Severe Weather Event | Wairarapa

UPDATE - 5PM Friday 24 April

From 5pm tonight, Wairarapa will move out of a State of Emergency and into a Local Transition Period (LTP) to support recovery planning.

This Notice of LTP will be effective across the three District Councils of Masterton, Carterton and South Wairarapa to enable the transition from our initial response into the longer period of recovery. The Notice of LTP will expire on 22 May 2026, unless terminated earlier.

Read the full release on our webiste.

Roading Update

• Mangapurupuru Road is OPEN
• Tinui Valley Road 7.0 km is open to one lane due to cracks in road
• Mataikona Road is OPEN. Please take care when travelling across.
• Manawa Road is OPEN
• Te Mai Road RP 53 is OPEN
• Pack Spur Road is OPEN - ROAD SCOURED TAKE CARE
• Wairere Road/Daggs Road is OPEN to one lane due to slips on road
• Springhill Road is OPEN to one lane due to slips on road
• Coopers Road OPEN to one Lane due to slips on road
• Alfredton Tinui Road is OPEN to one lane due to slips on road
• Annadale Road is OPEN - Slips on road caution required
• Puketiritiri Road is OPEN TO LIGHT VEHICLES ONLY due to bridge washout
• Bowen Road is OPEN
• Mangaoranga Road is OPEN to one lane due to slips on road

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UPDATE - 10am Friday 24 April

We’re pleased to share that most rivers are now returning to normal flows following the recent weather event. The Tauweru River at Te Weraiti and the Floodway at Oporua remain high, however levels are beginning to recede. We expect these to return to more typical levels over the next 24–48 hours.

Some local roads continue to be affected, and crews are being deployed this morning to assess conditions and continue work to safely reopen affected routes. For updates on local access roads, please check your local council website.

A key update for road users is that SH53 at the Waihenga Bridge has now reopened, restoring direct access to Martinborough.

We are also seeing some additional power outages across impacted areas, including Tinui and Martinborough. Please check Powerco for the most up‑to‑date information.

While these developments are encouraging, we strongly remind our communities not to become complacent. The ground remains heavily saturated, and there is a significant amount of debris on roads across the district - these will all take time to clear. Slips are still likely in high‑risk areas, so please drive to the conditions and remain extra vigilant. There may also be damage to land and infrastructure that has not yet been identified.

We encourage everyone to:

Get information from verified sources such as council social media channels and websites, WREMO, MetService, and Civil Defence sites.

• Respect current road closures and traffic management
• Check in on friends, whānau, and neighbours who may need support

Roading Update - 10am Friday 24 April

• Mangapurupuru Road is CLOSED due to slip blocking road
• Tinui Valley Road 7.0 km is open to one lane due to cracks in road
• Mataikona Road is OPEN. Due to multiple slips and washouts on Front Hill, please note the following;
  • ROAD OPEN OVERNIGHT TAKE CARE AS MULTIPLE AREAS WHERE WIDTH IS RESTRICTED.
  • ROAD OPEN DURING DAY WITH TRAFFIC CONTROL EXPECT LONG DELAYS
• Manawa Road is OPEN
• Te Mai Road RP 53 is OPEN
• Pack Spur Road is OPEN - ROAD SCOURED TAKE CARE
• Wairere Road/Daggs Road is OPEN to one lane due to slips on road
• Springhill Road is OPEN to one lane due to slips on road
• Coopers Road OPEN to one Lane due to slips on road
• Alfredton Tinui Road is OPEN to one lane due to slips on road
• Annadale Road is OPEN - Slips on road caution required
• Puketiritiri Road is OPEN TO LIGHT VEHICLES ONLY due to bridge washout
• Bowen Road is OPEN
• Mangaoranga Road is OPEN to one lane due to slips on road

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Roading Update - 3pm - 23 April 2026

• Mangapurupuru Road                 CLOSED           Due to slip blocking road
• Tinui Valley Road 7.0 km              Open to one Lane      Due to cracks in road
• Matakona Road                      OPEN              Multiple slips and washouts on Front Hill.
  • ROAD OPEN OVERNIGHT TAKE CARE AS MULTIPLE AREAS WHERE WIDTH IS RESTRICTED.
  • ROAD OPEN DURING DAY WITH TRAFFIC CONTROL EXPECT LONG DELAYS
• Manawa Road                       OPEN
• Te Mai Road RP 53                   OPEN
• Pack Spur Road                     OPEN               ROAD SCOURED TAKE CARE
• Wairere Road / Daggs Road         Open to one Lane        Slips on road
• Springhill Road Open to one lane     Slips on road
• Coopers Road Open to one Lane Slips on Road
• Alfredton-Tinui Road Open to one Lane  Slips on Road
• Annadale Road OPEN Slips on Road Caution Required
• Puketiritiri Road OPEN TO LIGHT VEHICLES ONLY Bridge washout
• Bowen Road Open to one Lane Slips on Road
• Mangaoranga Road Open to one lane Slips on Road

