[crispyking]

Hello,

We have been looking at a house in the Wairarapa and really like it, but it is right next to a river and when looking at the district council 'Flood Hazard Areas', it appears to be right in the middle of one !!

http://crispyking.co.nz/i/p/wairarapa-flood-areas.jpg
(the bottom black arrow is where the house is located)

There is a 'flood way' just down the road - am I right in thinking that this is supposed to divert rising floodwaters away from an area ?

I view of recent flooding in Northlands and Hawkes Bay (it seems to be working it's way south) we are thinking it may not be such a great idea to buy a property right next to a river !! The house has been there since the 1920s and is still standing, however we are aware that just because something hasn't happened before, it won't happen in the future :uhoh

Does anyone here have experience of flooding in the Wairarapa, particularly with regards to the Ruamahunga river ?

[jdbob]

There was extensive flooding in the Wairarapa one or two winters ago.

[crispyking]

do you know how extensive ?

we went to have another look today and the stop bank next to the river is pretty high. we spoke to the manager of the farm down the road and he siad that the river hadn't breached the stop bank since he had been working there (5-10 years) although it may have done in the farm owners' time - especially when the stop banks were lower. the farm manager said that we were more likely to be stuck at home as the road could be closed due to the filling of the flood way.

we have had a brief look at the LIM and it states that the area is a 1 in a 100 ... anyone any idea what this means ?? we will be speaking to our solicitor tomorrow to find out what the legal implications are ...

[jdbob]

do you know how extensive ?
I tried some quick googling without much luck. If you are in the area a local library might be a good source of information. Did find a picture of the river in flood (http://www.teara.govt.nz/Places/Wairarapa/Wairarapa/3/ENZ-Resources/Standard/5/en#breadcrumbtop)

we have had a brief look at the LIM and it states that the area is a 1 in a 100 ... anyone any idea what this means ??

I would assume it means one in 100 years, at least that's what it would mean here. Seems like the weather is getting wilder and wilder so maybe someday it will mean one in 100 months.

I wonder what kind of insurance is available. Here in the states the normal house insurance doesn't cover risks from being in a flood zone, you have to get federal insurance for that.

[sizzlingbadger]

Hi, will PM you later :)

Floods were Wairarapa widespread last year in the July school holidays :uhoh

Martinborough was cut off with Ruamahunga river, you'll notice as you drive into Martinborough you go down a dip with the bridge next to it. Well the water was up to the bridge at one stage :exit It's where (I think) three rivers meet so will always be the first place to flood.

Even houses that thought they were safe were flooded out especially between Greytown and Martinborough. Featherston was lucky and had minimal flooding.

Kuatara was cut off and the house you were looking at the floodway just before it was full so you wouldn't have been able to get in or out. Don't think the house flooded though.

Can't say it won't happen again, OH said it may flood every couple of years depending on the weather, just look at the UK for July.

I would think very careful about it and the re sale value if you took it on.