Update History

The state of emergency for the entire Manawatū-Whanganui Region has been terminated from 5:00pm, Wednesday 18 February, as the response transitions to recovery.

A regional state of emergency was declared on Sunday, 15 February in response to the recent low pressure weather system.

Although the …

The state of emergency for the entire Manawatū-Whanganui Region has been terminated from 5:00pm, Wednesday 18 February, as the response transitions to recovery.

A regional state of emergency was declared on Sunday, 15 February in response to the recent low pressure weather system.

Although the state of emergency has ended, the work has not stopped. Together with our territorial authorities, transition plans have been written to help the region to recover from the effects of devastating this weather event.

Check our earlier updates for information about safety, storm recovery and where to find support.

Description of situation

• Approx. 1,200 properties are still without power and for some, they have not had power since Sunday.
• Overnight, 30 welfare packages were distributed to isolated communities in rural Whanganui.
• There are still numerous local road closures. Most are anticipated to be access…

Description of situation

• Approx. 1,200 properties are still without power and for some, they have not had power since Sunday.
• Overnight, 30 welfare packages were distributed to isolated communities in rural Whanganui.
• There are still numerous local road closures. Most are anticipated to be accessible by the end of the day, at least one way.  
• SH54 between Vinegar Hill and Cheltenham is now OPEN.
• SH4 between Whanganui and Raetihi is now OPEN.
• SH56 at ōpiki is still CLOSED.
• We ask the community to continue to check in on their neighbours particularly the elderly, vulnerable, and those who may not be technologically savvy.

What’s being done?

• The region’s emergency coordination centre remains staffed.
• District councils are providing support to their communities and have begun inspecting their assets such as roads.
• Key priority now is to complete transition planning for recovery to support communities post-event.
• Horizons Regional Council has begun inspecting river protection assets and asks those who have seen damage to river systems to contact rivermanagementinfo@horizons.govt.nz or freephone 0508 800 800.

Recovery instructions

• Recovery after a storm can be a long and stressful process. People should be kind to themselves and each other in the days and weeks to come. Don’t be afraid to talk to each other, ask for help, and reach out for support.
• Talk to your healthcare provider for support and advice with managing stress.
• You can text or phone 1737 anytime to speak to a trained counsellor for free. They can help if you
  • need support or advice
  • have feelings of anxiety, stress, prolonged fear, hopelessness or anger
  • just need to talk with someone.
• Te Whatu Ora Health NZ funds a number of free and easily accessible wellbeing supports available here. These include face-to-face primary mental health and addiction support via participating GPs clinics, Kaupapa Māori, Pacific and Youth specific services around the country. These services are free and available without a referral. https://www.wellbeingsupport.health.nz/, or you can call or text 1737 for free.
• There are several telehealth services available to help you, including the Depression Helpline, Youthline, The Lowdown, Healthline, the Alcohol and Drug Helpline. https://whakarongorau.nz/telehealth-services
• Rural Support Trusts provide advice and support for rural people. https://www.rural-support.org.nz/ or call 0800 787 254. 
• If you have an internet connection, self-care tips, information and support are available from allsorts.org.nz. 
  Farmstrong is a nationwide wellbeing programme for the rural community. www.farmstrong.co.nz 
• Resources and tools to support wellbeing are available on the All Right? Campaign website. www.allright.org.nz
• Self-care may seem trivial when you’re dealing with the effects of an emergency, but taking good care of your taha tinana (physical health) and taha hinengaro (mental health) is key when times are tough. Click here to view resources.
• As much as you can, do the little things that make you feel good, like exercising, reading, listening to music, or spending time with loved ones.
  • Limit how much time you spend on social media or checking the news.
  • Take time to rest when you need to.

Property clean-up safety instructions

• If your property has been affected, contact your insurer or insurance broker as soon as you can to lodge a claim.
•  Do not do any repair or recovery which that puts your safety at risk. People have died and suffered injuries while doing repair and recovery work.
• Always wear protective equipment, including gloves and masks.
• Damaged sewage and effluent systems are health hazards. Contact qualified plumbers and/or drainlayers to fix damaged systems as soon as possible.
• Take photos and/or video of damage.
• If you rent and the property is damaged, contact your landlord and your contents insurance company as soon as possible, and only undertake essential work yourself.
• Take extreme care if working on sodden ground, near waterways and hills, or with downed trees. The risk of landslides, erosion, and trees moving will remain for some time.

