State of Emergency declared in Tararua
Update 7 - Severe Weather, 18 February, 4.40pm
Following Council’s return to business-as-usual yesterday, the region has now announced it will lift the State of Emergency and transition to recovery.
For more details, please see: State of emergency for Manawatū-Whanganui Region Terminated | Manawatū-Whanganui Emergency Management--------
Update 6 - Severe Weather, 17 February, 4.40pm
We’re starting to see more blue patches in the sky, and it’s beginning to feel a bit more like the summer weather we’d all like to see. These improving conditions are giving recovery crews a valuable window to restore power, roads, and other essential services following the storm.
Here’s an afternoon update with some key information
Roads: Recovery work has continued steadily throughout the day. With the exception of one road, all roads affected by the storm have now reopened. For the latest updates and any changes, please check the road status page on our website.
Power: Electricity companies have made good progress, with fewer than 30 customers still without power at the time of writing. Restoration work is ongoing.
Mobile coverage: All cell phone towers are fully operational.
Coastal conditions: Surf conditions along the coast have reduced substantially. However, care and common sense are still advised, particularly around coastal and river areas.
State of Emergency: Regional Emergency Management will continue to review the State of Emergency over the coming days, as part of the standard post-event process.
Parks: Harvard Park in Pahiatua remains closed due to storm-related impacts. We’ll let the community know as soon as it’s safe to reopen.
Thank you for your continued patience and cooperation. Please continue to stay informed through official channels.
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Update 5 - Severe Weather, 17 February, 9.40am
Rivers continue to reduce following Sunday/Monday’s weather event and the weather has settled. All weather warnings have been lifted for the Tararua District.
The Emergency Management Operations Centre has now been stood down as the district moves to recovery and return to business-as-usual. Council services have returned to normal.
Power supplies and roads restoration works will continue throughout today and likely into Wednesday for affected power outage locations.
The Ākitio Cell phone tower is currently operating by generator while the Herbertville cell phone tower came back online overnight.
This was a serious widely felt event across parts of New Zealand and the people of Tararua responded brilliantly to the early declaration of a state of local emergency on Sunday. This keeps us all safe.
The local emergency status is likely to be reviewed over the coming days, but we are also under a broader regional state of emergency. While the state of emergency remains in place any updates will be shared on council’s channels as they become available:
https://www.tararuadc.govt.nz/news/2026/february/state-of-emergency-declared-in-tararua
Check out our Tararua road status reports for progress on recovery on :
https://www.tararuadc.govt.nz/services/roading/current-road-status
For NZTA State Highway updates go to, https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/manawatu-whanganui/closures/539556
Our teams will continue to monitor the situation and council’s communication channels (such as Facebook, Antenno and phone lines). www.tararuadc.govt.nz
Contact us on 06 374 4080 or 06 376 0110 for any issues or information. Call 111 for any emergencies.
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Update 4 - Severe Weather, 16 February, 3:20pm
MetService New Zealand advised earlier today that rain and wind would ease across the Tararua District. We are now monitoring improvements in the weather, with only residual rain falling in some areas.
Our teams are continuing to assess and respond to impacts across the district, with the vast majority being fallen trees on our roading network.
There are isolated power outages in some areas and we are working alongside utility providers to restore service as quickly and as safely as possible.
The state of emergency remains in place and updates will continue to be shared on the council website as they are available: https://www.tararuadc.govt.nz/news/2026/february/state-of-emergency-declared-in-tararua
This will be our last update for the day (16 Feb). Our teams will continue to monitor the situation and council’s communication channels (such as Facebook, Antenno and phone lines).
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.
Update - Harvard Park (Severe Weather tree damage) 3:15pm
Harvard Park in Pahiatua is temporarily closed due to damaged trees. Once the damaged trees are cleared and the park is safe to use we will advise its reopening via social media.
Update 3 - Severe Weather, 8:30am
An Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has been operating overnight, monitoring the situation, assessing impacts and preparing for potential effects of incoming weather.
Mayor Scott is thankful for the response from local communities,
“Our priority has always been the safety of our people. Declaring early meant we could coordinate our response and support the community as the weather came through. It allowed us to be ready to respond quickly as conditions changed overnight.”
“I want to acknowledge how well our communities have responded. People took the forecasts seriously, prepared early, and showed real resilience. That proactive approach makes a genuine difference.”
The State of Emergency remains in place, and residents are asked to be aware of current impacts and follow the safety advice below.
Summary of impacts
Current impacts to the district include power outages, road closures, and fallen trees. Some self‑evacuations have taken place in coastal areas, and Council’s welfare teams are checking in with these people.
🚌 A total of 16 schools across the district have notified that they are closed today (16 Feb) and buses are not running. Please check directly with your school if you are unsure of their status.
♻️ Dannevirke Transfer Station is closed due to power outage. Glass recycling collection for Dannevirke will take place as normal, however if your bin does not need to go out, please hold onto it until the next scheduled glass collection date.
