By Dave Goosselink
Heavy rain has bucketed down along the South Island’s east coast, causing rivers to rise and surface flooding around Dunedin's peninsula.
The wet weather created headaches for some homeowners, but provided a bit of relief for a few hardy students.
While the rain kept most people indoors, it tempted some Otago University students to get their surfboard out for a ride on the Leith River.
The creative stunt has become a popular activity whenever the campus river is flowing fast.
“It was kind of hard to get going at first, but once we figured it all out it wasn't as good as real surfing,” says river surfer Daniel Hill. “But it was pretty fun for a novelty thing to do.”
Police didn't share their sense of adventure, warning the river surfers out of the water because of the potential for drowning.
The rain was less fun for Sawyer's Bay resident Paula Ager. She called in the local fire brigade after her basement flooded, ruining any chance of a winter warm up.
“I've got a heat pump unit down there,” says Ms Ager. “All my firewood that I was hoping to burn is wet.”
Continuous rain combined with runoff from the hills caused surface flooding and minor slips along Portobello Rd. That made for a slow journey for motorists, as crews worked to unblock culverts and clear away slips.
“Currently there are delays while the road gangs are removing the damage further up towards the city on the Dunedin-bound lane,” says Lox Kellas of the Portobello police.
Residents can expect more rain tonight, with warnings of further surface flooding and possible road closures.
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