Other safety instructions

• Some roads are still flooded/blocked by trees and landslides. The risk of landslides still remains.
• Never, ever try to walk, play, swim or drive in flood water. This also applies to rivers and streams in high flow.
• Do not collect live seafood from the ocean after large storm events. There is an increased risk of contamination.
• Do not gather dead fish or shellfish which have washed up on beaches, no matter how fresh they may look, as they can contain harmful microorganisms that can make you sick.
• If you are without power, unplug major appliances to avoid power surge damage. Use torches instead of candles as they’re safer.
• If you rely on power for medical equipment and do not have power, call 111 or go to your nearest medical centre if it is safe to do so.
• If you have a power cut, eat food in your fridge first, then your freezer, then your cupboard or emergency kit. Minimise the number of times you open your fridge or freezer door.
• Use a radio (a car radio counts) to stay connected with key messaging if you lose power.
• Limit call durations and use TXT where you can. Avoid using data as it drains your battery.
• If you are in danger, call 111. 111 calls will be carried on other networks. If your phone says “No Service”, try anyway and give the phone time to connect.

Important information

• Keep updated with the weather via MetService.
• Check NZTA Journey Planner for state highway closures, and relevant district and city councils for local road closures.

Description of situation

• The regional state of emergency declaration remains in place.
• There are still about 4,600 properties without power across the region. Lines companies cannot give timeframes for when the power will be back on.
• River levels are continuing to drop across the region. With the M…

Description of situation

• The regional state of emergency declaration remains in place.
• There are still about 4,600 properties without power across the region. Lines companies cannot give timeframes for when the power will be back on.
• River levels are continuing to drop across the region. With the Moutoa floodgates now closed, those around the lower reaches of the Manawatu River may notice the river levels rise again in the main channel. This is done deliberately to ensure the flow of the river is fast enough to not let sediment settle in the channel.  
• Rangitikei residents may also notice heightened river levels in some areas – this is due to Horizons Regional Council dams discharging into rivers and streams, which is normal and expected. A video explaining how the dams work can be found here.
• SH4 between Whanganui and Raetihi is still CLOSED.
• SH54 is now OPEN but take extra care when using this route.
• There are still multiple local road closures due to fallen trees and other debris. Check with your local council pages for more information.  

What’s being done?

• The region’s emergency coordination centre remains staffed.
• District councils are providing support to their communities.
• Lines companies are working hard to reconnect everyone. 
• Recovery plans are being formulated to support communities post-event.

Recovery instructions

• Recovery after a storm can be a long and stressful process. People should be kind to themselves and each other in the days and weeks to come. Don’t be afraid to talk to each other, ask for help, and reach out for support.
• Talk to your healthcare provider for support and advice with managing stress.
• You can text or phone 1737 anytime to speak to a trained counsellor for free. They can help if you:
  • need support or advice
  • have feelings of anxiety, stress, prolonged fear, hopelessness or anger
  • just need to talk with someone.
• Te Whatu Ora Health NZ funds a number of free and easily accessible wellbeing supports. These include face-to-face primary mental health and addiction support via participating GPs clinics, Kaupapa Māori, Pacific and Youth specific services around the country. These services are free and available without a referral. https://www.wellbeingsupport.health.nz/
• There are several telehealth services available to help you, including the Depression Helpline, Youthline, The Lowdown, Healthline, the Alcohol and Drug Helpline. https://whakarongorau.nz/telehealth-services
• Rural Support Trusts provide advice and support for rural people. https://www.rural-support.org.nz/
• If you have an internet connection, self-care tips, information and support are available from allsorts.org.nz.
• Resources and tools to support wellbeing are available on the All Right? Campaign website. www.allright.org.nz
• Self-care may seem trivial when you’re dealing with the effects of an emergency, but taking good care of your taha tinana (physical health) and taha hinengaro (mental health) is key when times are tough. 
  • As much as you can, do the little things that make you feel good, like exercising, reading, listening to music, or spending time with loved ones.
  • Limit how much time you spend on social media or checking the news.
  • Take time to rest when you need to.

