Freak waves on Wellington's south coast have left a person in hospital and forced residents to evacuate their homes.
A wave crashes on to the road at Island Bay, Wellington, today. Photo: Supplied / Katie Hecker Scheid
A big southerly swell is caused 6m waves to crash onto the road between Breaker Bay and Ōwhiro Bay.
About half a dozen homes were evacuated late this morning as the waves crashed across the road and into garages and houses.
Wellington Free Ambulance said one person had to be rescued after being swept out to sea and is now in a moderate condition in hospital.
The section of road between Ōwhiro Bay and Island Bay is swamped after massive swells flooded the area. Photo: Supplied / Grant Maiden
Wellington City Council said the water caused damage to garages, cars and left debris on the roads.
Its spokesperson, Richard Maclean, said council contractors and emergency services were on site to help clear the roads and support residents.
A bridge near Ōwhiro Bay is damaged after massive swells overtook the area. Photo: Supplied / Grant Maiden
Motorists and pedestrians were asked to avoid the south coast. People are being warned not to go and have a look.
The section of Breaker Bay Rd and Moa Pt Rd between Mantell Street in Seatoun and Cochrane Street, Lyall Bay, is closed.
Massive waves wash over Ōwhiro Bay. Photo: Supplied / Donna Drinkwater
Wellington coastal residents watched with amazement as the huge waves crashed into their properties this morning.
Tayla Philpott filmed the waves crashing into her house.
Ōwhiro Bay. Photo: Supplied
Philpott said she was luckily on the third storey, and not near the waves.
"So it was coming right up at our house - the water went through our garage but the worst of it is really at the top of the street - the waves sort of just carried on right up the bay," she said.
She said there was a lot of debris.
"A lot of drift wood - there's a shipping container that sort of moved out onto the middle of the road."
A southerly swell is causing large waves to crash onto roads. Photo: RNZ / Caitlin Cherry
Another resident, Jemima Bullock, who lives between Island Bay and Ōwhiro Bay, said the waves sounded dramatic and harsh from early this morning.
Bullock said it caught curious onlookers and dog walkers by surprise.
"We saw a few dog walkers get into trouble - so we yelled if they needed some help - but most of them just got wet really and cleared the way and then at that point I put two messages on local Facebook pages saying 'don't come down, it's not that safe'," she said.
Beach debris has been strewn all over the road in parts of Wellington's South Coast. Photo: RNZ/Caitlin Cherry
MetService forecaster Andy Best said the waves had now peaked.
"High tide was just before midday - so the tide is now going down and the actual forecast for the maximum wave is receding because those waves are actually moving to the north east," he said.
Police said they, and the council, were clearing the debris, cleaning roads and assessing the damage.