However, the collapse of part of the Waiho Bridge near the Franz Josef township has cut short the tourism season. Jacob Schonberger, a Kiwi Experience bus driver from Dunedin, said he heard the ''biggest crack'' as the Waiho bridge fell away. Much of the West Coast is cut off after a section of the Waiho River bridge was swept away. At 5pm yesterday, Civil Defence staff said the Haast River was close to its record high of 7.6m, but had levelled off. The Waiho River was running at 7.6m and had dropped from its peak, while the Hokitika River was at 5m and rising.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 26, 2019 22:52 UTC