Torrential Flooding Devastates Holiday Park

Residents rescued by digger as “wall of water” inundates Kaiteriteri.

A torrent of water and debris ravaged **Bethany Park** campground in Kaiteriteri, New Zealand, leaving a trail of destruction and forcing dramatic rescues. Extreme rainfall caused a nearby creek to burst its banks, sending a surge of water filled with forestry slash through the park.

Campground Catastrophe

**Lee-Anne Jago**, co-owner of **Waka Abel Tasman** tourism, described the scene as overwhelming. Boats, shelters, and caravans, usually stored at the rear of the campsite, sustained significant damage. According to **Jago**, the intensity of the rainfall was unprecedented.

An older couple had to be rescued from their caravan using a digger bucket. According to **Jago**: “I just feel sorry for all of these people that live in **Bethany Park**. I heard that an older couple couldn’t get out of their caravan last night and got rescued in a digger… hopped in the bucket. We’re really lucky that nobody lost their lives in this.”

While about 200 people were present at the park, only a few required alternative accommodation. Preliminary estimates suggest the cleanup and repairs will take weeks, disrupting business operations.

Waka Business Impacted

Among the losses, one waka used for tourism was destroyed. Other boats were buried under a meter of silt. “It’s heartbreaking,” **Jago** said. “This was our first waka that we got for our business and it took the brunt of the water.”

The Insurance Council of New Zealand reports that weather-related insured losses totaled $370 million in 2023, emphasizing the increasing vulnerability of communities to extreme weather events. (ICNZ)

Calls for Accountability

**Jago**, a resident since 1998, compared the devastation to a war zone. Local residents are now advocating for discussions regarding forestry slash management to prevent similar events. “Because our communities have been devastated – our communities on the East Coast [and] here – it’s not fair,” **Jago** stated.

The focus remains on cleanup efforts and ensuring the safety of residents. Looking ahead, the community seeks long-term solutions to mitigate the risk of future flooding.