Property clean-up safety instructions

• If your property has been affected, contact your insurer or insurance broker as soon as you can to lodge a claim.
• Do not do any repair or recovery which that puts your safety at risk. People have died and suffered injuries while doing repair and recovery work.
• Always wear protective equipment, including gloves and masks.
• Damaged sewage and effluent systems are health hazards. Contact qualified plumbers and/or drainlayers to fix damaged systems as soon as possible.
• Take photos and/or video of damage.
• If you rent and the property is damaged, contact your landlord and your contents insurance company as soon as possible, and only undertake essential work yourself.
• Take extreme care if working on sodden ground, near waterways and hills, or with downed trees. The risk of landslides, erosion, and trees moving will remain for some time.

Other safety instructions

• Continue to avoid non-essential travel. Some roads are still flooded/blocked by trees and landslides. The risk of landslides still remains.
• If you do have to travel, take care. The speed limit is not a target, and you may still encounter issues while out and about. Take your time.
• Never, ever try to walk, play, swim or drive in flood water. This also applies to rivers and streams in high flow.
• Do not collect live seafood form the ocean after large storm events. There is an increased risk of contamination.
• Do not gather dead fish or shellfish which have washed up on beaches, no matter how fresh they may look, as they can contain harmful microorganisms that can make you sick.
• If you are without power, unplug major appliances to avoid power surge damage. Use torches instead of candles as they’re safer.
• If you rely on power for medical equipment and do not have power, call 111 or go to your nearest medical centre if it is safe to do so.
• If you have a power cut, eat food in your fridge first, then your freezer, then your cupboard or emergency kit. Minimise the number of times you open your fridge or freezer door.
• Use a radio (a car radio counts) to stay connected with key messaging if you lose power.
• Limit call durations and use TXT where you can. Avoid using data as it drains your battery.
• If you are in danger, call 111. 111 calls will be carried on other networks. If your phone says “No Service”, try anyway and give the phone time to connect.

Important information

• Keep updated with the weather via MetService.
• Check NZTA Journey Planner for state highway closures, and relevant district and city councils for local road closures.

Description of situation

• The regional state of emergency declaration remains in place.
• The region has no active weather watches or warnings, with MetService forecasting improved weather for the rest of the week.
• There are about 8000 properties without power across the region, with lines companies o…

Description of situation

• The regional state of emergency declaration remains in place.
• The region has no active weather watches or warnings, with MetService forecasting improved weather for the rest of the week.
• There are about 8000 properties without power across the region, with lines companies out working hard to restore power. Lines companies cannot give timeframes for when the power will be back on.
• Horizons Regional Council operated the Moutoa floodgates at 1am this morning, and closed them just before noon.
• Waterways across the region are dropping. Visit Horizons Regional Council’s Envirodata website for up-to-date river heights and rainfall information.
• Waterways in the Rangitīkei District will stay higher for longer, as Horizons Regional Council detention dams in the district release water. This is to be expected after heavy rainfall. A video explaining how the dams work can be found here.
• There are numerous road closures due to fallen trees and other debris. Contractors are out restoring access to state highways and local roads.

What’s being done?

• The region’s emergency coordination centre remains staffed.
• District councils are providing support to their communities.
• Recovery plans are being formulated to support communities post-event.
• Horizons Regional Council has begun inspecting river protection assets.
• Horizons has issued advice to dairy farmers who cannot get milk out due to power issues or blocked roads. This can be found in the News section of their website www.horizons.govt.nz.

Recovery instructions

• Recovery after a storm can be a long and stressful process. People should be kind to themselves and each other in the days and weeks to come. Don’t be afraid to talk to each other, ask for help, and reach out for support.
• Talk to your healthcare provider for support and advice with managing stress.
• You can text or phone 1737 anytime to speak to a trained counsellor for free. They can help if you:
  • need support or advice
  • have feelings of anxiety, stress, prolonged fear, hopelessness or anger
  • just need to talk with someone.
• Te Whatu Ora Health NZ funds a number of free and easily accessible wellbeing supports. These include face-to-face primary mental health and addiction support via participating GPs clinics, Kaupapa Māori, Pacific and Youth specific services around the country. These services are free and available without a referral. https://www.wellbeingsupport.health.nz/
• There are several telehealth services available to help you, including the Depression Helpline, Youthline, The Lowdown, Healthline, the Alcohol and Drug Helpline. https://whakarongorau.nz/telehealth-services
• Rural Support Trusts provide advice and support for rural people. https://www.rural-support.org.nz/
• If you have an internet connection, self-care tips, information and support are available from allsorts.org.nz.
• Resources and tools to support wellbeing are available on the All Right? Campaign website. www.allright.org.nz
• Self-care may seem trivial when you’re dealing with the effects of an emergency, but taking good care of your taha tinana (physical health) and taha hinengaro (mental health) is key when times are tough. 
  • As much as you can, do the little things that make you feel good, like exercising, reading, listening to music, or spending time with loved ones.
  • Limit how much time you spend on social media or checking the news.
  • Take time to rest when you need to.

