Otago Civil Defence and Emergency Management

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🌏 A couple of decent shakes near Milford Sound last night were felt by many people across parts of the lower South Islan...
03/09/2026

🌏 A couple of decent shakes near Milford Sound last night were felt by many people across parts of the lower South Island - a timely reminder that we live in earthquake country!

Moments like this are a good prompt to check that you and your family are ready for any emergency including earthquakes.

A few simple things you can do today:
🔦 Check your emergency supplies - have some water, food, torches, batteries and other essentials available at home.
📱 Charge your phone and power bank - earthquakes can disrupt power and communications.
🏠 Make your home a little safer - secure heavy furniture and objects that could fall or move during strong shaking.
🎒 Check your grab bag – include essentials you might need if you have to leave home quickly.
👨‍👩‍👧 Have a quick household chat – how would you contact each other, where would you meet and who might need a bit of extra help?

And remember what to do when the shaking starts:
DROP, COVER and HOLD.

If you’re near the coast and an earthquake is long or strong, don’t wait for an official warning - get gone. Move immediately to high ground or as far inland as you can.

You don’t have to do everything at once. Pick one thing to check or improve today - every small step makes you a little more prepared. 👍

Waitaki District Council Clutha District Council Dunedin City Council Otago Regional Council Central Otago District Council Queenstown Lakes District Council

Heads up Waitaki, MetService has issued an Orange Heavy Rain Warning for the Headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rive...
02/09/2026

Heads up Waitaki, MetService has issued an Orange Heavy Rain Warning for the Headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers about and south of Arthur's Pass National Park. Canterbury High Country and Canterbury Plains also have a Yellow Wind Watch. For all the details, see below 👇

🟠Heavy Rain Warning - Orange🟠
Period: 8hrs from midnight Thu, 3 Sep - 8am Fri, 4 Sep.
Area: Headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers about and south of Arthur's Pass National Park.
Forecast: Expect 90 to 130 mm of rain about the main divide, and 70 to 90 mm within 15 km farther east. Peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h expected with thunderstorms. Freezing level 2300 m. Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.

Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.

Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously.

🟡Strong Wind Watch - Yellow🟡
Period: 9hrs from midnight Thu, 3 Sep - 9am Fri, 4 Sep.
Area: Canterbury High Country, and Canterbury Plains close to the foothills.
Forecast: Northwest winds may approach severe gale in exposed places. Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.

Keep up to date with all weather forecasts here:
https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home -south

For State Highway information:
https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/otago

For local road information, see your district council website.
Waitaki District Council

Image description: Map of the South Island highlighting areas under orange weather warnings and yellow wind watches.

Hey Otago!It’s official – New Zealand ShakeOut, our national earthquake drill and tsunami hīkoi (evacuation), is happeni...
31/08/2026

Hey Otago!

It’s official – New Zealand ShakeOut, our national earthquake drill and tsunami hīkoi (evacuation), is happening on Wednesday 21 October at 1:30pm!

It’s very easy to take part:
📝 Register your household, school, business or marae at
getready.govt.nz/sign-up

🌎 On ShakeOut Day, Drop, Cover and Hold for 30-60 seconds. If you're in a tsunami evacuation zone, practice your tsunami hīkoi by moving immediately out of your tsunami evacuation zone by going to the nearest high ground or as far inland as you can.

🎁 There are 90 prizes up for grabs just for signing up and taking part!

💡 That's the beauty of ShakeOut - you can run your ShakeOut drill whenever and however works best for you. We'll send you all the information you need to get started by signing up at getready.govt.nz/sign-up

Waitaki District Council Dunedin City Council Queenstown Lakes District Council Central Otago District Council Clutha District Council Otago Regional Council

Latest update from MetService on the Orange Heavy Rain Warning for the headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers and the ...
26/08/2026

Latest update from MetService on the Orange Heavy Rain Warning for the headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers and the Canterbury lakes and rivers about and south of Arthur's Pass.
Please stay up to date with forecasts.

🟠Heavy Rain Warning - Orange🟠

Area: Headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers
Period: 12 hours from 2:00pm Thu 27 Aug to 2:00am Fri 28 Aug
Forecast: Expect 100 to 150 mm of rain about the main divide, and 70 to 100 mm within 20 km farther east, possibly more in localised areas. Peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h expected this afternoon and evening about the divide. Freezing level 1500 metres rising to 2200 metres this evening.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Impact: Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.