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Roading Update - 8am - 23 April 2026

Mangapurupuru Road - CLOSED Due to slip blocking road

Tinui Valley Road 7.0 km - Open to one Lane - Due to cracks in road

Matakona Road - OPEN - Multiple slips and washouts on Front Hill ROAD OPEN WITH TRAFFIC CONTROL EXPECT LONG DELAYS

Manawa Road - CLOSED SLIP ON ROAD at RP 10.0 TO BE CLEARED THURSDAY MORNING

Te Mai Road RP 53 - OPEN

Pack Spur Road - CLOSED ford to be assessed Thursday morning update to be given at 10:00am

Wairere Road / Daggs Road Open to one Lane - Slips on road

Whangahue Valley Road  RP18.3 km - OPEN

Springhill Road - Open to one lane Slips on road

Coopers Road - Down to one Lane Slips on Road

Glendonald Road - OPEN

Alfreton Tinui Road - Open to one Lane Slips on Road

Annadale Road - OPEN Slips on Road Caution Required

Puketiritiri Road - OPEN TO LIGHT VEHICLES ONLY Bridge washout

Bowen Road - Open to one Lane Slips on Road

Mangaoranga Road - Open to one lane Slips on Road

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Media Update - 6.30pm, Wednesday 22 April

Severe Weather Public Information

The severe weather event has passed; however, impacts remain across parts of the Wairarapa.

A State of Emergency remains in place while damage assessments continue, and recovery planning begins.

Some roads and services remain affected. Hazards such as slips, flood‑affected roads, and high river levels are still present in some locations. You can view the current roading state for Masterton below.

Waihenga Bridge (State Highway 53) near Martinborough remains closed due to high river levels.

There is no confirmed reopening timeframe. The bridge will reopen only once it is safe to do so.

The public is asked to:

* Respect road closures and traffic management.

* Avoid flooded or damaged areas.

* Check official council websites and social media channels for updates.

* Look out for neighbours, particularly in rural areas.

UPDATE - 1pm - Wednesday 22 April

The NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi - Wellington has advised that SH2 over the Remutaka Hill is now open.

All weather warnings for Wairarapa have been rescinded, but impacts are still being felt.

The ground is saturated, this increases the risk of slips. NZ Civil Defence provided information about what to look out for:

• Small slips, rock falls, and sinking land, at the bottom of slopes.
• Sticking doors and window frames, which may mean the land is slowly moving under the building.
• Gaps where window frames are not fitting properly.
• Steps, decks, and verandas, moving or tilting away from the rest of the building.
• New cracks or bulges on the ground, road, footpath, retaining walls and other hard surfaces.
• Tilting trees, retaining walls, or fences.
• Trust your danger sense - if you suspect that a landslide is about to occur, get away immediately.

Current Roading Closures are below. Our crews are continuing to assess roads and weather impacts throughout the day. This will take some time, so we appreciate your patience and we will update this page once we know more.

Stay Informed - Weather conditions and advice can change quickly. Please keep up to date with official sources for warnings and updates.

• Listen to The Breeze FM on 99.9 FM or Radio New Zealand on 101.5 FM or 567 AM
• Check MetService New Zealand for the latest weather information and warnings
• Follow Wellington Region Emergency Management Office for situation updates
• Follow NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Wellington for highway disruptions

Always verify information against official sources such as MetService, WREMO, NZTA or your local council before sharing.

Report Damage - If there is damage or flooding in your area, you can report it by calling the Council on 06 370 6300, or by lodging a report through the Antenno app. If someone is in danger, call 111 immediately.

