Whanganui flooded, 400 evacuated
Whanganui has been hammered by its biggest recorded flood, with about 400 people forced from their homes by its rising river.

The city was one of many centres to feel the effects of a winter storm that brought heavy rain to the lower North Island after dumping large amounts of snow on the South Island.

Civil defence emergencies have been declared in Whanganui, Rangitikei and Taranaki so official can order houses to be evacuated. Flooding has closed major roads, including State Highway 3 in many places.

The Whanganui River reached a peak of 9.1m through the district around 3am, flowing at 4690 cubic metres a second.

More:
https://nz.news.yahoo.com/top-stories/a/28509910/record-flooding-in-whanganui/

State of emergency in Whanganui as flooding hits lower North Island
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/69562014/state-of-emergency-in-whanganui-as-flooding-hits-lower-north-island

The small South Taranaki town of Waitotara is under water after heavy rains.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/69567269/hundreds-flee-rising-floodwaters-in-north-island