“My partner’s brother lived here before, from 2004 it had never flooded to the house.”
Jordan Luck performing at Aotea Square in 2017. The former Exponents singer has lived in Little River for more than a decade. Photo / Chris Loufte
Until now.
Luck’s treasured music room as well as his laundry have been breached by the floodwaters.
His home sits below road level but well above the height of State Highway 75, which links Christchurch and Akaroa.
Flooding and slips have closed SH75, cutting off the picturesque tourist town of Akaroa.
Banks Peninsula is one of the worst-hit areas and today, more rain is forecast to fall.
Streets in nearby Christchurch are flooded, with the Heathcote River spilling over its banks in places.
Before and after images supplied by Luck show the scale of the flooding event, with it swamping the property with a strong flow of floodwater. The sewerage pipe in the centre of both photographs gives a reference for the height of the water.
Jordan Luck’s Little River property has been overwhelmed by floodwaters.
Jordan Luck’s Little River property as it normally is – before the flooding.
“The water is creating its own new rivers. Some may go through homes on its way, some they will pass.”
Luck says his local neighbourhood is in touch with each other as they ride it out.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand earlier said “around four people” were rescued from a car stuck in floodwater at the Wairewa Marae in Little River, at around 8.40am.
They were taken to the local fire station, safe and well.
Mike Thorpe is a senior journalist for the Herald, based in Christchurch. He has been a broadcast journalist across television and radio for 20 years and joined the Herald in August 2024.