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Story: Floods

Pohangina River in flood

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Aerial photo of a flooded river and broken bridge.

The bridge across the Pohangina River, Manawatū, was destroyed by flood water in February 2004. The gas main to Hawke’s Bay crossed the bridge, so the gas flow was disrupted as well as access to the Pohangina Valley. When this photograph was taken, the river had receded from its peak but still contained a high mud content from the sediment washed off the surrounding hills.

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GNS Science

Reference: GH 1817

by Graham Hancox

Permission of GNS Science must be obtained before any use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Eileen McSaveney, Floods – 21st century floods, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/4893/pohangina-river-in-flood (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Eileen McSaveney, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 February 2024.