A Stuff article.
Flood flows on the Buller River this month were the largest of any New Zealand river in almost 100 years, Niwa measurements show.
Flow rates on the river during the flooding on the West Coast earlier this month were more than 10 times the usual rates, scientists found.
Niwa hydrodynamics scientist Richard Measures said records showed even greater flooding of the Buller River in 1926.
“It’s not the largest river in New Zealand but it does experience the biggest flood flows,” he said. “The flood levels through the Buller Gorge are incredible.”