Weather live updates: South Island next in storm’s firing line after it hammers North Island
Road closures in Little River, Canterbury
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13m wave recorded in Wellington Harbour overnight
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The Barring Head Wave Buoy in Wellington Harbour recorded a 13.6m wave at 11.36pm yesterday, amongst the wild weather impacting the capital.
According to one observer, the wave dislodged the "Moaning Minnie" buoy.
Flooding in Little River, Canterbury
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Latest MetService severe weather warnings
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Statement from MetService:
Heavy rain for the the lower North Island and east of the South Island.
Southwest gales easing over central New Zealand.
A deep low east of New Zealand moves slowly southwards Monday night and during Tuesday.
This low continues to bring heavy rain to the lower North Island and east of the South Island, but south to southwest gales over central New Zealand are easing. Large waves and dangerous sea conditions are also expected and coastal inundation is possible about exposed coasts.
Please keep up to date with the latest forecasts.
Heavy Rain Warning - Orange
Area: Kaikoura District and Canterbury north of Amberley
Period: 4 hours from 8:00pm Mon 16 Feb to 12:00am Tue 17 Feb
Forecast: Expect 30 to 50 mm of rain on top of what has already fallen. Peak rates of 10 to 20 mm/h about hills and ranges.Low chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Impact: Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.
Action: Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously.
Area: Banks Peninsula
Period: 22 hours from 8:00pm Mon 16 Feb to 6:00pm Tue 17 Feb
Forecast: Expect 70 to 100 mm of rain on top of what has already fallen. Intensities generally less than 10 mm/h, but may reach 15 mm/h till early Tuesday morning. Low chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Impact: Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.
Action: Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously.
Area: The eastern hills of Wellington, also Wairarapa, and the Tararua Range
Period: 3 hours from 8:00pm Mon 16 Feb to 11:00pm Mon 16 Feb
Forecast: Expect 15 to 25 mm of rain on top of what has already fallen. Peak rates of 10 to 15 mm/h expected.Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Strong Wind Warning - Orange
Area: Coastal parts of Wairarapa and Tararua District
Period: 3 hours from 8:00pm Mon 16 Feb to 11:00pm Mon 16 Feb
Forecast: Southwest winds may approach severe gale in exposed places. Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Impact: Damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures possible. Driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.
Action: Prepare your property by securing items that can be picked up by strong winds. Drive cautiously.
Warnings no longer in force
Strong Wind Warning lifted for Wellington, and eastern Marlborough north of Clarence: Winds are easing, and the warning has been lifted.
Moutoa floodgates may be 'close' to opening - Civil Defence
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Waves crash at Hurunui Mouth
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Waves in Kaikōura
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Strong wind warnings for northeastern South Island amid 90km/h gusts
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Strong wind warnings remain in place for the northeastern South Island as gusts of more than 90km/h lash about the Port Hills tops this evening.
Canterbury Weather Updates also reported wind gusts topping 80km/h on the Kaikoura coast at 6.40pm.
Rainfall is also intensifying in the region with 250mm predicted over the Banks Peninsula overnight.
Locals have been warned to take extreme care when travelling as floods and slips are likely.
Road closures in Wairarapa
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As of 6pm, the following roads are affected due to flooding, fallen trees, slips or debris:
Closed
- Cape Palliser Rd – flooding and debris
- Ponatahi Bridge – high river levels
- White Rock Rd – landslide blocking both lanes
- Lake Ferry Rd – closed past Kahutara turn‑off (surface flooding)
- Waihakeke Rd – large tree and powerlines across road
- Whangaehu Valley Rd (start of road) – trees down in multiple places, river rising
- Te Ore Ore–Bideford Rd – trees down
- Mataikona Rd – tree down
- Nahape Rd – tree down
- Dorsets Rd – closed until Tuesday
- Jacksons Line – closed until Tuesday
- South Belt Rd – tree blocking both lanes
Restricted
- Masterton–Castlepoint Rd – open to light vehicles only due to trees down in multiple places
Open/passable with caution
- Upper Plain Rd – trees down
- Burnetts Rd – trees down
- Masterton–Stronvar Rd – trees down
- Mikimiki Rd – partially blocked
- Evans Rd – tree down
- Matahiwi Rd – tree down
- Millard Ave – tree down
- Dryers Rock – tree down
"Road conditions may change quickly, and people are urged to obey road closure signage and avoid driving through floodwater," the Carterton District Council said.
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Status of Rangitīkei District road closures
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Roads that remain closed as of 5.50pm today:
- Agnews Rd
- Aldworth Rd
- Brandon Hall Rd
- Norwood Ln
- Ongo Rd
- Otara Rd
- Pohonui Rd
- Purakau St
- Ruru Rd
- Turakina Valley Rd - blocked at both ends
- Waiaruhe Rd
- SH54 between SH1 and Cheltenham (Manawatū District)
Roads open with conditions:
- SH1 Hunterville to Waiouru is open under a temporary 30km restriction.
- Taihape-Napier Rd has reopened but drivers have been advised to drive to the conditions and take extra care.
"Avoid unnecessary travel. If you need to travel, please take extra caution on all our open roads as trees have only been cleared to the roads edge in many instances. Do not use local roads as State Highway alternative routes unless directed to by contractors," Rangitīkei District Council said.
"All motorists that were trapped between slips and fallen trees on Turakina Valley Road have now been freed and have continued on with their journeys. Turakina Valley Road is closed and will remain so for some time - it is currently blocked at both ends."
