13/04/2026
With heavy rain occurring across Tairāwhiti, there is an increased risk of nasty germs and chemicals in our rivers, lakes, and beaches as well as areas that have flooded. To help keep you and your whānau safe:
⚠️ Avoid contact with Gisborne’s 3 rivers and Waikanae Beach for the next 5 days and avoid swimming, fishing or gathering kaimoana in rivers, streams and beaches for at least 48 hours after heavy rain has stopped. This is because there’s an increased risk of contamination from stormwater and sewage. Follow Gisborne District Council for more info.
⚠️ Wash and dry your hands thoroughly after any contact with floodwater, flood contaminated items or mouldy things.
⚠️ Try to keep tamariki and animals away from previously flooded areas or anything flood water might have touched in your whare until it’s either been cleaned or removed.
If you have flooding at your home, business or community space:
✅ Before you start cleaning up, put on protective clothing. Wear a mask, rubber gloves, sturdy shoes, and clothing to cover your skin. Cover up any cuts if you have them.
✅ Clean up, drain, and dry the inside as quickly as possible. If the weather is fine, take everything that is wet and put it outside to dry. Throw away contaminated belongings that can’t be cleaned.
✅ Throw away all food and drinking water that has been touched by floodwater, including food and water stored in plastic containers
✅ Do not eat kai from your garden if it has been flooded. Clean up and remove the debris from your garden. If you have it, sprinkle your garden with garden lime.
Check out the link in the comments for more information on keeping your whānau safe after a flood 👇