Property clean-up safety instructions

• If your property has been affected, contact your insurer or insurance broker as soon as you can to lodge a claim.
• Do not do any repair or recovery which that puts your safety at risk. People have died and suffered injuries while doing repair and recovery work.
• Always wear protective equipment, including gloves and masks.
• Damaged sewage and effluent systems are health hazards. Contact qualified plumbers and/or drainlayers to fix damaged systems as soon as possible.
• Take photos and/or video of damage.
• If you rent and the property is damaged, contact your landlord and your contents insurance company as soon as possible, and only undertake essential work yourself.
• Take extreme care if working on sodden ground, near waterways and hills, or with downed trees. The risk of landslides, erosion, and trees moving will remain for some time.

Other safety instructions

• Continue to avoid non-essential travel. Some roads are still flooded/blocked by trees and landslides. The risk of landslides still remains.
• If you do have to travel, take care. The speed limit is not a target, and you may still encounter issues while out and about. Take your time.
• Never, ever try to walk, play, swim or drive in flood water. This also applies to rivers and streams in high flow.
• Do not collect live seafood form the ocean after large storm events. There is an increased risk of contamination.
• Do not gather dead fish or shellfish which have washed up on beaches, no matter how fresh they may look, as they can contain harmful microorganisms that can make you sick.
• If you are without power, unplug major appliances to avoid power surge damage. Use torches instead of candles as they’re safer.
• If you rely on power for medical equipment and do not have power, call 111 or go to your nearest medical centre if it is safe to do so.
• If you have a power cut, eat food in your fridge first, then your freezer, then your cupboard or emergency kit. Minimise the number of times you open your fridge or freezer door.
• Use a radio (a car radio counts) to stay connected with key messaging if you lose power.
• Limit call durations and use TXT where you can. Avoid using data as it drains your battery.
• If you are in danger, call 111. 111 calls will be carried on other networks. If your phone says “No Service”, try anyway and give the phone time to connect.

Important information

• Keep updated with the weather via MetService.
• Check NZTA Journey Planner for state highway closures, and relevant district and city councils for local road closures.

Horizons Regional Council has the following information to provide dairy farms in the region impacted by the February severe weather event.

If you are unable to have milk collected, please manage it in accordance with your farm dairy effluent resource consent conditions where possible. This may incl…

Horizons Regional Council has the following information to provide dairy farms in the region impacted by the February severe weather event.

If you are unable to have milk collected, please manage it in accordance with your farm dairy effluent resource consent conditions where possible. This may include discharging the milk to your effluent storage facilities or applying it to your driest paddocks to minimise the potential for ponding.
 
We understand that these situations can be challenging and appreciate your efforts to manage them responsibly. If you are unable to discharge milk to your effluent system, please contact Horizons’ Consents Monitoring Team on 0508 800 800 and ask for the Pollution Hotline. Our team will provide advice on suitable alternative management options.
 
Please note this guidance is intended to address the immediate issues relating to milk collection disruptions caused by flooding and road closures as a direct result of the February 2026 severe weather event in the Manawatū-Whanganui Region. It applies only to farms directly affected by this event.

A number of state highways remain closed across the region following the severe weather event.

As of 5.45am today (Tuesday 17 February)

• SH54 is currently CLOSED between Vinegar Hill and Cheltenham
• SH56 at Ōpiki is currently CLOSED
• SH4 is currently CLOSED between Whanganui and Raetihi

State Highwa…

A number of state highways remain closed across the region following the severe weather event.

