15/02/2026
‼️𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘂𝗮 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁‼️
A State of Emergency has been declared by Mayor Scott Gilmore for the whole Tararua District pre-emptive of the severe weather expected this evening and overnight, based on forecasts from MetService.
This declaration enables us to act quickly and coordinate resources if conditions worsen. People are strongly urged to take this seriously and prepare now, while there is still daylight.
Council has activated its response team and is monitoring the situation closely.
Key risks include:
❗️ Slips and debris on roads
❗️ Widespread landslides in both rural and urban areas
❗️ Surface flooding
❗️ Rising rivers
❗️ Hazardous driving conditions
❗️ Heavy swells on our coastlines
❗️ Power outages
Please avoid travel if possible. Slips and surface flooding may impact travel. Do not enter flood waters.
Home advice:
👉 Move any items from areas of your property that are prone to flooding.
👉 Clear gutters and drains to help prevent surface flooding.
👉 Bring inside anything that can be broken or picked up by strong winds, or tie them down.
👉 Bring pets inside where possible.
Farm advice:
👉 If you have livestock, know which paddocks are safe to move them away from floodwaters, landslides, isolated trees, and power lines.
👉 Stay away from parts of your farms that are at risk of landslides.
👉 If there has been a landslide, stay well away as there is the risk of further landslides occurring.
Boating advice:
There are significant swells forecast for both coasts, with the east coast expected to see combined waves of up to 8 metres.
👉 Stay out of the water, away from beaches, and be prepared to move to higher ground.
👉 Boats should be moored securely or moved to a safe location. Use rope or chain to secure boat trailers.
Make sure your devices are charged and you have a battery-powered radio to listen to news updates.
Look out for each other. Take the time to check in on friends, whānau and neighbours. It’s easier to get through emergencies when we work together
Contact us on 06 374 4080 or 06 376 0110 for any issues or information.
Call 111 for any emergencies.