Stokes Valley street closed after stormwater pipe bursts
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Wellington Water advises Kamahi St in Stokes Valley is closed until further notice following a burst stormwater pipe.
Traffic management crews and Fulton Hogan are at the scene awaiting stormwater flow to abate so a full assessment can be carried out.
The road surface has sustained “visible damage”.
“The suspected cause is likely to be a blockage downstream which has led to the pipe bursting upstream from the blockage due to the heavy rain.”
Evacuations after landslide at Lower Hutt home
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Occupants of a home in Lower Hutt’s Waiwhetu have self-evacuated after a landslide affected the property.
A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said they were alerted to the incident at Tyndall St just after 5pm.
Firefighters remained at the site until Hutt Council was able to establish a cordon.
The nearby Waiwhetu Stream overtopped its banks earlier today.
Wellington City Council opens facilities to residents impacted by power cuts
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The Wellington City Council has made local facilities across the northern and western suburbs available for the approximately 1000 households without power.
The following council facilities will be available during normal opening hours on Tuesday for charging essential devices:
- Tawa Library
- Tawa Community Centre
- Lindon Community Centre
- Johnsonville Library
- Churton Park Community Centre
- Karori Rec Centre
Tawa Pool, Johnsonville Pool and Karori Pool will be available for free, hot showers during normal opening hours, the council said.
"Residents are encouraged to check on elderly, disabled, or isolated neighbours, and where safe and appropriate, seek help from neighbours, friends, and whānau first."
Wasterwater discharge detected at Akaroa beach
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Akaroa residents have been told not to swim at the main beach following the detection of waste water.
Health New Zealand has issued a health warning after authorities advised them of the discharge.
Medical Officer of Health for the National Public Health Service Dr Annabel Begg said people should avoid the beach.
"Because of the potential risk to health from the wastewater discharge.”
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Aerial view of mudslide on Turakina Valley Rd
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Friday's rain deluge destroys parts of Waikato wastewater plant
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Friday’s wild weather across the North Island has destroyed parts of the water treatment plant supplying the Waipā District township of Pirongia.
The Waipā District Council was forced to establish an emergency supply from the Te Awamutu Treatment Plant.
Civil Defence controller Wayne Allan said the weather event was short, sharp and with intensity which varied significantly across the region.
“In terms of numbers of impacted people, our primary focus has to be Pirongia’s water supply,” he said.
“The supply is fragile and relies on a single pipe to support an entire community. Water tankers are a contingency option but the least impact on households will be to reduce water use and make the reduced supply last.
“We have seen an increase in water use in the last 24 hours and we’re monitoring it – we urge the community to keep the savings going."
Allan urged residents to take short showers, reduce the flushing of toilets and not to water outside.
“We drained the reservoir to inspect it this morning, and experts are building a picture of what future works may be required. The community is doing a great job but there’s no quick fix.”
He said Civil Defence welfare teams are providing direct support to isolated properties.
“Teams continue to do rapid assessments for buildings with support from local council staff.
“Welfare requests by individuals and families are being co-ordinated through Here to Help U as a one-stop support service in affected areas. People can contact 0800 568 273 and leave a call back request.”
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7000 homes still without power in Lower Hutt
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Hutt City Council says crews are continuing to closely monitor conditions as high tide arrives.
Residents were warned to stay vigilant until around 6pm as conditions could still turn, and to keep away from waterways and low-lying coastal areas.
The council advised that 7000 homes were still without power and multiple local roads remain closed due to flooding, fallen trees and debris.
Waiwhetu Stream levels have started to recede after bursting its banks earlier today.
Bus services to Eastbourne have been cancelled due to debris.
Wellington Water has also been alerted to a burst water main in Stokes Valley.
Vancouver Island tourists wait for access through the Waioweka Gorge
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Vancouver Island tourists Pamela and Graham Ellis have been camping in Gisborne overnight.
The Herald spoke to them while they were parked on the side of the road in Matawai, waiting for access through the Waioweka Gorge following closures caused by severe weather.
In the meantime, they were putting the delay to good use by drying out camping gear soaked during heavy overnight rain in Gisborne.
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Pirongia residents urged to keep conserving water
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Civil Defence controller Wayne Allan said there had been an Incident Management Team meeting this afternoon about the emergency response in western Waikato.
"This weather event was short, sharp and with intensity which varied significantly across the region," he said in a statement.
"We’re already seeing some areas returning to business as usual, while just a few kilometres away we have communities isolated, roads severed and bridges, pipes and culverts still at risk."
The team's primary focus remained Pirongia's water supply.
"The supply is fragile and relies on a single pipe to support an entire community," he said.
Water tankers were a "contingency option" but to make the reduced supply last, households should continue to reduce water use.
"We have seen an increase in water use in the last 24 hours and we’re monitoring it – we urge the community to keep the savings going," Allan said.
“Short showers, reduced flushing of toilets, no outside watering – every drop saved buys us time to build some resilience into our network.
"We drained the reservoir to inspect it this morning, and experts are building a picture of what future works may be required. The community is doing a great job but there’s no quick fix.”
Planes land in wild wind at Wellington Airport
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The Silverstream Volunteer Fire Brigade has shared photos of weather jobs its members attended today.
Stokes Valley residents 'ankle deep' in floodwater
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Volunteers struggled to get the water out of a Stokes Valley home faster than it was coming in.
The lower level of Teresa Hayes' home is flooded, with volunteers trying to use a wet vacuum on the mess.
"We were ankle-deep at one point."