Area: Headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers about and south of Arthur's Pass
Period: 21 hours from 3:00pm Thu 27 Aug to 12:00pm Fri 28 Aug
Forecast: Expect 140 to 180 mm of rain about the main divide, and 100 to 140 mm within 20 km farther east, possibly more in localised areas. Peak rates of 20 to 30 mm/h expected Friday morning about the divide. Freezing level 2200 metres.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Impact: Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.

Action: Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously.

Keep up to date with all weather forecasts https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home -south

Keep up to date with all State Highway conditions https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/otago

Stay safe everyone 💙

Queenstown Lakes District Council Central Otago District Council Clutha District Council Waitaki District Council

Image description: Map of the South Island highlighting yellow , orange and red areas under watches or warnings.

MetService have issued an Orange Heavy Rain Warning for the headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers and the headwaters ...
26/08/2026

MetService have issued an Orange Heavy Rain Warning for the headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers and the headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers about and south of Arthur's Pass.
Please stay up to date with forecasts.

🟠Heavy Rain Warning - Orange🟠

Area: Headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers
Period: 12 hours from 2:00pm Thu 27 Aug to 2:00am Fri 28 Aug
Forecast: Expect 100 to 130 mm of rain about the main divide, and 70 to 100 mm within 20 km farther east. Peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h expected Thursday afternoon and evening about the divide. Freezing level 1500 metres rising to 2000 metres Thursday evening.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Impact: Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.

Area: Headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers about and south of Arthur's Pass
Period: 15 hours from 9:00pm Thu 27 Aug to 12:00pm Fri 28 Aug
Forecast: Expect 110 to 140 mm of rain about the main divide, and 80 to 110 mm within 20 km farther east. Peak rates of 20 to 30 mm/h expected Friday morning about the divide. Freezing level 2000 metres.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Impact: Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.

Action: Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously.

Keep up to date with all weather forecasts https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home -south

Keep up to date with all State Highway conditions https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/otago

Stay safe everyone 💙

Queenstown Lakes District Council Central Otago District Council Waitaki District Council Clutha District Council

Image description: Map of the South Island highlighting yellow , orange and red areas under watches or warnings.

Hi folks, UPDATE. MetService have issued a Strong Wind Warning for Dunedin and Clutha for Sunday morning. Stay up to dat...
21/08/2026

Hi folks, UPDATE. MetService have issued a Strong Wind Warning for Dunedin and Clutha for Sunday morning.

Stay up to date with the latest forecasts and be prepared to adjust your plans if conditions change.

🟠Strong Wind Warning - Orange🟠

Area: Dunedin and Clutha
Period: 7 hours from 7:00am Sun 23 Aug to 2:00pm Sun 23 Aug
Forecast: Severe gale west to southwesterlies gusting 120 km/h in exposed places.
Note, after the warning period ends, westerlies are expected to remain at gale force in exposed places into Sunday evening.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Impact: Damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures possible. Driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.
Action: Prepare your property by securing items that can be picked up by strong winds. Drive cautiously.

Keep up to date with all weather forecasts https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home -south

Keep up to date with all State Highway conditions https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/otago

Stay safe everyone 💙

Dunedin City Council Clutha District Council

Image description: Map of the South Island highlighting yellow , orange and red areas under watches or warnings.

Good afternoon Otago👋 - During an emergency, it's important to know the different ways you can stay informed. We encoura...
23/07/2026

Good afternoon Otago👋 - During an emergency, it's important to know the different ways you can stay informed.

We encourage you to use multiple channels to stay up to date including:
🌧️Natural warning signs (trust your danger sense)
📻 Local radio and television broadcasts
🌦️ MetService forecasts and warnings
📱 Emergency Mobile Alerts
📍 Otago CDEM page and website
📲 Official social media accounts from emergency agencies, lifeline utilties and local authorities

Having more than one source of official information helps ensure you can access the latest advice and updates when you need them.

Learn more about ways to stay informed at: https://www.otagocdem.govt.nz/useful-stuff

Waitaki District Council Dunedin City Council Central Otago District Council Queenstown Lakes District Council Otago Regional Council Clutha District Council Otago Rural Support Trust Stronger Waitaki
Taieri Network The Valley Project Upper Clutha Community Notices Southern Corridor Resilience Group South Dunedin Community Network Aurora Energy Network Waitaki East Otago Catchment Group NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi - Otago & Southland

Image description: Graphic shows three official sources of emergency information: a portable radio, a laptop displaying a Civil Defence website and a smartphone displaying a "Stay Safe" message. The Get Ready logo appears in the bottom right.

