Severe Weather Warnings: Heavy Rain and Flooding Hit New Zealand

The heavy rain that began overnight in the lower North Island has intensified into widespread flooding, prompting emergency responses across multiple regions as rivers overflow and roads grow impassable. In Wellington, motorists were urged to delay travel on State Highway 1 and State Highway 2 after flash flooding submerged sections of the motorway near Ngauranga Gorge and caused a multi-vehicle collision on the Terrace Tunnel approach. Police confirmed the crash involved three vehicles and resulted in minor injuries, with both northbound and southbound lanes closed for over two hours even as crews cleared debris and assessed road stability. Further north, the Manawatu River breached its banks near Palmerston North, inundating low-lying suburbs including Awapuni and Hokowhitu. Residents in these areas reported water entering homes and garages, with several evacuating to higher ground as sandbagging efforts struggled to maintain pace with rising levels. The Horizons Regional Council activated its flood response team, deploying pumps and monitoring gauges that recorded rainfall exceeding 100mm in under six hours — well above the threshold for flash flood warnings. In the Taranaki region, the Waitara River surged past critical levels, flooding farmland and cutting off access to rural properties along State Highway 3. Civil Defence issued a formal alert advising residents to avoid unnecessary travel and prepare for potential power outages as submerged transformers prompted precautionary shutdowns in parts of New Plymouth. MetService confirmed the weather system responsible is a slow-moving, complex trough drawing moisture from the Tasman Sea, which has stalled over the central and lower North Island, prolonging intense rainfall. Forecasters warned that additional bands of heavy rain are expected to move through the region over the next 12 to 18 hours, with thunderstorms increasing the risk of sudden, localized downpours in exposed areas. Emergency management offices across Wellington, Manawatu-Whanganui, and Taranaki remain on standby, coordinating with local councils and transport agencies to assess infrastructure damage and support affected communities. No fatalities have been reported, but authorities continue to monitor river levels and urge the public to avoid floodwaters, which may conceal submerged hazards or strong currents.