Hayes was gutted, saying it would be a long process to sort through what was damaged and to clean and dry out the carpet.
Her kids and neighbours had come around to move furniture away from the water.
However, she remained optimistic.
"We are pretty lucky in the grand scheme of things. We are safe. That’s the main thing."
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Roads in a Lower Hutt suburb have “essentially exploded” as heavy rain and overflowing storm drains caused water to burst up through the ground.
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Mudslide that trapped motorists cleared
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A slip that trapped 20 vehicles in the Rangitīkei District has been cleared.
Local farmers in the area "went and cleared the slip," Manawatū-Whanganui Emergency Management group controller Michael McCartney said.
"Traffic is flowing, people are safe, and the NH-90 [a helicopter sent by the New Zealand Defence Force] has been stood down."
Boil-water notice lifted for eastern Christchurch residents
Nazahryth Bernard
The boil-water notice affecting thousands of households in eastern Christchurch has been lifted.
Christchurch City Council said it has had three clear days of sampling from the wider Rawhiti zone and isolated the source of the issue.
Residents in the New Brighton, Burwood, Wainoni, Aranui and Southshore areas no longer need to boil water.
About 20 properties will need to keep boiling their water and the council will be communicating with these residents directly.
The council believed the contamination was the result of work recently done on the network, but that investigations were ongoing.
Group clearing fallen trees for free
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The Wellington Arborists group took it upon themselves to clear roadways of fallen trees – free of charge.
Tristin McLean, who is part of the group's ground crew, said they choose to do the work to simply "help the community, everyone needs help now and then".
The crew had been all over the region today, from Tawa to Brooklyn.
PM's message to people affected by storm
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says everything is being done to help those who suffered storm damage to get back on their feet.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Luxon said parts of the country had once more suffered damage to property and infrastructure from a storm.
"To those facing damage, everything possible is being done to help you get back on your feet."
Luxon said some regions were still facing the worst of the weather.
He urged those under a severe weather warning to avoid non-essential travel and stay tuned to emergency channels.
Roads 'disintegrating' in Lower Hutt suburb
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Large tree falls on cycleway on SH4
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Whanganui District Council has advised extreme weather has caused a large tree to fall on a wooden cycleway on the Ūpokongaro Bridge on SH4.
An image released by the council this afternoon shows extensive damage to the structure, including crushed barrier rails.
The council said the bridge will remain closed, and that it hoped a crane would be available to remove the tree on Wednesday.
Flooding closes Saddle Rd overnight
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Palmerston North City Council has warned travellers that Saddle Rd will remain closed tonight due to flooding.
Motorists were advised to find alternative routes while crews clear slips.
The council said the road would be reassessed tomorrow and updates would be posted to its social media accounts in due course.
Couple describe floods at Lower Hutt home
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Lower Hutt residents Andrew and Polly (no last names given) have never seen flooding this bad in the 15 years they have lived in the area.
Polly first noticed the flooding at 2am and said it has continued non-stop since then.
“The river breached its banks and then we just saw the water creeping up on our berm, closer and closer to the walls of the house,” Polly said.
Andrew said he was worried it would seep into the main house but the flooding was contained to their garage and the area underneath the house.
The pair had packed their emergency bags and were visited by emergency personnel who told them they could chose whether or not to evacuate.
“We thought ‘well, we are not in immediate danger so we stay put’,” Polly said.
Andrew said he had checked in on their 95-year-old neighbour but her children had evacuated her out last night.
“Fingers crossed when the high tide hits again, which is around 5pm, it’s not going to come flooding back,” Polly said.
“That is the best we can hope for.”
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A small number of flights have begun to fly in and out of Wellington Airport, however, widespread cancellations continue, external relations manager Phil Rennie said.
Disruptions are expected to continue today and tomorrow, and Rennie advised customers check with airlines directly for flight updates.
Heavy wind causes dented car door in Wellington
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One Wellington Uber driver watched a passenger open their door into such strong wind that it bent too far, leaving a dent behind.
"The door looked as unnatural as a broken arm," said the Wellington driver, who was dropping someone off at The Beehive this morning.
The driver knew something was wrong when a sharp gust ripped the door out of the customer's hand and swung almost 145 degrees.
He always tells passengers about Wellington as the windiest capital in the world, and now, he finally has a firsthand encounter with the city's infamous wind.
'Utter chaos’: Firefighter reflects on long shift caused by extreme weather
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Firefighter Micki Hall posted on social media to reflect on the “utter chaos” of attending 19 straight calls last night.
In a video posted to Facebook about 3am last night, Hall said firefighters had tried to help their communities where they could.
He said they had saved a few roofs but also lost one roof, which was hard to watch.
“We are doing what we can,” Hall said.
“Heart goes out to anyone who suffered tonight.”
Fallen pine tree crushes three cars in Horowhenua
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A huge fallen pine tree has wrecked three uninsured cars in Waikawa Beach, Horowhenua.
Upon calling emergency services, property owner Caroline Beaufort-Puna said she was left to deal with it alone.
"They said they were too busy to help us, they basically said 'we're run off our feet.'"
A branch also fell on the family's garage and "smashed" it.
Neighbours came together to help after the incident, bringing chainsaws to remove the tree.
"We would be lost without them."
The woman's home faced hardship last year when a tornado ripped the roof off their cottage and blew the windows out.
While she called some of these accidents simply "bad luck", she also thought climate change played a major role.
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MetService has advised heavy rain and strong winds are expected to ease in the central and lower North Island and northeastern South Island this evening.
