Labour weekend 2006 once again lived up to it's reputation, with a band of heavy rainfall passing over the Wellington region.

Rain occured earlier in the week, in a weather system that stalled as it moved northwards, due to a deepening low to the North West of New Plymouth. As the low deepened, it moved down across the bottom of the North Island, and out towards the south east, bringing with it the rain.

Southerly winds of 50Km/h were measured in Maungaraki, with winds in excess of 100Km/h measured at Mt Kaukau. Approx 60mm of rain fell in one 24 hour period, drenching the area, and causing further landslides in Eastbourne.

Cook Strait sailings were cancelled as southerly swells rolled into the harbour. When resumed, the normal 3 hour journey took 10 hours to complete, as the ferry sheltered in Clifford Bay, waiting for a 6m swell to abate.