State of Emergency issued for Waipā amid 'significant' damage
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State of Emergency issued for Waipā amid 'significant' damage

A man was found dead in a submerged ute on State Highway 39, with a State of Emergency in place for the Ōtorohanga District after it was hit by widespread flooding, slips, and heavy rain overnight.

5 mins ago

Drone footage of flooding in Ōtorohanga.

In photos: Wild weather causes severe flooding, slips across Waikato

Several roads were closed and thousands were left without power after severe weather lashed parts of the North Island overnight.

4:32pm

Damage to a bridge on State Highway 39.

Man found dead after vehicle submerged in Waikato floodwaters

A member of the public called emergency services, alerting them to the submerged car on State Highway 39 near the intersection with Kiwi Rd at Puketotara last night.

9:41am

Volunteers try to protect what they can from the rising floodwaters.

Ōtorohanga Museum's precious taonga wrecked by floodwaters

"We went inside, there were taonga floating around."

8:35am

Flooding in Ōpārau, north west of Ōtorohanga.

Ōtorohanga residents describe the moment floodwaters began to rise

Mayor Rodney Dow said the district had been lashed by rain, with reports of flooding, slips and inundation.

6:34am

4:06

Tairua property owner with teetering house told his story earlier to 1News, prompting others to come forward.

Many homeowners fighting with councils over slips, Auckland woman says

Luci Harrison says she had to get a second mortgage to help pay for a retaining wall after her house was damaged in the Auckland Anniversary floods.

Wed, Feb 11

Coromandel resident considers court action to force council to play its part in remedial works.

Tairua property owner battles council over eroding hillside

When a damaged slope is partly owned by a local council and partly by a ratepayer, whose job is it to fix it?

Tue, Feb 10

Police said they began receiving reports at around 4.50pm on Sunday of a vehicle being driven erratically on the Waikato Expressway.

Driver on zero alcohol licence allegedly five times the legal limit

Police received multiple calls about a vehicle swerving into oncoming traffic near Hamilton on Sunday afternoon.

Mon, Feb 9

A fire burns from the second storey of a building at Taupo-nui-a-Tia College in Taupō.

'Significant' smoke as major blaze at Taupō high school contained

Fire crews from across the region were called to the school just after 2pm on Sunday, with smoke visible across Taupō and out on the lake.

Sun, Feb 8

Coastguard Thames volunteers responded to the incident at Tararu Beach

Person dies after boat capsize in Thames

Emergency services were called to the scene at Taruru Rd just before midday.

Fri, Feb 6

Woman found after search in lower Kaimai

Woman found after search in lower Kaimai

A search and rescue team spent yesterday looking for the woman, whose house bus was found on the Rapurapu Track on Tuesday.

Thu, Feb 5

A man is put into an ambulance after being shot by police in central Hamilton.

Wanted man armed with firearm shot by police in Hamilton

The man, who police say was wanted in relation to prior serious incidents, had allegedly pointed a shotgun at police.

Wed, Feb 4

Hone Haunui Neal and Hope Waimata Waitere.

Pair wanted over two Hamilton incidents – one victim critically injured

Hone Haunui Neal and Hope Waimata Waitere have warrants for their arrest over two incidents on Vernall St and Lyon St last Thursday — including an alleged violent assault that left a man in critical condition.

Mon, Feb 2

The crash occured on Puketutu Road.

Person dies following crash in Matamata

Police said inquiries into the circumstances of the crash were ongoing.

Sun, Feb 1

January 2026
Police said officers were called to assist Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) after a digger hit a gas line. (File image).

Residents evacuated after digger hits gas line in Taupō return home

Some residents on and around Harakeke Drive were asked to evacuate this afternoon due to the resulting gas leak.

Fri, Jan 30

A slip just north of north of Whiritoa, heading to Whangamata

Section of SH25 to Whangamatā reopens a week after devastating storm

Despite the major road reopening, there are still around 20 locations around the Coromandel where SH25 is down to one lane due to slips above or under the road.

Fri, Jan 30

Crews work to remove a massive slip on SH2.

Road repairs after severe weather 'very dangerous work', says Minister

Crews have been hard at work after last week's storm forced the closure of several key highways in affected regions, leaving some communities cut off.

Thu, Jan 29

Man found critically injured following Hamilton assault overnight

Man found critically injured following Hamilton assault overnight

Police said a linked "violent incident" early in the night was also being investigated.

Thu, Jan 29

Ngāti Hāua awaits the signing of the Deed of Settlement at Ngāpūwaiwaha Marae in Taumarunui on March 29 last year.

Settlement milestone marks end of 'long, hard road' for Ngāti Hāua

Nearly 200 members of a central North Island iwi are travelling to Wellington today to witness the final leg of their Treaty settlement journey.

Wed, Jan 28

Composite image by Crystal Choi.

Teen with rare drug-resistant epilepsy battles third coma

The Quilty family from Rotorua have had their lives turned upside down over the past five years by 17-year-old Ryan's devastating drug-resistant epilepsy.

Wed, Jan 28

Questions swirl over the tragic events at Mt Maunganui

Questions swirl over the tragic events at Mt Maunganui

Flowers and messages have been left at the cordon at Pilot Bay following last week's landslide.

Tue, Jan 27

The town been selected as the fourth stop on the 2026 tour – one of twelve international locations showcasing some of the world's best professional surfers (File image).

Raglan to host World Surfing League Championship Tour stop in May

New Zealand will stage its first‑ever combined men's and women's WSL Championship Tour event, bringing top surfers and a major tourism boost to the Waikato.

Mon, Jan 26

Slip between Hikuai and Whangamata

In photos: Thames-Coromandel roads battered by storm

Photos captured by NZTA show fallen trees, swollen waterways and roads damaged by slips following intense rain in the region.

Fri, Jan 23

Tom Phillips had a number of campsites in the Waikato bush.

Documentary crew told about Phillips shootout by police before family

Police have apologised in person to the family and said the decision was "ill-advised".

Fri, Jan 23

A catamaran in the water (file image).

Adrift pair saved after chain wraps propeller of catamaran

The Coastguard said its National Operations Centre was alerted to the 13m vessel in distress off the Whitianga Harbour this afternoon.

Wed, Jan 21