Heavy rain is forecast to move southwards and will continue to impact the Canterbury Plains and Banks Peninsula, as well as Dunedin into tomorrow.
MetService meteorologist Alanna Burrows urged people in affected areas to keep up-to-date with the latest warnings on the MetService website and local agencies.
NZ Defence Force helicopter sent to aid stuck people, vehicles
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Statement from Manawatū-Whanganui Emergency Management group controller Michael McCartney:
We have worked with the New Zealand Defence Force to have an NH-90 dispatched to the area where people and vehicles stuck on Turakina Valley Rd.
Our first priority is to establish communication with people in the area before working to evacuate them.
Rangitīkei District Council has also been involved in this operation.
State Highway 1 is closed between Hunterville and Waiouru. State Highway 4 is closed between Whanganui and Raetihi. People should avoid using Turakina Valley Rd as a detour. There are multiple local road closures throughout the area.
Manawatū-Whanganui Emergency Management reiterates our earlier advice to avoid non-essential travel. Conditions are treacherous due to downed trees, landslips and the potential for landslips across the region.
Wellington metro network reopens
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The Wellington metro network has fully reopened following the weather-related closure overnight.
“Our teams have been working hard all morning to assess the track, clear fallen trees and other debris and make repairs so that passenger trains could resume running,” KiwiRail chief metro officer David Gordon says.
"Kāpiti Line services resumed before midday and services on the Johnsonville and Hutt Valley Lines are now returning."
Metlink senior operations manager Paul Tawharu says Greater Wellington is grateful to KiwiRail for getting the network open again.
“Metlink services will operate on half-hourly timetables today, with buses replacing trains on the Wairarapa Line due to damage sustained by trains during the storm," Tawharu says.
“More weather-related disruptions to our rail services are possible. Before travelling, passengers should check the Metlink website and app for service alerts and timetable changes.”
Christchurch urged to prepare for rain
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Christchurch City Council has urged residents to prepare for rain predicted to impact Christchurch and Banks Peninsula from later today, with the heaviest period expected overnight from Monday to Tuesday.
Up to 150 to 250mm of rain is predicted between now and 10am Tuesday, which may cause flooding in some areas of the district, with Banks Peninsula looking likely to be the most impacted.
General manager city infrastructure Brent Smith says teams have been preparing, particularly in areas expected to feel the greatest impact.
“We’re taking our usual precautions by ensuring beach outfalls and wet weather grilles are clear. Pumps and personnel are on standby for the Flockton area and the most critical location in Southshore. The upper Heathcote flood storage basins will be functioning as they should during this event, so people may notice fluctuating water levels in the river,” Smith said.
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Water supply to Pirongia still a 'significant concern'
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The focus of emergency response in southwest Waikato remains reaching isolated communities and properties, assessing and addressing known damage, and maintaining safe drinking water supply to Pirongia, the Western Waikato Emergency Operations Centre said in a statement this afternoon.
Across Waipā and Ōtorohanga, 120 people have been evacuated, Civil Defence controller Wayne Allan said.
"The focus for the response teams is on Wharepapa South, Kāwhia, Aotea and Corcoran Road, as well as assisting with clean-up efforts underway in the Ōtorohanga township," he said in a statement this afternoon.
"We are contacting and visiting properties individually and have support from multiple agencies. 120 people have been evacuated and are safe."
Two properties have been red-stickered.
A helicopter will look at infrastructure across the districts as well as property checks and welfare support in Wharapapa South.
Allan said there was a first Incident Management Team meeting this morning which brought together multiple response teams and agencies with "focus of preserving life and working towards recovery for individuals, families and the region".
A New Zealand Response Team from Auckland arrived this morning to help connect on the ground with people in isolated areas.
The water supply to Pirongia remained a significant concern, Allan said.
"The Pirongia community is doing a great job with water conservation but it’s critical they continue to do so.
“This remains an evolving situation and we reiterate the need for people to take any warnings seriously and respect safety signage.
"We have received reports of people driving through roadblocks which is not only dangerous for the individuals, it can impact and slow response teams."
Flights start to resume in Wellington
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Some flights have resumed coming in and out of Wellington after earlier widespread cancellations.
Many flights remain delayed, with arrivals postponed, but some have begun arriving at the capital's airport.
Trapped: Fallen tree blocks 3 girls into their Wellington flat
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Ava, 20 (no last name given), and her two flatmates have spent the day trapped inside their Kelburn flat after their neighbour’s tree fell across their fence, taking down their powerline and blocking off their only exit.
She told the Herald she heard a “big crash” in the middle of the night and woke up to discover their flat had no power and they were unable to leave.
She said firefighters had come to inspect the power line, which is now wrapped around the tree, and confirmed there was no immediate danger but did not remove the obstacle.
Ava and her flatmates, Kate and Kate (no last names given), have spent the day hunkering down with blankets to try to stay warm without electricity.
“Currently, we are sitting in the lounge watching what looks like another tree about to potentially fall,” Ava said.
“We got in touch with our landlord ... he said he might come have a look but I don't think there’s much he can do.”
They said they have cereal and vegetables to keep themselves fed while they wait for the power to come back on.
Air Force chopper to survey plight of 20 cars trapped on back country road
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An Air Force helicopter is being used to assess the situation of a convoy of 20 cars hemmed in by a mudslide on a central North Island back country road.
Rangitīkei District Council Mayor Andy Watson said the trapped vehicles on Turakina Valley Rd were using it as a detour route around the closed State Highway 1 when they ran into difficulty.