💬 Eketāhuna Library and Service Centre will be closed today due to staffing matters.
🚰 There are currently no impacts to water infrastructure, and our teams continue to monitor this.
🛣️ There are roads closed across the district, please check the Current Road Status page on our website (link below), updated every 10 minutes. At this stage, Saddle Road is scheduled to be closed until 12noon today – please check before travelling.
🚫 Additionally, the decision has been made to cancel today’s meeting of the Dannevirke Community Board. We will let the community know when this is rescheduled.
📱 Please report issues by calling 06 374 4080 or 06 376 0110. We have also increased our monitoring of the Antenno app, which can be used to report issues.
Safety advice:
- Avoid unnecessary travel, particularly on rural roads.
- If you do have to travel, check your travel route beforehand, drive to the conditions and expect delays or temporary road closures.
- Look out for neighbours, whānau, or anyone who may need support especially elderly people, residents in isolated areas, and people with limited access to information.
- Check official council channels for updates, including road status information. For State Highway updates, refer to the Journey Planner of NZTA.
- Please avoid streams and rivers as these may rise rapidly.
Useful information and links
🚗 Local road status (updated every 10 mins): https://www.tararuadc.govt.nz/services/roading/current-road-status
🚗 For state highway conditions: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions
⛈️ MetService updates: https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home
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.
Update 2 - 15 February 2026, 11pm
With night upon us, we expect the bulk of the rain to affect the district from now onwards. In our district, a team is on standby in the Emergency Management Centre, monitoring conditions closely and coordinating with partner agencies across the region. At this stage, our next update will be shared in the morning, unless there is a significant change or something urgent that people need to know sooner. Please take care, limit travel where possible, and stay informed through official channels.
We are sharing this update from the Regional Civil Defence group:
MetService New Zealand updated their weather warnings at about 9pm.
Tararua District
You remain under a heavy rain warning. From 8pm tonight until 7pm Monday, expect 120 to 150 mm of rain on top of what has already fallen, especially about eastern areas and the Tararua Range. Intensities of 20 to 25 mm per hour about the hills and ranges, especially overnight Sunday to Monday.
You also still have a strong wind warning. From 8pm tonight until 7am Monday, expect severe southwesterlies with damaging gusts of 130kmh or more in exposed places. High chance of upgrading to a red warning.
You are still under a red heavy rain warning. From 8pm tonight until 3pm Monday, expect 140 to 180 mm of rain. Peak rates of 10 to 20 mm/h expected from Sunday night and Monday morning.
You remain under an orange rain warning. From 8pm tonight until 3pm Monday, expect 120 to 170 mm of rain. Peak rates of 10 to 20 mm/h Sunday night and Monday morning. You also still have a strong wind warning. From 8pm tonight until 7am Monday, expect severe southwesterlies with damaging gusts of 130kmh or more in exposed places. High chance of upgrading to a red warning.
Horizons Regional Council have closed the Makino floodgates to divert floodwaters away from Feilding. They expect to open the Moutoa floodgates at about noon on Monday to protect Horowhenua properties from flooding.
Move items away from areas of your property that usually flood. Clear gutters and drains where it is safe to do so. Bring inside anything that could be lifted by strong winds, or tie it down securely. Bring pets inside where possible. Charge phones and devices. Stay away from areas at risk of slips. Move livestock in low lying areas to paddocks that are safe from floodwaters, landslides, isolated trees, and power lines. If a landslide occurs, keep well clear - further movement can happen without warning. Stay out of the water and away from beaches. Be prepared to move to higher ground if needed. Secure boats and trailers properly.
Continue to get updates from our Facebook page, our website (link in our bio), MetService, your local district/city council & media outlets such as RNZ.Update 1 - 15 February 2026, 7:20pm
MetService is forecasting torrential downpours for the whole Tararua District after dark, with coastal areas expected to be impacted first. The most intense period of rain is currently expected around 1am.
There is also potential for very strong winds, up to 130km/h. These are again expected to hit the coast first, along with some southern parts of the Tararua District.
An Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has been set up at the Dannevirke Council Building monitoring the situation and preparing for potential impacts of incoming weather. The State of Emergency remains in place and residents are asked to be aware of key risks and follow the safety advice below.
Key risks include:
Slips, debris and fallen trees on roadsWidespread landslides in both rural and urban areasSurface floodingRapidly rising riversHazardous driving conditionsHeavy swells on our coastlinesPower outages
Safety Advice:
⚠️ Prepare now, before it gets dark
🚫 Please do not travel at night.
🚫 Do not drive through flood waters
🚫 Stay away from slips
Useful links:
Local road status (updated every 10 mins): https://www.tararuadc.govt.nz/services/roading/current-road-status
For state highway conditions: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions
MetService updates: https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home
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.
15 February 2026, 3pm
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.
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
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. 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. 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.