Several tourists are stranded at a campground in Whataroa, north of Franz Josef on the West Coast, including some "terrified" freedom campers who narrowly escaped a rapidly rising river. The small south Westland township on the western bank of the Whataroa River was now cut off by slips and washouts on all roads leading in and out. "They told me they'd parked up right above the [Whataroa] river where they were meant to have parked." CARINA TOSCANO/SUPPLIED Lightning storm in Waikanae, north of Wellington, on Saturday night. JOHN BISSET/STUFF The river mouth of the flooded Rangitata River.

Source: Stuff December 08, 2019 00:45 UTC