"[It looks as though] they decided to self-navigate using minor back roads, but in an area where communication is very difficult with cell phone technology and a difficult roading area".
He said it appeared there was flood water in front of them and a slip blocking the exit behind them, although they haven't had verification about this.
"So they've been caught in no man's land."
He believes the cars were near Papanui Junction, which was 20-30km up the road.
"At regional Civil Defence level, we're requisitioning an NH90 from the Defence Force to fly the area so that we can actually understand it.
"We have got road crews out there trying to find the way that they got in there through minor roads and blocking roads wherever we can to stop this sort of thing happening."
He said local roads often do not show up on the NZTA Journey Planner as closed.
"So they [people] try and self-navigate to beat the State Highway system, if you like. And that in itself, without the local knowledge that's needed, causes an issue."
Convoys to resume on SH2 Waioweka Gorge
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Rockfall is being cleared on SH2 Waioweka Gorge after overnight rain, with convoys set to resume today at 5pm for Gisborne bound traffic and 7pm for Ōpōtiki bound traffic, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi says.
The convoys are scheduled to operate as planned from tomorrow until further notice:
• Gisborne-bound – start point: Goldsmith Reserve. Departing at: 7am, 11am, 5pm
• Ōpōtiki-bound – start point: Matawai (Te Wera Rd intersection). Departing at: 9am, 1pm, 7pm
When the road reopens this evening for convoy, people should only travel if they must. Be prepared for the road to close at short notice if weather conditions or risk assessments change. It’s important people slow down, be patient and drive with care and to the conditions.
Quake jolts flood-affected suburb
Lynley Ward
A small earthquake was felt in Upper Hutt this afternoon, amongst flooding and wild winds.
GeoNet recorded a magnitude 3.6 tremor at 1.27pm, just 5km northwest of Upper Hutt.
kelsey
Foxton Beach like a 'war zone' after strong winds
kelsey
Foxton Beach residents have described the aftermath as a “war zone” following last night’s strong winds.
“Trees are down everywhere,” he said.
Across Foxton Beach and Foxton, trees lay across fences and reserves, with signs and road markers blown over.
Another local said it was a scary night and “a few people were worried”.
Freedom camper trapped in Porirua
kelsey
A freedom camper trapped in Porirua is weathering the storm in his motorhome.
Brent, who only gave his first name, said he was camping at the Ngāti Toa Domain, Paremata overnight, but had hidden behind the scout building for shelter.
"A small boat on a trailer was moved by the wind over night and has blocked my ability to leave," he said.
While having a look at the trailer that blocked his way, he spotted a yacht across the inlet that appeared to have come loose and run up against rocks.
"I have notified police. There doesn't appear to be major damage yet, but it's on the rocks getting bashed by white-cap waves" and (forecast) 80km/hr winds, he said.
Brent said he was keeping busy with small, indoor jobs on his motorhome, and was catching up on sleep as he got "next to none last night in the storm".
His motorhome was "still rocking quite a bit in the wind gusts" but it was "much calmer now".
20 vehicles stuck behind mudslide in Taihape
kelsey
Twenty vehicles are stuck behind a mudslide on Turakina Valley Rd in the Rangitikei District.
A Fire and Emergency spokesman said crews were alerted to the incident at 12.30pm.
Trees are also down, they said.
Crews from Taihape are responding to the live incident, they said.
A police spokesman told the Herald a number of vehicles were in the area currently, and efforts were "underway to get the occupants to safety".
Drones are being used to survey the area where the motorists are trapped.
Rangitīkei District Mayor Andy Watson said he's working with police to better understand the situation.
"At the moment, no one can physically get into the area to check so we are sending high-speed drones to have a look."
ASB announces support options for customers impacted by weather
kelsey
ASB has announced a line-up of extreme weather support options for North Island customers.
The bank said it would assist personal, farming and business customers worried about finances, with options including:
- Deferring loan repayments for up to three months or interest only for three months.
- Immediate consideration of requests for emergency credit card limit increases.
- Tailored solutions for eligible ASB business and rural customers including access to working capital of up to $100,000.
ASB executive general manager for personal banking Adam Boyd encouraged customers needing support to call the ASB contact centre.
Business and rural customers were advised to contact their relationship manager.
Pirongia residents urged to conserve water
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Waipā District Council is asking Pirongia residents to conserve water and to limit use to drinking and essential sanitary needs only.
The council said Pirongia’s water supply continued to be reduced because flooding caused significant damage to the Te Tahi water treatment plant, which normally supplies the area.
"The reservoir has been drained for further inspections. Alternate emergency supply is being piped from Te Awamutu but tankered water remains a contingency."
The council said wastewater networks were not affected.
Multiple Waikato roads remain closed
kelsey
Several Waikato roads remain closed due to flooding, slips and damage.
Corcoran Rd at Te Pahu is closed beyond house number 238 due to a serious risk of road collapse. Access to the end of the road is likely to be several days away.
Maungauika Rd at Pirongia is closed at the one-way bridge on the Waipā–Ōtorohanga boundary due to damage. No access across the bridge until it is made safe.
Whatauri Rd at Wharepapa South is closed beyond the 1.8km mark after a culvert failure. No vehicle access at this time while a temporary bridge is planned.
Wharepapa South Rd and Waikoha Rd are both closed.
SH39 is closed between Pirongia and Puketotara.
Wild weather and relentless winds set to continue tomorrow
kelsey
The outlook is a bit grim, with heavy rain and relentless winds set to continue tomorrow.
