Wild weather fells trees

13th March 2010

Traffic was last night backed up nose to tail on Pakipaki Rd, after wild weather in Wellington and Marlborough spread to Hawke's Bay, bringing down trees.

A large tree fell over SH50 on Pakipaki Rd just after 7.30pm, forcing traffic to stop on one lane of the state highway.

A police officer who tried to wave down a car was almost run over as it sped past at 100km/h.

Senior Sergeant Ross Smith said the motorist ``was not paying attention'' and had been spoken to by police.

The road reopened at 9pm.

Hastings Fire Station officer Bruce Botherway said firefighters attended several incidents in Hastings after 8pm, including in Ada St and St Aubyn St West, where trees blocked part of the road.

Firefighters, with help from the public, used chainsaws to cut up and remove the trees.

A branch snapped off a tree at a property on Elliot St in Taradale at 8.10pm, tilting onto a house but causing minimal damage.