As of 5.45am today (Tuesday 17 February)

• SH54 is currently CLOSED between Vinegar Hill and Cheltenham
• SH56 at Ōpiki is currently CLOSED
• SH4 is currently CLOSED between Whanganui and Raetihi

State Highway 1 is OPEN between Hunterville and Weka Street in Taihape. This stretch of road remains under stop/go traffic management in multiple locations, so care is needed.

If you do need to drive today, please continue to do so with care, while many roads are open, be aware of the potential for debris or slips. Take care out there and drive to the conditions.

Crews are continuing to inspect slips and fallen trees on the roads. 

Make sure to check NZ Transport Agency's Journey Planner or Facebook for the latest state highway conditions. 

MetService has updated its weather watches and warnings. 

There are only two weather watch or warnings for the region.

Strong wind warning - Coastal Tararua District
From now until 11pm Monday 16 February. Southwest winds may approach severe gale in exposed places. Damage to trees, powerlines, a…

MetService has updated its weather watches and warnings. 

There are only two weather watch or warnings for the region.

Strong wind warning - Coastal Tararua District
From now until 11pm Monday 16 February. Southwest winds may approach severe gale in exposed places. Damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures possible. Driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.

Heavy rain warning - Tararua Range south of Eketahuna

Water still moving through river catchments. Continue to exercise caution.

Roads are still closed and power out in many parts of the region. Avoid non-essential travel and follow all advice regarding roading and power usage.

• The 37 people who were evacuated from properties at Herbertville on the East Coast and at Saddle Road/River Road in Ashhurst have returned home.
• There are up to 14,000 properties without power, with major outages throughout Manawatū and Whanganui. While power is being steadily restored, the …

• The 37 people who were evacuated from properties at Herbertville on the East Coast and at Saddle Road/River Road in Ashhurst have returned home.
• There are up to 14,000 properties without power, with major outages throughout Manawatū and Whanganui. While power is being steadily restored, the weather may cause more issues throughout today. Full details are available via lines company websites.
• Power may be out in some areas for some time as lines companies work through restoring connectivity. People should plan accordingly.
• Power outages are likely to affect cellphone towers across the region.
• Power outages have also affected water treatment plants, with people asked to conserve water at Fordell, Taihape, Mangaweka, Hunterville and Rātana.
• Heavy rain warnings are still in place across the region until 3pm on Monday 16 February. MetService will update their watches and warnings later today.
• Most waterways across the region appear to have peaked, although the Ōroua and Pohangina rivers are still rising. Visit Horizons Regional Council’s Envirodata website for current details of river heights.
• There are numerous road closures due to fallen trees and other debris. As of 12:00PM, the following major roads are closed:
• SH 3 Marton, between Makirikiri Road and Pukepapa Road
• SH 56 Ōpiki, Between Rangiotu Road and Tane Road
• SH 57 Tokomaru, at Tawa Street intersection.
• SH 54 Cheltenham to SH1 intersection
• SH 1 Hunterville to Taihape
• SH4 Whanganui to Raetihi
• Napier-Taihape Road Ngamahanga to Hastings
• We know of 35 schools closed, mainly in Manawatū, Rangitīkei and Tararua. Districts. People should contact their schools for more information.
• The actual rainfall in the Makino and Kiwitea rivers was not has high as expected, and the Makino floodgates are no longer operational.
• The volume of rain in the Manawatū River and its tributaries may not be high enough to require a Moutoa floodgates operation, but we are monitoring and will make a decision later today.
  

What’s being done?

• The region’s emergency coordination centre continues to operate throughout today.
• Roading crews and lines companies are continuing to get out and do work to restore utilities.
• A meeting of members of the region’s Welfare Coordination Group, which includes members of the Rural Coordination Group, has taken place, to ensure communities’ issues are highlighted and addressed.
• Some councils have stood up community support hubs. Talk to your local city/district council for more information.
  
  

Public safety/health instructions

Travel

• Avoid any non-essential travel. Many roads are closed, and staying off the road enables roading crews to get where they need to go easier.
• If you do have to travel, take care. The speed limit is not a target, and there may be road blockages we do not yet know about. Take your time.
• River levels are still rising in some areas – if you feel unsafe, self-evacuate. You cannot evacuate too early, but you can leave it too late.
• Never, ever try to walk, play, swim or drive in flood water.