MetService said the focus will be on the eastern South Island tomorrow as the storm sweeps down the country.
Heavy downpours and strong winds are expected to ease in the central North Island through this afternoon and the lower North Island and the northeastern South Island this evening.
The Canterbury Plains, Banks Peninsula and Dunedin are forecast to experience downpours tomorrow, with watches and warnings in place.
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The Pāuatahanui roundabout is submerged in water.
Two houses in Foxton Beach damaged by gale-force winds
Vera Alves
Two houses in Foxton Beach have sustained significant damage in gale-force winds overnight.
Horowhenua District Council incident controller Brent Harvey told the Herald there is widespread damage.
“People have reported their roofs having lifted and trees have fallen.
“We know there’s significant damage to two houses but that there’s definitely damage elsewhere too.”
Harvey has reminded residents they can use the council’s website and Facebook page to seek latest information and has urged people to call 111 if there are threats to life.
He said the wind seemed to be subsiding.
Meanwhile several Foxton schools have shut and power remains out in patches across the region.
State Highway 1 at Foxton is now open.
Rangitīkei Mayor says district 'dodged a bullet'
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Rangitīkei Mayor Andy Watson says the district has "dodged a bullet" by not receiving as much rain as predicted.
"Although the district has suffered a lot of damage due to high winds, we’ve dodged a bullet in terms of the rainfall by not receiving what had been expected following the red warning.
"We know that the warning has been downgraded to an orange warning, so we will closely monitor this over the next few hours and I hope that it doesn’t eventuate in anything like what we’ve already had."
Watson said trees have brought down a number of power lines, including one of his own.
"I’d like to apologise to my neighbours and nearby residents who’ve been impacted by the outage."
Powerco is working to restore power to the thousands in the district without it, the mayor said.
"We’ll also be assessing damage to crops in the district, as we know this is likely to have impacted on our growers of maize, wheat and barley at a busy time of the year for them."
Watson thanked staff and emergency responders for their efforts over the past two days.
South Island weather update
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Multiple heavy rain warnings, watches and strong wind alerts are in effect across parts of the South Island.
MetService warns conditions may deteriorate quickly in some areas, with flooding, slips and hazardous travel possible.
Heavy rain warning – orange: Kaikōura District and North Canterbury (north of Amberley)
A heavy rain warning remains in force from 8am to 9pm Monday for the Kaikōura District and Canterbury north of Amberley.
A further 70 to 110mm of rain is expected on top of what has already fallen. Peak rainfall rates of 10mm to 20mm per hour are possible, particularly around hills and ranges.
There is a low chance the warning will be upgraded to red.
Streams and rivers may rise rapidly, with surface flooding and slips possible. Driving conditions could become difficult, especially in hilly areas. Residents are advised to clear drains and gutters, avoid low-lying areas, and drive with caution.
Heavy rain warning – orange: Banks Peninsula
A second heavy rain warning is in place in Banks Peninsula from 8am Monday through to 6pm Tuesday.
Rainfall totals of 120mm to 180mm are expected in addition to recent rain.
Rainfall rates will generally stay below 10mm per hour but may reach 15mm per hour during Monday afternoon and evening.
The likelihood of an upgrade to a red warning remains low.
Rapid rises in streams and rivers are possible, along with surface flooding, slips, and deteriorating driving conditions. People in affected areas are urged to clear gutters and drains, avoid flood-prone areas, and take extra care on the roads.
Heavy rain watch: Canterbury Plains and Foothills
A heavy rain watch is in effect from 8am Monday to 10am Tuesday for the Canterbury Plains and foothills between the Rangitata River and Amberley.
Periods of heavy rain are forecast, with accumulations potentially approaching warning criteria.
There is a moderate chance this watch could be upgraded to a warning if rainfall intensifies.
Heavy rain watch: Dunedin (east of Pukerangi)
A heavy rain watch has been issued for Dunedin east of Pukerangi from 4am to 7pm Tuesday.
Periods of heavy rain are possible, and rainfall totals may approach warning thresholds.
There is a moderate chance the watch could be upgraded.
Strong wind warning – orange: Eastern Marlborough
A strong wind warning is in force from 8am to 6pm Monday for eastern Marlborough north of Clarence.
Severe south to southwesterly gales are forecast, with gusts reaching up to 120km/h in exposed areas.
The chance of escalation to a red warning is minimal.
Strong winds may cause damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures. Driving conditions could be hazardous, particularly for high-sided vehicles and motorcyclists. Residents are advised to secure loose items and take care if travelling.
Strong wind watch: Marlborough (away from the east coast)
A strong wind watch is in place from 8am to 3pm Monday for Marlborough away from the east coast.
South to southwest winds may approach severe gale strength in exposed areas, especially about and south of the Wairau Valley.
There is a moderate chance the watch may be upgraded to a warning.
Strong wind watch – Chatham Islands
A strong wind watch is in place for the Chatham Islands from 8am-6pm Monday.
Northeast winds may approach severe gale in exposed places.
There is a moderate chance of upgrading to a warning.
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A sign at the Z Petone truck stop has come crashing down.
A staff member said when she started work at 5am, the sign was already down. It was being fixed at about lunchtime today.
Whanganui District Council has opened support hubs
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Police and council workers checking on rough sleepers in the capital
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Wellington’s Downtown Community Ministry is a social service provider who told the Herald it is working alongside police and local councils to check in on people who have been rough-sleeping around the bays.