Road Closures (Updated 4pm, 22 April, next update due 9am 23 April)

• Te Kanuka Road                     OPEN
• Masterton Castlepoint Road at Tinui      OPEN
• Homewood Road OPEN To Riversdale
• Mangapurupuru Road                 CLOSED           Due to slip blocking road
• Tinui Valley Road RP 4.0 km           Open to one Lane      Due to Flooding
• Tinui Valley Road 7.0 km              Open to one Lane      Due to cracks in road
• Mataikona Road                      CLOSED             Due to multiple slips on Front Hill.
  • ROAD OPEN TO LIGHT VEHICLES ONLY OVERNIGHT, OPEN UNDER TRAFFIC CONTROL EXPECT LONG DELAYS DURING THE DAY
• Manawa Road                      CLOSED      SLIPS ON ROAD CAUTION REQUIRED
• Te Mai Road RP 53                   CLOSED          Te Mai Bridge under Water
• Mangamahoe Central Road           Open to one Lane      Due to tree on road
• Pack Spur Road                    CLOSED           Closed at the fords due to flooding
• Wairere Road / Daggs Road         Open to one Lane    Slips on road
• Jacksons Line                     OPEN            To be assessed will be updated at 11:00am
• Masterton Stronvor Road            OPEN              Closed at Watsons Road due to Flooding
• Whangahue Valley Road  RP18.3 km Open to one lane     Slips on Road
• Maringi Road                      OPEN             Tree on Road
• Rewarewa Road OPEN To be assessed will be updated at 11:00am
• Springhill Road Open to one lane Slips on road
• Coopers Road Open to one Lane Slips on Road
• Glendonald Road Open to one lane Slips on Road
• Alfredton Tinui Road Open to one Lane Slips on Road
• Annedale Road Open Slips on Road, caution Required
• Puketiritiri Road Open to light Vehicles only Bridge washout
• Bowen Road Open to one Lane Slips on Road
• Mangaoranga Road Open to one lane Slips on Road

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UPDATED - 9.30PM 20 April

A Civil Defence EMA Warning has been sent to Wairarapa due to heavy rain is causing rivers and streams to rise rapidly.

If you live in low lying areas, coastal settlements, or areas prone to flooding, take extra precautions and be prepared to evacuate quickly if you see signs of potential flooding.

- Consider evacuating now.

- If you see rising flood water evacuate immediately to higher ground. DO NOT WAIT for an official warning.

- If you need to evacuate, seek shelter with friends and family if you can. Take pets and essential items.

- Call 111 if your life or property is at risk. Emergency services could be delayed.

If you need to evacuate and don't have friends and family to go to, you can contact the welfare team on 0800 239 247.

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EARLIER UPDATES

There is a Heavy Rain Warning in place for the Wairarapa. This is effective for a period of 34hrs from 2pm Monday 20 April to 12am Wednesday 22 April 2026. This is a RED warning and a state of emergency has been declared.

Expect 80 to 120 mm to accumulate, but 200 to 280 mm about the ranges and coastal hills. Peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h, but 25 to 40 mm/h possible in localised places, especially in thunderstorms.

For Masterton district residents, a sandbag station is available on a fill-your-own basis (bags and sand provided) at Citycare, 32a Bentley Street, Masterton. These are intended for people who consider their properties may be a risk, given previous experience, or if they are in low-lying areas.

Impact: Threat to life from dangerous river conditions, significant flooding and slips. Conditions will disrupt travel, make some roads impassable, and isolate communities.

Action: Do not enter floodwaters and avoid travel. Act quickly to self-evacuate if you see rising water. Be ready for power and communications outages.

We recommend that you head to the Facebook page for the Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) to keep up to date. Here you will also find advice and information on how to get prepared for heavy rain.

Report an issue

If the issue is life threatening, call 111

For urgent or dangerous issues such as slips or trees down, contact us on 06 370 6300 (available 24 hours). A call centre operator will log the issue and let the right people know.

Antenno, our mobile app, can be used for issues that aren’t in need of urgent attention which can be picked up during normal hours. Download Antenno for free.

Get Prepared

• Prepare for impacts now by having food, water, medicine and petfood to get through.
• Consider staying with family or friends somewhere else if you are somewhere that usually gets flooded or isolated, or if you live near a waterway. Be prepared to self-evacuate during daylight hours.
• Make a plan with your family and neighbours for connecting with each other if communications are limited.
• Help to clear blocked drains of rubbish and debris if you see them.
• Avoid travel during severe weather.

Stay informed

Weather advice can change fast. Keep an eye on the experts for warnings and advice.

• Tune in to The Breeze FM (99.1FM) or Radio NZ (101.5FM / 567AM).
• Stay up to date with the latest weather information and warnings with MetService New ZealandMetService New Zealand.
• Follow Wellington Region Emergency Management Office for situation updates.
• Follow NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi - Wellington for highway disruptions.

Always verify what you see against official sources like MetService, WREMO, NZTA or the council before sharing.