17/01/2026
‼️Kia mataara e te whānau - from Civil Defence:
⚠️ Heavy Rain Watch ⚠️
Period: 24hours from 6.00pm Monday, 19 January - 6.00pm Tuesday, 20 January 2026
Area: Northland
🌧️ Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, with thunderstorms and localised downpours possible. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria, or possibly exceed them in localised areas, especially in the east.
Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.
🔗 Metservice Weather Warnings: https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home -north
🔗 Metservice Rain Radar: https://www.metservice.com/maps-radar/rain/radar/Northland?range=300&tab=real-time
⚠️ Severe Coastal Weather Update ⚠️
Latest Update: 6:00pm - Sunday 18 January 2026
Thanks to the efforts of our Emergency services, council workers and the volunteer community response groups, nearly all previous affected areas of Whangaruru are now accessible by road, and affected campers and holidaymakers have either left the area or made themselves safe after heavy downpour in central-east coastal areas of Northland.
Civil Defence Northland are now preparing for more heavy rain forecast for later in this week. So please remember to be prepared and have resources at hand in case of another event occurring.
⛔ Caution is still advised for travel into the area as services are still working on clearing roads and removing debris.
Many thanks to the emergency services, workers and volunteers and the community for all their efforts today.
🔗 https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home
🔗 https://northpower.nz/outages/
⚠️Severe Storm Update ⚠️
Sunday 18 January 2026 – 9.00am
🌧️The east coast has taken a hit from the edge of the current cell moving through.
There has been extensive flooding affecting the east coast Punaruku Oakura and Ngunguru.
The roads to Punaruku, Oakura and Ngunguru have been closed due to surface flooding and land slips.
🏠If you need to move to evacuate to safer ground, Tuparehuia Marae, Ngaiotongo Marae, Otetao Marae and Mokau Marae have opened up for whānau to evacuate to. Camp grounds are also open, but are supporting tourist and local whānau in the immediate area
⚠️ PLEASE DO NOT Travel into or out of the Punaruku to Ngunguru Areas roads have been affected and we need access for our emergency services and roading teams to operate in those areas
🔴Below is the list of the known road issues from the roading team so far for this morning after this mornings weather event. Will keep you updated if (when) this list grows.
• 1517 Rawhiti Road Bridge on the turnoff to Whangaruru has been swept away
• Vinegar Hill Rd – Tree Down blocking both lanes
• Russell Road just north of Helena Bay Gallery - Significant slip with multiple trees -
• Ohawini Rd (Oakura Township) – Slip blocking both lanes
Once the Russell Rd slip is passable
• Whangaruru North Rd (RP 1000, Puriri Bay) – Multiple Slips blocking both lanes
• Whangaruru Wharf Rd – Multiple Slips blocking both lanes
• Russell Rd (RP 28210) – Minor slip blocking lane - passable.
• Old Russell Rd – Flooding
🔴Whānau please be aware:
• Take shelter, preferably indoors away from windows;
• Avoid sheltering under trees, if outside;
• Get back to land, if outdoors on the water;
• Move cars under cover or away from trees;
• Secure any loose objects around your property;
• Check that drains and gutters are clear;
• Be ready to slow down or stop, if driving.
• During and after the storm, you should also:
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines;
• Avoid streams and drains as you may be swept away in flash flooding.
Please ring 111 if in need of urgent support from emergency services.
Updates also available on Whangarei District Council site here: https://www.wdc.govt.nz/Community/Civil-Defence/Latest-updates
Photo via Whangārei District Council: The Ngaiotonga Bridge has been washed out on Rawhiti Road, just south of Whangaruru Nth Road. While this is in Far North District, it shows the kinds of impacts and impassable hazards to be aware of if you are traveling today.