A spokeswoman said the ministry's outreach team’s main effort will be focused on reaching out to people sleeping in cars or tents around the Miramar Peninsula.
The social service provider has a drop-in centre that is operating as usual and is open to people who want to come by for food and hot drinks.
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Images show debris being cleared on SH1 near Ōhingaiti.
Wellington motorists urged to stay off roads
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Police are urging motorists across Wellington, particularly in Hutt Valley, to stay off the roads due to heavy rainfall.
"There is flooding across a number of areas.
"If you must travel, please slow down and be prepared for surface flooding or obstructions on the road," police said.
The advice extends to motorists across the greater Wellington region, but "particularly" to people in the Hutt Valley.
Anyone travelling should check the NZTA Journey Planner app for the latest information, they said.
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Photos show contractors clearing the SH1 near Ōhingaiti. Numerous large trees came down on the road last night. Clearing efforts are extensive along the highway south. Road blocks remain in place as more debris is cleared.
Stranger's kindness will help mum-of-six reunite with family
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Adelaide Levy is a mum-of-six who was stuck in Auckland because of the extreme weather and is desperate to get back to her kids in Wellington.
She told the Herald that her husband is taking care of their children, the youngest of whom is 11 months old, in a house that has no power.
“I’m exhausted and super emotional," she said.
After her flights to the capital kept getting cancelled, Levy caught a bus down to Hamilton and posted on Facebook asking for help to make it the rest of the way home.
A young woman who was taking a bus from Hamilton to Palmerston North with her friends reached out to Levy and booked her a ticket to join them.
The stranger bought her water and snacks for the trip and also offered to drive her to Wellington from Palmerston North, which she estimated would get her home by midnight tonight.
“In the middle of what had been a stressful and uncertain situation, her kindness completely restored my faith in people,” Levy said.
“It was an unexpected reminder that there are still genuinely good humans willing to help without hesitation.”
NZTA warns bridge to Martinborough may close
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With water levels rising in the Ruamahanga River, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi says people travelling in Wairarapa to Martinborough are warned the Waihenga Bridge on State Highway 53 may close today due to flooding.
For safety reasons, the bridge cannot be used by traffic when the river’s level exceeds 4.5m at the bridge.
While local road detours are available during a closure, they are much longer and require extra travel time. The bad weather has also closed local roads in the area, meaning not all usual routes are available.
Detour route:
- Clareville to Martinborough: use Francis Line, Gladstone Road, Longbush Road, Hinakura Road and Todds Road.
With official weather warnings still in place for the Lower North Island, drivers are urged to check road and weather conditions before they travel.
Seven schools closed in Horowhenua
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Horowhenua District Council says it is working closely with contractors, service providers and emergency management partners to manage the impacts from severe weather.
It is keeping an eye on roads, waste services, power supply, schools and public spaces, the council said.
It has not received any welfare calls but has received reports of property damage from fallen trees.
The council says it is continuing to monitor conditions and will provide updates as more information becomes available. "Thank you for checking in on neighbours, whānau and anyone who may need extra help."
Manawatū College and Coley Street School in Foxton were open for supervision only, while seven schools in the region were closed.
School bus services are unavailable today.
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Video shows flooding in Heather Grove, Waiwhetū, after Hutt City Council put out a notice advising residents to urgently self-evacuate.
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Power outage impacting water treatment plant in Whanganui
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High winds overnight have caused a power outage at the Fordell water treatment plant in Whanganui.
Without power the plant is unable to produce water, Whanganui District Council said. It is asking people to please conserve water where possible until power is restored and operations resume.
Powerco is working to restore power but there is no estimated time for restoration.
"We are working with Taumata Arowai [the water regulator] and also have a back-up plan for generators in case power isn't restored soon. We will also be able to move safe drinking water from the Westmere reservoir if needed, once road conditions improve," the council said.
If you need to report an emergency situation, call 111. If you need to report a weather-related issue, contact Whanganui District Council on the dedicated call centre numbers: 349 3162 or 349 3161.
'We've got to tackle climate change' – Chris Hipkins
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Labour leader Chris Hipkins said he's hoping to be able to make it back to Hutt Valley today, an area which has been impacted by the flooding.
"There's a lot of surface flooding in the Hutt Valley, a lot of trees down, a lot of disruption there," Hipkins said.
"My advice to local residents is follow the advice of the local council, who are indicating to people right now, stay home while the worst of the weather passes through, and I think that's good advice."
Hipkins also believes major weather events are going to become more frequent as a result of climate change.
"We're going to see more severe weather events," he said.
"They're not one-in-a-hundred-year events anymore. In some cases, they're weekly events at this time of year.
"We've got to tackle climate change. We've got to get real about it. We've got to do more to mitigate climate change and to build more resilience so that we can cope with more of these severe weather events."
Hipkins also teased Labour would be making some election announcements around climate change.
"You'll see a lot more on climate change from us this year. Climate change is a cost-of-living issue, it's a health issue, it's a housing issue," he said.
"Climate change connects directly to so many of the issues that New Zealanders are really concerned about."
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A large tree has come down on Cottleville Terrace, in the Wellington suburb of Thorndon. A local told the Herald they believe the tree landed on multiple cars.
Tōtara Reserve Regional Park in Manawatū closed until further notice
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A reserve in Pohangina is closed after floodwaters swamped parts of the park, including the campground.
Horizons Regional Council said Tōtara Reserve Regional Park in Manawatū is closed until further notice.
The Kahikatea Campground had been left inundated by the overnight deluge.
