public safety. "Do not drive through floodwaters, as there can be hidden obstacles," Mr Stubbs of FENZ warned. "If flooding has entered your home, switch off and unplug appliances."
With more rain forecast, authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant, stay informed through official channels, and prepare for conditions to potentially worsen before they improve.
