Landslide Changes Face of Wangapeka River in the Kahurangi National Park

There has been a significant landslip into the Wangapeka River within the Kahurangi National Park over the long weekend. The rockfall from the 30-metre wide slip has created an approximately 10-metre high dam across the river. The dam has created a 1km long lake in the valley.

The river flow, which was initially disrupted, returned to normal flow levels once the water reached the top of the dam.

The site was visited on Tuesday night by the Department of Conservation and engineers and a hydrologist from the Tasman District Council. The initial assessment is that dam is safe and is substantial enough to warrant little concern at this stage.

The initial opinion is that this is a natural event and as a result of it being so far into the park no major damage to land further downstream should occur. As the water flows over the top of the dam it will create a new natural watercourse, but this will not pose any immediate threat to landowners downstream.

As a precaution all the residents on the Council’s flood warning list for the Wangapeka and Motueka Valleys were called to appraise them of the situation.

The situation will be monitored in the short term to ensure the initial assessment is correct but it is widely felt there is no cause for concern.