New Zealand North Island Heavy Rains and Landslides

Reference TimelineLast updated FEB 21
SUMMARY

A man died after his car was trapped in floodwaters, and thousands of households were without power following severe weather across New Zealand's North Island on February 17, 2026. As of February 17, 2026: A state of emergency has been declared in the region due to "one in 100 year" rainfall, with widespread flooding, road collapses, and damage to infrastructure reported. States of emergency were also declared in Tararua, Waipā, and Ōtorohanga districts on February 15, 2026, with over 30,000 properties losing power. An orange heavy rain warning was issued on February 12, 2026, for parts of the North Island, with up to 100mm of rain expected, and a campground in Hawke's Bay was evacuated due to an extreme landslide risk. Recent severe storms have caused over 11,000 landslides on the East Cape, isolating communities and blocking State Highway 35, with the confirmed death toll from earlier storms reaching at least nine.

Timeline

Want updates on this thread?

Track this story

2026

57 updates

A man has died after his car was trapped in floodwaters, and thousands of households are without power following severe weather across New Zealand's North Island. A state of emergency has been declared in the region due to "one in 100 year" rainfall, with widespread flooding, road collapses, and damage to infrastructure reported.

via Channel News Asia·The Guardian

States of emergency have been declared in Tararua, Waipā, and Ōtorohanga districts on New Zealand's North Island due to heavy rain and severe gales. Red heavy rain warnings are in effect for parts of Manawatū and Ruapehu districts, with forecasts of significant flooding and landslides. Over 30,000 properties have lost power, and a man was found dead in his submerged vehicle in the Ōtorohanga district.

via The Guardian·RNZ·The Guardian

An orange heavy rain warning has been issued for parts of New Zealand's North Island, with up to 100mm of rain expected and a possibility of 150mm in localized areas. A yellow heavy rain watch is in effect for much of the rest of the island, raising fears of further landslides. Fire and Emergency NZ has deployed teams to prepare for potential emergencies, and a campground in Hawke's Bay has been evacuated due to an extreme landslide risk.

via odt.co.nz·rnz.co.nz·1news.co.nz

A campground in Hawke's Bay is undergoing evacuation due to an 'extreme risk' of a landslide, as advised by the Hastings District Council following a geotechnical report. This decision comes three weeks after significant landslides impacted the region, leading to widespread devastation and evacuations.

via odt.co.nz

Recent severe storms on New Zealand's North Island have caused over 11,000 landslides on the East Cape, according to new satellite imagery. This has led to the isolation of communities and blocked State Highway 35. The scale of the devastation is further illustrated by over 900 hectares affected by slips and silt damage.

via rnz.co.nz

Safety restrictions have been eased on four homes in Tauranga's Welcome Bay that were previously red-stickered following a deadly landslide last month. Geotechnical engineers have determined that the risk of further landslides impacting these properties has decreased.

via rnz.co.nz·rnz.co.nz·rnz.co.nz·rnz.co.nz·rnz.co.nz

The state of emergency in Tai Rāwhiti has been extended for an additional seven days due to persistent extreme weather, heavy rain, and severe flooding across New Zealand's North Island. Significant landslides have resulted in the isolation of numerous communities, with a major slip on State Highway 35 blocking access between Hicks Bay and Te Araroa.

via rnz.co.nz

Beyond the six fatalities in a Mount Maunganui landslide, the storms caused two more deaths in Papamoa and one additional fatality elsewhere, bringing the confirmed death toll to at least nine.

via sunlive.co.nz

Coromandel's Mautohe Cathedral Cove tracks are set to reopen after geotechnical inspections, though visitors are urged to remain alert for rockfall, landslips, and debris.

via doc.govt.nz

One person remains missing following two landslips in the Tauranga area, affecting Papamoa and Mt Maunganui. The Prime Minister signaled a government inquiry into the tragedy and pledged $1.2 million in aid, with approximately 500 people displaced across the North Island.

via 1news.co.nz

Urgent work is underway to restore and strengthen transport links across the North Island, with crews assessing damage and clearing debris following widespread damage and state highway closures.

