State of Emergency - Selwyn
What you need to know:
- The Selwyn District Council has declared a state of emergency this morning.
- Emergency services and Civil Defence volunteers are working with the Selwyn Huts community to self evacuate due to rising river levels and the likelihood that the access road will be cut off.
- It is possible access via Days Road will be compromised by floodwaters,
- With MetService having heavy rainfall warnings in place from Timaru through to Kaikoura, and all rivers, streams, and surface flooding/ponding areas within this area will see some impacts, the regional council says.
- "The most significant flood flows are expected in the foothill rivers and streams of the Waimakariri, Hurunui, and Kaikoura districts. Out-of-river flooding and significant surface flooding/ponding is likely in some places."
TE WAIHORA / LAKE ELLESMERE (4am update)
Te Waihora / Lake Ellesmere will be opened to the sea as soon as weather and sea conditions allow.
ASHLEY RIVER (6am update)
The Ashley River is in moderate flood but is not expected to reach the flood protection scheme capacity (~2000m3/s). Works have taken place to lower the beach crest at the river mouth to encourage the river to break out to sea straighter to avoid back flooding (current mouth is very far north). Tributaries, including the Okuku are also in high flow conditions and adjacent landowners should monitor their situation.
EYRE / CUST / CAM RIVERS (6am update)
The Eyre, Cust and Cam Rivers are all carrying high flows. At this stage, no out of river flows are expected from these rivers, however significant surface flooding throughout the Waimakariri District is to be expected.
- Local road closures in the Selwyn District
In Canterbury, the Selwyn District Council doesn't want residents taking any chances. Sandbags were available from the Glentunnel Community Centre and Sheffield Community Hall on Wednesday evening (BYO shovel).
- Just before midnight, the council closed Coes Ford as the Selwyn River kept rising. Ford on Riversleigh Road, Plantation Road, McLaughlins Road and Scotts Road are also closed as well as Beatty's Ford and Waiters Ford.
- A conserve water notice is in place for the Acheron, Arthur's Pass, Dalethorpe, and Hororata.
- Keep up to date on Stuff's weather blog
- See a Facebook video message from Sam Broughton (Mayor of Selwyn District) here.
Poll: Should we be giving the green light to new mining projects? 💰🌲
The Environmental Protection Authority announced this week that a proposed mine in Central Otago (near Cromwell) is about to enter its fast-track assessment process. A final decision could come within six months, and if it’s approved, construction might start as early as mid-2026.
We want to know: Should mining projects like this move ahead?
Keen to dig deeper? Mike White has the scoop.
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53.2% Yes
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46.8% No
‘Tis the season to not get scammed ...
As Christmas gift shopping moves increasingly online, scammers are ramping up their activity across the country.
Dunedin’s Investigation Support Unit is seeing more and more people fall victim to scams and other fraudulent activity, particularly on Facebook Marketplace.
There are a few ways to avoid the scams and keep yourself safe doing online trades this holiday season, says Southern District Service Delivery Manager Senior Sergeant Dalton.
🔒 “A good first step when looking to purchase something on Marketplace is to check when the seller’s Facebook profile was created. If it’s very recent, there is a higher risk that they have just created this account for a one-off fake item.”
🔒 Another important step is to make sure the seller’s profile name and bank account name match up. “We’re seeing a lot of scammers claiming their bank account name is different because it belongs to their partner or family member - that’s a huge red flag."
🔒 “When you’re selling, never trust a screenshot anyone sends you showing that payment has been made. Check your own bank account to make sure a payment has gone through."
🔒 “Quite frankly, it’s best for all parties to agree to pay, or be paid, for items in cash and in-person. Ideally in a public place with CCTV coverage."
🔒 "If you’re buying a car, check Carjam.co.nz to see if it’s stolen or if there’s money owed on it.”
A reminder: Suspicious activity can be reported on 105
Poll: Pedestrian access is being extended to the Ōtakaro Avon River - good idea?
Pedestrian access from one of Christchurch’s favourite streets is being extended all the way to the Ōtakaro Avon River. This new 12m-wide pathway will give you a direct, easy route from the street to the river promenade ... perfect for a stroll, a coffee run, or just soaking up the riverside vibes.
We want to know: In your view, what makes a city people-friendly?
What else should our urban areas be doing to support better community connections?
Curious about the full plans? You can check them out here.
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91.2% Yes
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8.8% No
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