Power

• If you lose power, unplug major appliances to avoid power surge damage, use torches instead of candles as they’re safer.
• If you rely on power for medical equipment and lose power, call 111 or go to your nearest medical centre if it is safe to do so.
• If you have a power cut, eat food in your fridge first, then your freezer, then your cupboard or emergency kit. Minimise the number of times you open your fridge or freezer door.
• Use a radio (a car radio counts) to stay connected with key messaging if you lose power.
• Limit call durations and use TXT where you can. Avoid using data as it drains your battery.
• If you are in danger, call 111. 111 calls will be carried on other networks. If your phone says “No Service”, try anyway and give the phone time to connect.

Water

• If you are aware of water issues in your area, please conserve water. Use water for essential use (e.g. drinking and hygiene).

Other

• If you spot barriers in rivers (e.g. large volumes of logs), please contact Horizons Regional Council’s river management team on 0508 800 800.

MetService has lifted the red weather warning which previously applied to parts of Manawatū, Rangitīkei and Ruapehu. We have adjusted our Emergency Mobile Alert accordingly.

The following warnings are now in place.

Heavy rain warning - 9am until 3pm Monday 16 February

MetService has lifted the red weather warning which previously applied to parts of Manawatū, Rangitīkei and Ruapehu. We have adjusted our Emergency Mobile Alert accordingly.

The following warnings are now in place.

Heavy rain warning - 9am until 3pm Monday 16 February

• A total of 37 people have been evacuated from properties at Herbertville on the East Coast and at Saddle Road/River Road in Ashhurst due to rising rivers.
• More than 17,000 homes across the region are without power. Full details are available via lines company websites.
• Heavy rain warnings are still…

• A total of 37 people have been evacuated from properties at Herbertville on the East Coast and at Saddle Road/River Road in Ashhurst due to rising rivers.
• More than 17,000 homes across the region are without power. Full details are available via lines company websites.
• Heavy rain warnings are still in place across the region until 3pm on Monday 16 February. MetService will update their watches and warnings later this morning.
• Most waterways across the region appear to have peaked, although the Ōroua River is still rising. Visit Horizons Regional Council’s Envirodata website.
• There are numerous road closures due to fallen trees and other debris. As of 7.15am, the following major roads have these statuses:
• SH1 Hunterville to Taihape is CLOSED
• SH1 at just north of Foxton is CLOSED
• SH3 is CLOSED SH4 to Whangaehu
• SH54 from SH1 to Cheltenham, is CLOSED
• SH3 Turakina is now OPEN
• SH3 Awahuri is now OPEN
• SH56 is very likely (will) to close (fairly normal in this rain)
• Napier-Taihape Road is CLOSED
• SH3 Pūtiki to Whangaehu is CLOSED
• Flooding will become apparent as daylight dawns, and as the water moves down into the catchment areas from the ranges. 
• We know of 35 schools closed, mainly in Manawatū, Rangitīkei and Tararua. Districts. People should contact their schools for more information.
• The actual rainfall in the Makino and Kiwitea rivers was not has high as expected, and the Makino floodgates are no longer operational.
• The volume of rain in the Manawatū River and its tributaries may not be high enough to require a Moutoa floodgates operation. We are monitoring the situation closely.

As we get more light, roading crews and lines companies will be able to better assess the situation. We're waiting on impact assessments from city/district councils. We expect more reports of damage to come in during the morning and will provide updates as and when we have them.

Public safety/health instructions

• Avoid any non-essential travel. Roads will begin to flood and be blocked by trees, and this will be difficult to spot in the dark.
• If you do have to travel, take care. The speed limit is not a target, and there may be road blockages we do not yet know about. Take your time.
• If in doubt, get out – this applies to people and stock. You are best to pre-emptively evacuate areas, rather than waiting for conditions to worsen overnight.