via beehive.govt.nz

The recovery operation at Mount Maunganui was temporarily paused due to fears of another slip but has since resumed.

via 1news.co.nz

Specific details about the six victims of the Mount Maunganui landslide were released, identifying them as two 15-year-old students, a literacy coordinator, two 71-year-old friends, and a Swedish national. Additionally, the Prime Minister issued an official statement regarding the Mount Maunganui landslide and other North Island weather events.

via theguardian.com·beehive.govt.nz

Nine people are now confirmed dead across the North Island following last week's deadly storms, an increase from previous reports. Regions are currently recovering from widespread evacuations, flooding, and numerous landslides.

via rnz.co.nz

Police officially released the names of the six victims buried in the Mount Maunganui landslide, including their ages, professions, and nationalities. The operation has formally shifted from search to recovery mode.

via theguardian.com·rnz.co.nz

Recovery efforts for victims of the Mount Maunganui landslide were suspended on January 25 due to safety concerns after a crack was discovered at the site. Six people, including two teenagers, are presumed dead.

via straitstimes.com

Evacuations are underway in Onepoto and parts of Te Araroa on New Zealand's East Coast, affecting approximately 30 houses due to ongoing landslide risks. Residents are relocating to stay with friends, family, or within the community.

via rnz.co.nz

Human remains have been discovered at the Mount Maunganui landslide site, with officials stating it is highly unlikely anyone survived. Additionally, some East Coast households have been evacuated due to significant landslide risks.

via 1news.co.nz

A massive landslide has collapsed a section of State Highway 35 on the East Cape, cutting off coastal communities between Pōtaka and Tikitiki. Clearing the road is expected to take weeks.

via 1news.co.nz

The severe weather crisis affecting New Zealand's North Island was described as a 'one-in-a-hundred-year' event caused by an atmospheric river, displacing thousands and damaging infrastructure. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) warned that flooding and landslide dangers had not fully passed, with lingering effects expected.

via rnz.co.nz·youtube.com·civildefence.govt.nz

Search efforts at the Mount Maunganui landslide site have been further hampered by a new 'partial' slip, leading to the suspension of searching in the affected northern sector due to safety concerns.

via 1news.co.nz

Residents in the Gisborne region received fake evacuation calls, which Tairāwhiti Emergency Management Office confirmed were not official and reported to authorities. There was no immediate flood risk to homes in the area.

via 1news.co.nz

Two additional fatalities, a grandmother and her grandson, were found dead in Papamoa, bringing the total number of deaths from the North Island heavy rains and landslides to six. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described the situation as an "absolute tragedy."

via bluewin.ch

Police are searching for a man swept away while attempting to cross a river, and a massive landslide has collapsed a section of State Highway 35 on the East Cape, requiring weeks of clearance work.

via independent.co.uk·1news.co.nz

Two additional fatalities have been reported in the Mount Maunganui landslide, bringing the total number of deaths to four. The search for individuals buried in the landslide continues amid dangerous and unstable conditions.

Northland is experiencing a new round of heavy rains, leading to flooded homes, numerous slips, and over 300 evacuations, with orange heavy rain warnings in effect. WorkSafe has also urged businesses in affected North Island areas to prioritize worker safety and postpone non-essential outdoor work.

via worksafe.govt.nz

The search for individuals buried in the Mount Maunganui landslide is expected to take days due to dangerous and unstable conditions.

via 1news.co.nz

The landslide at Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park, which occurred around 9:30 a.m. on January 22, caused damage to RVs, tents, vehicles, and a communal restroom, with the youngest missing teenager confirmed to be 15. Due to ongoing slip risks, Papamoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park and Coromandel's Cathedral Cove have been closed, and Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty District Councils have issued eight red warnings.

via jpost.com·people.com·home.nzcity.co.nz

Red rain warnings have been issued or remain in effect as heavy rain continues to impact the North Island, indicating the highest level of weather alert.