"Over the next few days, we hope staff will be able to head out to assess the damage, and then we will have some more information for you," the council posted.
Hutt City Council issues update, urges people to stay off the roads
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Severe gridlock is occurring across Lower Hutt.
Emergency services, Wellington Electricity crews and response teams cannot get through to affected areas, Hutt City Council said.
Every non-essential vehicle on the road is delaying help to people who need it, the council said, and "if you do not absolutely need to travel, please stay home".
Please do not drive to look at flooding, please do not drive to check conditions and please do not drive unless it is essential, the council said.
Congestion is:
• Delaying emergency services
• Delaying power restoration
• Delaying flood response
• Preventing crews from reaching vulnerable residents
The council said people are stopping fixes from happening. "If you are already on the road and it is safe to do so, please turn back."
"Please clear the roads so emergency and response teams can do their jobs."
Electrician speaks out over abuse towards tradespeople
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A local electrician is warning locals not to abuse tradies while they do their best to fix storm damage.
Andre Johnson from JMAC Electrical has experienced rudeness during weather events.
"Even when explaining due to health and safety reasons, there is still a lot of disgruntled people."
He said electricians may not be able to restore power today, but urges people not to get upset at something trade workers cannot control.
Porirua restaurant ceiling collapses
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A Porirua restaurant owner was shocked when he found the ceiling of his business completely collapsed this morning, with rain coming in to flood the inside.
"It's pretty devastating," Steve Askew, the owner of Topor Bistro and Bar in Plimmerton, said.
Wood on the outside of the building flew off last night and framing on the inside was exposed and soaked.
Thankfully, the kitchen was left covered, and builders and electricians have put up temporary repairs on the damage.
Tauranga City Council reopens Adams Avenue and The Mall to vehicles
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Tauranga City Council has opened Adams Avenue and The Mall to vehicles following geotechnical assessments on the stability of the landslides on Mauao.
Heavy rain forecast for the weekend resulted in the precautionary measure of closing the roads.
Physical inspection undertaken on site with geotechnical engineers, combined with a review of drone footage and remote cameras, found there was no movement of the main slip site and the surrounding slopes/boulder field, the council said today.
The area will remain closely watched by experts.
Orange rain warnings now in place for the Kaikoura District and Canterbury north
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Wet weather continues to batter the Wellington region with a further 50-70 mm of rain expected in the eastern hills of Wellington, Wairarapa and the Tararua Range and set to ease around 7pm tonight.
Heavy swells lurk on the capital's coastline, with some parts having risen to 7m overnight, falling to between 4.5-5.5m by this afternoon. A strong wind warning is also in place until 6pm.
While warnings have been completely lifted in Hawke’s Bay and Napier, the South Island isn’t in the clear as the rain heads down the country.
Orange rain warnings are now in place for the Kaikōura District and Canterbury north, with 70mm to 110mm of rain expected until 9pm.
Banks Peninsula is also in the warning zone with a 34-hour rain watch placed on the area, from Monday morning through to Tuesday 6pm.
A further 120mm to 180 mm of rain is forecast.
Video shows flooding in Lower Hutt
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SH2 reopens in the Hutt Valley, drivers should take extreme care
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State Highway 2 in the Hutt Valley has reopened to northbound traffic following its earlier closure this morning.
However, the route is still affected by slips and flooding and lane closures are in place. Drivers can expect ongoing delays travelling through the area and should take extreme care.
A photo shared by NZTA showed slips and flooding, SH2 northbound near Kennedy Good Bridge to Owen St.
'Long night': People self-evacuate campground after river burst its banks
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People staying at the Herbertville Inn and Herbertville Campground in the coastal Tararua village self-evacuated as the Wainui River flooded at the campground overnight.
The campground shared a post on social media that it had been a “long night”.
“Yes, the river did burst its banks and everyone got out safe.”
Campers evacuated to the town hall, but the campground reported its cabins appeared to be fine on Monday morning.
Herbertville Inn publican John Sedcole evacuated to the town hall alongside his staff, guests and neighbours.
Sedcole said the evacuation was a precaution because the Wainui River was about to “burst its banks in the campground so we shifted to the hall”.
He returned to the pub around 5.30am, just after high tide.
“The water level had dropped in the river and so had some of the surface water around the section,” he said.
“We’re without power but our generator we bought a short time ago is powering all our essential equipment.”
Waiwhetu residents urgently advised to self-evacuate
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Rapidly rising water levels in the Waiwhetu Stream, Lower Hutt have prompted an urgent notice from Hutt City Council for some residents to self evacuate.
Those living in Heather Grove and parts of Riverside Drive should get out now, the council said.
"Our teams are in the area and door knocking. However, do not wait for someone to knock on your door. If you can see water rising, feel unsafe, or are concerned – leave now and move to higher ground."
Emergency services are not doing assisted evacuations at this stage, they said.
The council advised residents to go to friends of whānau, take pets, medication and essential items, and leave early rather than leaving late.
For those unable to safely relocate, welfare support is available at Te Ngaengae Pool and Fitness, and the War Memorial Library.
"These facilities are open as safe spaces for shelter and basic support services. Additional locations may open if required."
The council also warned people not to drive or walk through floodwater, and to call 111 immediately if life or property was at risk.
"If you are not in the affected area, stay off the roads and avoid all non-essential travel."
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Ōtorohanga Primary School closed all week due to flood damage
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Current assessments indicate that the full school site is unlikely to be reoccupied for up to four weeks while remediation is completed.