🎉 Meet the winners of our Community Resilience Survey grab bags! Our five lucky winners have now received their prizes a...
19/07/2026

🎉 Meet the winners of our Community Resilience Survey grab bags! Our five lucky winners have now received their prizes and we have the photos to prove it!

Congratulations go to:
Amy - Waitaki District
Sam- Clutha District
Simon - Queenstown Lakes District
Julie - Central Otago District
Monisha - Dunedin City

A huge thank you to everyone who completed the survey. Your feedback will help us better understand community preparedness and identify ways to strengthen resilience across Otago.

We’re currently reviewing the survey responses and will share the results in the near future.

Congratulations to our winners, and thank you for helping us build a safer, more prepared Otago. 💛🖤

If you're looking for ideas on what to include in your Grab Bag, head over to our website for some great preparedness information: https://www.otagocdem.govt.nz/get-your-home-ready

Waitaki District Council Dunedin City Council Clutha District Council Central Otago District Council Queenstown Lakes District Council

Images: Amy and family, Julie, Sam and Simon with their new Grab Bags!

‼️11.28PM FINAL UPDATE FROM NZ CIVIL DEFENCE- NATIONAL ADVISORY: TSUNAMI ACTIVITY – CANCELLED ‼️ The National Advisory i...
16/07/2026

‼️11.28PM FINAL UPDATE FROM NZ CIVIL DEFENCE- NATIONAL ADVISORY: TSUNAMI ACTIVITY – CANCELLED ‼️

The National Advisory issued following the magnitude 5.9 earthquake near 40 km north of Te Anau at 2026-07-16 09:14 PM New Zealand Standard Time is cancelled.

The advisory has been cancelled because no tsunami signals have been detected by Earth Sciences NZ for approximately the past two hours following the event. This indicates that there is no ongoing tsunami activity affecting the area, and the threat has now passed.
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Hi folks, this will be our last post for tonight, hope everyone is feeling ok and can get some sleep! 😊

🌏 Remember everywhere in New Zealand is exposed to earthquake hazard and earthquakes can trigger other hazards such as tsunami, landslides, floods and fires.

🔦📋Make and practise your emergency plan, have a grab bag and emergency supplies.

⬇️Drop, Cover and Hold is the right action to take during an earthquake. It stops you being knocked over, makes you a smaller target for falling and flying objects, and protects your head, neck and vital organs.

🏃‍➡️🏃‍♀️‍➡️It is important to recognise the natural warning signs of a tsunami and if an earthquake is Long or Strong, Get Gone.

Waitaki District Council Dunedin City Council Central Otago District Council Queenstown Lakes District Council Clutha District Council Otago Regional Council Otago Rural Support Trust

16/07/2026

‼️TO CONFIRM - Tsunami Warning has been downgraded to an Advisory and there is no need to evacuate - expect strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore , more information below‼️

Issued 22:01 16 July 2026
This message is current and replaces all/any previous messages for this event.
UPDATE: This advisory represents a DOWNGRADE from WARNING. The reason for this downgrade is because the magnitude of the earthquake has been revised down to M5.9
________________________________________

NATIONAL ADVISORY: TSUNAMI ACTIVITY – EXPECT STRONG AND UNUSUAL CURRENTS AND UNPREDICTABLE SURGES AT THE SHORE
We expect New Zealand coastal areas to experience strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore following a magnitude 5.9 earthquake near 40 km north of Te Anau at 2026-07-16 09:14 PM.

Strong currents and surges can injure and drown people. There is a danger to swimmers, surfers, people fishing, and anyone in or near the water close to shore.
People in or near the sea in the following areas should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries.

AREAS UNDER THREAT:

The West Coast of the South Island from MILFORD SOUND to PUYSEGUR POINT.

ADVICE FOR PEOPLE IN AREAS UNDER THREAT:
STAY OFF THE BEACHES AND SHORE AREAS
People on boats, live-aboards and at marinas should leave their boats/vessels and move onto shore. Do not return to boats unless instructed by officials.
There is no need to evacuate other areas unless directly advised by local civil defence authorities. Coastal inundation (flooding of land areas near the shore) is not expected as a result of this event. We are advising people to:
• Move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries.
• Do not go to the coast to watch the unusual wave activity as there may be dangerous and unpredictable surges.
• Listen to local civil defence authorities and follow any instructions.
• Share this information with family, neighbours and friends.
Queenstown Lakes District Council

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