Porangahau Flood 1941 Summary

On May 4, 1941, heavy rain fell in southern Hawke’s Bay. More than 400 millimetres fell in 24 hours in Porangahau and the Porangahau River rose 14.3 metres above normal, causing extensive damage. 

The Wainui River at Wimbledon, further south of Porangahau, and Waikopiro Stream which runs into it, both flooded.

This panoramic view of some of this major flood is made up from a series of seven photographs taken by A.W.S. Longley from the Wimbledon Road lookout. The view is looking out toward the sea from Wimbledon.

Note in the enlargement in the top picture how close floodwaters came to one of the houses in the settlement. The enlargement at top comes from the images at the right end of the seven-picture montage (lower).

Pictures: IRC Longley collection, Hawke’s Bay Knowledge Bank, Stoneycroft, Hastings