Description of situation

• Residents of the Herbertville campground and pub self-evacuated due to the rising Wainui river levels. 15 evacuees have moved to the community hall
• Residents along River Road and Saddle Road, Ashhurst are also being evacuated as a precaution due to the rising levels of th…

Description of situation

• Residents of the Herbertville campground and pub self-evacuated due to the rising Wainui river levels. 15 evacuees have moved to the community hall
• Residents along River Road and Saddle Road, Ashhurst are also being evacuated as a precaution due to the rising levels of the Pohangina river.
• Over 14,000 homes across the region are without power. Full details are available via lines company websites.
• Heavy rain warnings are still in place across the region until 3pm on Monday 16 February.
• There are numerous road closures due to fallen trees and other debris which is currently too dangerous to clear.

What’s being done?

• The region’s emergency coordination centre is being staffed throughout the night.
• Lines companies are assessing the situation and working to restore power where safe to do so.

Public safety/health instructions

• Conditions are expected to worsen in the short term. Now is the time to shelter in place if it is safe to do so.
• Avoid any non-essential travel. Roads will begin to flood and be blocked by trees, and this will be difficult to spot in the dark.
• If in doubt, get out – this applies to people and stock. You are best to pre-emptively evacuate areas, rather than waiting for conditions to worsen overnight.
• Never, ever try to walk, play, swim or drive in flood water.
• If you lose power, unplug major appliances to avoid power surge damage, use torches instead of candles as they’re safer.
• If you rely on power for medical equipment and lose power, call 111 or go to your nearest medical centre if it is safe to do so.
• If you have a power cut, eat food in your fridge first, then your freezer, then your cupboard or emergency kit. Minimise the number of times you open your fridge or freezer door.
• Use a radio (a car radio counts) to stay connected with key messaging if you lose power.
• Limit call durations and use TXT where you can. Avoid using data as it drains your battery.
• If you are in danger, call 111. 111 calls will be carried on other networks. If your phone says “No Service”, try anyway and give the phone time to connect.

Important information

• Keep updated with the weather via MetService.
• Check NZTA Journey Planner for state highway closures, and relevant district and city councils for local road closures.

Description of situation

• Much of the region is under a heavy rain or wind warning. See our last update for full weather.
• There have been multiple vehicle accidents in areas. This includes a crash on State Highway 1 near Marton, and reports of trees down.
• Multiple schools across the region have an…

Description of situation

• Much of the region is under a heavy rain or wind warning. See our last update for full weather.
• There have been multiple vehicle accidents in areas. This includes a crash on State Highway 1 near Marton, and reports of trees down.
• Multiple schools across the region have announced they are closing. We expect more to announce closures in the morning.
• The closure of the Makino floodgates has resulted in road closures on Reid Line West and Brewsters Road near Fielding. This is normal.
• Power is out to more than 6000 properties across the region. This includes 849 properties at Marton, 745 properties at Himatangi, 485 at Halcombe, 242 at Kakatahi, 202 properties affected in Glen Oroua, 297 properties at Mangaweka, 92 in Kimbolton, 113 at Foxton. Full details are available via lines company websites.

What’s being done?

• Horizons Regional Council has operated the Makino floodgates to divert floodwaters away from Feilding. You can find a video on YouTube here explaining how the floodgates work.
• The region’s emergency coordination centre will be staffed throughout the night.
• Lines companies are assessing the situation and working to restore power where safe to do so.

Public safety/health instructions

• Conditions are expected to worsen. Now is the time to shelter in place if it is safe to do so.
• Avoid any non-essential travel. Roads will begin to flood and be blocked by trees, and this will be difficult to spot in the dark.
• If in doubt, get out – this applies to people and stock. You are best to pre-emptively evacuate areas, rather than waiting for conditions to worsen overnight.
• Never, ever try to walk, play, swim or drive in flood water.
• If you lose power, unplug major appliances to avoid power surge damage, use torches instead of candles as they’re safer.
• If you rely on power for medical equipment and lose power, call 111 or go to your nearest medical centre if it is safe to do so.
• If you have a power cut, eat food in your fridge first, then your freezer, then your cupboard or emergency kit. Minimise the number of times you open your fridge or freezer door.
• Use a radio (a car radio counts) to stay connected with key messaging if you lose power.
• Limit call durations and use TXT where you can. Avoid using data as it drains your battery.
• If you are in danger, call 111. 111 calls will be carried on other networks. If your phone says “No Service”, try anyway and give the phone time to connect.