via rnz.co.nz

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) warned that flooding and landslide dangers have not fully passed in the upper North Island, with heavy rain expected to continue. Additionally, New Zealand insurers have received hundreds of flood and land damage claims, with IAG reporting nearly 800.

via civildefence.govt.nz·vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon confirmed active monitoring of the situation. Police Superintendent Tim Anderson stated that no sign of life has been detected for hours in the search for missing individuals at the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park.

via vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com·vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com

A state of emergency has been declared in areas like Bay of Plenty, with Tauranga receiving three months' worth of rain in a single day. Experts warn that the risk of further landslides remains high across New Zealand's North Island due to saturated ground and ongoing intense storms.

via 1news.co.nz

Four people have died due to flooding and landslides, and states of local emergency have been declared for Whangārei, Thames-Coromandel, Hauraki Districts, and the Bay of Plenty and Tairāwhiti regions. The severe weather on January 21 and 22 was attributed to the remnants of Tropical Disturbance 05F.

via en.wikipedia.org·civildefence.govt.nz

Police Superintendent Tim Anderson specified the number of missing individuals at Mount Maunganui is in the 'single figures', and emergency services are searching for a man swept away by floodwaters near Warkworth. Local states of emergency have been declared in five regions, with helicopters deployed for rooftop rescues, and widespread floodwaters cutting off towns and highways, prompting evacuations in low-lying areas.

via vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com·aa.com.tr·vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com·vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com·straitstimes.com

The search for unaccounted individuals at the Mount Maunganui campground is set to continue overnight. In the Papamoa landslide, one person was seriously injured, and thousands across the North Island remain without power.

via vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com

An additional landslide occurred in Welcome Bay, Tauranga, resulting in two people missing and damage to at least one house. Furthermore, the upper North Island is bracing for a second round of heavy rains and potential flooding, with an orange heavy rain warning issued for Northland and Coromandel.

via odt.co.nz·thespinoff.co.nz

Rescue efforts included helicopters rescuing families from rooftops and seven individuals being rescued from a rooftop. Additionally, a man is reported missing near Waihi after being swept away in his vehicle.

via theguardian.com·wkzo.com·vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com

Red heavy rain warnings across the North Island have been lifted as the tropical low-pressure system moves eastward, following record-breaking rainfall in some areas. States of emergency were declared for Northland, Thames-Coromandel, Hauraki, and the Bay of Plenty.

via vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com·watchers.news·scoop.co.nz

Rescue efforts at the Mount Maunganui campsite landslide have not detected any signs of life for several hours, despite earlier reports of voices.

via news.sky.com

Severe storms triggered flooding, landslides, and evacuations across New Zealand's North Island starting January 21, 2026. A landslide in Welcome Bay killed two people, while another at Mount Maunganui left six missing. Authorities searched for a missing man swept away during a river crossing.

via youtube.com·stuff.co.nz·nzherald.co.nz

Thousands of homes across New Zealand's North Island are without power due to the severe weather, in addition to widespread damage and road closures caused by floodwaters and slips.

via nzherald.co.nz

A family was forced to evacuate their home after a landslide struck neighbouring properties, completely flattening one house.

via nzherald.co.nz

Parts of Northland have already received over 300 mm of rain since Sunday, with an additional 120 mm possible, while Coromandel has seen 150 to 200 mm in 24 hours, with further accumulations expected.

via vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com

Auckland Emergency Management urged residents to stay updated and exercise caution as storm conditions persisted on January 20, with numerous rain and wind watches and warnings for the upper North Island expected to last until early Thursday morning.

via ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Around 80 campers in Northland were able to return home after being trapped by a massive slip, as communities in the region assess damage from heavy rains.

via 1news.co.nz

Five areas in the North Island, including Gisborne, Coromandel, Whangārei, Bay of Plenty, and Hauraki District, are under precautionary states of emergency due to severe rain and widespread flooding. Two people are missing after a landslip in Papamoa, and helicopters are assisting those trapped on roofs.

via accuweather.com

Story began · 1 month ago