State highways across the Ōtorohanga District have been blocked by "significant flooding and slips" as a tropical low sweeps down the country, triggering fresh weather warnings for already‑saturated regions.
MetService is cautioning New Zealanders to brace for a “very active 24 hours”, with heavy rain expected to lash parts of the North Island still recovering from severe weather just three weeks ago.
An orange heavy rain warning was issued yesterday for the Bay of Plenty east of Ōpōtiki and Gisborne/Tairāwhiti north of Tolaga Bay, in place from 8pm Friday into Saturday.
This morning, MetService extended several of those warnings and added new ones. An orange heavy rain warning now covers the Coromandel Peninsula from 11am today, and the Bay of Plenty from Ōpōtiki westwards — including Rotorua — as well as Gisborne/Tairāwhiti from Tolaga Bay southwards from this evening.
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Police were notified of the slips on State Highway 31 and State Highway 39 at around 5.30pm.
"Thankfully, no injuries have been reported. The public is advised to delay travel, where possible, and to avoid the area," a spokesperson said.
Ōtorohanga District Council said its wastewater system was "currently overwhelmed and operating at full capacity".
"We are receiving reports of flooding in several areas across the district. Our teams are monitoring the situation closely."
Fire and Emergency NZ has sent two urban search and rescue teams to Hicks Bay and Te Araroa ahead of the weather, in preparation for any emergency situations.
MetService also issued a swathe of yellow watches for parts of the North Island, where intense humidity was already being felt across the country.
The watch for Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato and Waitomo kicked in at 9am.
Manawatū , the Tararua District, Taupō, Taumarunui, Taihape, Whanganui, the eastern hill-country of Taranaki and Hawke's Bay were also issued with rain watches beginning later today.
Earlier, meteorologist Heather Keats told Breakfast it was going to be a "very busy few days" ahead.
"We have a whole heap of thunderstorms happening today, and a whole lot of watches and warnings in place especially for the North Island," she said.
The regions being warned of torrential rain and severe gales - watch on TVNZ+
"There will be lightning with these thunderstorms too, but they're tied up in just persistent heavy rain as well. And that's going to happen this afternoon, tonight and tomorrow."
"We've got this low forming out to the northeast of the country. It's forming on a trough of low pressure, so there is lots of uncertainty as to how deep this low is and exactly the path it's going to take, but it's likely to form tomorrow... and then it will flick back over the northeast of the North Island on Sunday."
Keats said this "really starts to ramp up" around 6pm, prompting Tauranga City Council to temporarily close Adams Avenue, between Pilot Bay and the Maunganui Road roundabout today due to the threat of heavy rain.
MetService's website reported Auckland's humidity to be at 97% as of 8am today.
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including heavy rain on the way for the weekend, and a huge sinkhole swallows a road. (Source: 1News)
"It's very humid. It's very muggy. It's going to be a very active 24 hours," Keats explained.
"I mean, driving to work this morning at 4.30am in Auckland, it was 22C, so very sticky, very muggy," she said.
Keats said these humid temperatures were not likely to stick around over the weekend, however.
"We're going to have a southwesterly change today around the South Island that is going to plummet the temperatures.
"Once again, we're looking at fairly average temperatures for the North Island for the weekend, nothing too warm, nothing too cold.
"Overnight, temperatures will be good to sleep in, but the South Island can see quite a cooling effect. So for Ashburton, today, it's 27C. By Sunday, they're down to 15C. By Monday, their high is 14C. So again, we're still swinging depending where those air masses are coming from."
This afternoon, Keats said the "deep low" forming from the northeast on Saturday may bring "a more sustained period of heavy rain to some places".
She said gale winds and rain would be expected all the way through to Monday.
“Widespread, and sometimes heavy rain can be expected, but tied up in that rain will be thunderstorms. So expect localised downpours, sometimes up to 40mm per hour.”
Keats warned that this could cause surface flooding, slips and dangerous driving conditions.
Hawke's Bay campground evacuated
In Hawke's Bay, the Hastings District Council said people staying at the Clifton Motor Camp 1 were asked to vacate the site within 24 hours following an initial independent geotechnical assessment highlighting an extreme risk of landslide.
"Because many structures are situated close to the hillside, there would be little warning and limited opportunity to escape safely," Hastings District Council chief executive Nigel Bickle said.
An inspection of at-risk sites was triggered by the recent landslide tragedy in Tauranga, Bickle said.
“This is not a knee-jerk reaction. Following the Tauranga event, we asked experts to reassess sites like Clifton using current information and risk standards. The advice is clear - the level of risk is extreme and cannot be ignored," he said.
Gisborne 'bracing' for more rain
Earlier, Gisborne District Mayor Rehette Stoltz told Breakfast the region was "bracing ourselves".
"Because the orange heavy rain warning is specifically for those areas that had severe rain three weeks ago, so those communities again will be under fire."
"So unfortunately again we are bracing ourselves to ensure we look after those communities, people are safe and they are ready for what is coming our way.
Stoltz said many were still disconnected, with more planned road closures to come including State Highway 35.
"There will be no convoys tomorrow, so people will not be able to travel there."
She said people were "anxious" because of the unstable ground and threat of more landslips.
'The wet weather is likely to increase the risk of landslides'
FENZ Assistant National Commander Ken Cooper said it was sending two USAR teams to the East Coast.
"Our deploying specialist teams are there to support our volunteer brigades and strengthen local capacity, helping communities stay safe and supported during this weather event.
"One team is prepositioned in Hicks Bay and the other at Te Araroa. Both teams are equipped with drones and rescue equipment," Ken Cooper says.
"The wet weather is likely to increase the risk of landslides in already saturated conditions and we’re asking the public to stay alert and take care."
Cooper said plans were being made to support communities on the Coromandel Peninsula as well.
Full watches and warnings list
Heavy Rain Warning - Orange
Coromandel Peninsula – 23 hours from 11am today to 10am Saturday.
Bay of Plenty from Ōpōtiki westwards, including Rotorua – 24 hours from midday today to midday Saturday.
Bay of Plenty east of Ōpōtiki – 30 from 6pm today to midnight Saturday.
Gisborne/Tairāwhiti north of Tolaga Bay – 38 hours from 10pm today to noon Sunday.
Gisborne/Tairāwhiti from Tolaga Bay southwards – 30 hours from 9am Saturday to 3pm Sunday.
Heavy Rain Watch
Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Waikato and Waitomo – 25 hours from 9am today to 10am Saturday.
Taupō ,Taumarunui, Taihape, Whanganui, and the eastern hill‑country of Taranaki – 16 hours from 2pm today to 6am Saturday.
Hawke’s Bay – 51 hours from 3pm today to 6pm Sunday.
Manawatū and the Tararua District – 11 hours from 3pm today to 2am Saturday.
Heavy Swell Warning
Wairarapa Turakirae Head to Mataikona - 28 hours from 10pm Sunday to 2am Tuesday.
Wellington - Cape Terawhiti to Turakirae Head - 18 hours from 6pm Sunday to midday Monday.
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