MetService has updated their weather warnings:

Heavy Rain Warning – Red


Area: Manawatū, Rangitīkei and Ruapehu Districts north of Feilding and east of State Highway 1
Period: 19 hours from 8:00pm Sun 15 Feb to 3:00pm Mon 16 Feb
Forecast: Expect 140 to 180 mm of rain. Peak rates of 10 to …

MetService has updated their weather warnings:

Heavy Rain Warning – Red

Area: Manawatū, Rangitīkei and Ruapehu Districts north of Feilding and east of State Highway 1
Period: 19 hours from 8:00pm Sun 15 Feb to 3:00pm Mon 16 Feb
Forecast: Expect 140 to 180 mm of rain. Peak rates of 10 to 20 mm/h Sunday night and Monday morning.
Impact: Threat to life from dangerous river conditions, significant flooding and slips. Conditions will disrupt travel, make some roads impassable, and isolate communities.
Action: Do not enter floodwaters and avoid travel. Act quickly to self-evacuate if you see rising water. Be ready for power and communications outages.

Heavy Rain Warning - Orange

Area: Northern Rangitīkei, inland Whanganui and Manawatū north of Bulls and west of State Highway 1
Period: 19 hours from 8:00pm Sun 15 Feb to 3:00pm Mon 16 Feb
Forecast: Expect 120 to 170 mm of rain. Peak rates of 10 to 20 mm/h Sunday night and Monday morning.
Moderate 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.

Strong Wind Warning - Orange

Area:  Tararua District
Period: 11 hours from 8:00pm Sun 15 Feb to 7:00am Mon 16 Feb
Forecast: Severe gale southwesterlies with damaging gusts of 130 km/h, or possibly more, in exposed places.
High chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Impact: Damage to trees, powerlines, and roofs likely, with disruption to transport and power supply. Dangerous driving conditions expected, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.
Action: Secure items that can be picked up by strong winds. Take shelter and avoid unnecessary travel. Be prepared for power outages.

What’s being done?

• We have held meetings with various parties, including NEMA, city/district councils and Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell, throughout the afternoon and evening.
• The region’s emergency coordination centre will be staffed throughout the night.
• Horizons Regional Council has operated the Makino floodgates to divert floodwaters away from Feilding. You can find a video on YouTube here explaining how the floodgates work.
• Horizons is estimating the Moutoa floodgates will not be operated until closer to noon on Monday. You can find a video on YouTube here explaining how those floodgates work.
• The Saddle Rd between Ashhurst and Woodville is to be closed overnight for safety reasons. This is an alternative route to State Highway 3 (Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway), and State Highway 3 is open.
• We will continue posting updates via media releases, our Facebook page, and our website. We have shifted our website into response mode to make it as easy as possible for people to get the latest updates.

A pre-emptive state of emergency has been declared for the entire Horizons Region as of 6.37pm on Sunday 15 Feburary for an initial period of seven days, as part of the response to the current weather event.

The emergency declaration was requested by group controller Michael McCartney and signed by …

A pre-emptive state of emergency has been declared for the entire Horizons Region as of 6.37pm on Sunday 15 Feburary for an initial period of seven days, as part of the response to the current weather event.

The emergency declaration was requested by group controller Michael McCartney and signed by MWCDEM Group chair Nikki Riley after consultation with the region’s mayors. Tararua, Rangitīkei and Manawatū district councils had declared a pre-emptive states of emergency earlier in the day.

The declaration comes in the wake of MetService issuing a red heavy rain warning for parts of Ruapehu, Rangitīkei and Manawatū. This rain is forecast to mainly fall in the ranges before flowing through rivers towards the coast. 

Mr McCartney says the declaration gives access to emergency powers and grants authority to protect life and property in extraordinary events. 

“Some of the most commonly used emergency powers include evacuating premises and places, entering premises, closing roads and public places, removing aircraft, vessels, vehicles etc and requisitioning property, equipment, material or supplies. Of these, enabling evacuations is often the key reason for an emergency declaration.

“We don’t know for certain that we will need to make use of these emergency powers, but given the potential for the main impact of this event to happen overnight, we’ve made the declaration it now as a precautionary step so we have those powers available if they’re needed.”

Although this weather event has begun with only moderate rainfall for most parts of the region and no further significant issues yet, we – along with all of the region's emergency services and partner agencies - continue to urge people to take it seriously, says Mr McCartney.