Severe weather continues to wreak havoc across New Zealand’s North Island, with flooding, slips, and high rainfall causing road closures, rescues, and ongoing disruption. The Bay of Plenty and Coromandel Peninsula remain at the heart of the latest weather emergency, with multiple districts activating emergency responses.
Flooding has cut off access to Ōpōtiki, with State Highway 2 closed near Taneatua. Local road closures, including Wainui Road, have left the town inaccessible. The Whakatāne District Council confirmed that Wainui Road is under 200 mm (7.9 in) of water and will stay closed overnight. The council warned that tsunami surges from the Kamchatka earthquake may further delay reopening, especially on already-flooded routes. Emergency accommodation support is available for those stranded, via 07 306 0500.
At 3 p.m. Wednesday, Fire and Emergency (FENZ) rescued a person who drove into floodwaters in Ōpōtiki and became stranded atop their vehicle. Officials continue to urge the public to avoid all non-essential travel and never drive through floodwaters.
Severe thunderstorm watches remain in place for Bay of Plenty (west of Kawerau), Rotorua, and Coromandel Peninsula. Orange rain warnings are active in parts of the Central North Island. SH30 between Tiketere and SH34 has reopened with traffic control following earlier slips. A fatal crash near Auckland Airport has further disrupted regional travel. While many weather alerts have been cancelled as the storm front moves eastward, heavy rain persists in key regions. In the Coromandel ranges, rainfall has reached 175 mm (6.9 in), and Whangamatā has seen 170 mm (6.7 in) in recent days.
Localised flooding, landslides, and rising rivers continue to pose risks. NZTA reports there is no safe route between Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki, and no set timeframe for reopening. Authorities urge extreme caution, advising drivers to slow down, increase following distances, and remain alert to slips and debris.
This latest system follows a series of extreme weather events to hit New Zealand this winter. Just over two months ago, in early May, a state of emergency was declared in Christchurch after a powerful low-pressure system brought gusts over 90 mph (145 km/h) and flooding across both islands. According to MetService and Morgan Thomas from MetDesk, the May storm rapidly intensified over the Tasman Sea and brought: over 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain in under 12 hours in eastern South Island regions, waves nearly 6 m (20 ft) in the Cook Strait, and snowfall exceeding 50 cm (19.7 in) in alpine zones. This pattern of destructive weather suggests an increasingly active season of deep low-pressure systems, resulting in a mix of heavy rain, wind damage, and flooding across the country.
While New Zealand battles storms, Europe is seeing the opposite: above-average heat. Cities like Vienna are hitting 30 °C (86 °F) — over 10 °C above normal — due to a southerly flow from a low-pressure system over Portugal. However, a cooler northerly shift is forecast, potentially bringing a dramatic 10 °C drop in temperatures across Germany, France, and Austria in the coming days.
Public Safety & Support
Civil Defence updates are being broadcast by RNZ, New Zealand’s statutory lifeline broadcaster. Those unable to reach home can contact Whakatāne District Council at 07 306 0500 for help. Photos and eyewitness reports can be submitted to iwitness@rnz.co.nz.
