Taranaki Civil Defence Emergency Management

03/06/2026

Heavy rain is expected across parts of Taranaki overnight and through Friday, especially north of Eltham and around Taranaki Maunga.

The heaviest rain is expected from late tonight through Friday afternoon, with heavy downpours possible around the Maunga and a chance of thunderstorms.

The forecast:
MetService Heavy Rain warning in place north of Eltham from 11pm tonight through to 7pm (5 June)
90-120mm of rain across the region
Up to 150-200mm possible around Taranaki Maunga
Heavy downpours and possible thunderstorms Friday afternoon

What this could mean:
Stream and rivers may rise quickly
Surface flooding and slips are possible
Roads could become dangerous, especially in rural or low lying areas

Rain is expected to continue into Friday night , even after the warning officially ends.

If you have time:
Check on outdoor items
Clear drains and gutters (a jacket is recommended as the rain has already started in many areas)
Avoid flood-prone areas if possible
Drive carefully and to the conditions, never drive though flood water

Keep an eye on the latest forecasts and road conditions before heading out.

Safe up to date with forecasts, road conditions and other information here ➡️ https://taranakiem.govt.nz/stay-informed

30/05/2026

🟠Heavy Rain Warning in place for Taranaki Maunga 🟠

MetService has issued an Orange Heavy Rain Warning for Taranaki Maunga from midnight tonight through until 9am Tuesday (2 June).

250–300mm of rain is expected over the warning period, with the heaviest rain forecast Monday evening and overnight.

Heavy rain like this can cause:
➡️Streams and rivers to rise quickly
➡️Surface flooding and slips
➡️Dangerous driving conditions around the maunga and surrounding roads

If you’re planning to head out keep a close eye on the latest forecasts and road conditions.

Now is a good time to:
✔️ Clear drains and gutters around your home
✔️ Secure loose outdoor items
✔️ Avoid low-lying or flood-prone areas if there is heavy rain
✔️ Drive cautiously and allow extra travel time
✔️ Stay up to date with official information

Stay up to date with the latest information here: https://taranakiem.govt.nz/stay-informed

08/05/2026

🟠🟡A Strong Wind Warning and Heavy Rain Watch are in place for Taranaki this afternoon though until this evening (Friday 8 May)

Strong winds can bring down trees and powerlines, make driving difficult and turn unsecured items into hazards. Heavy rain can also quickly lead to slips, surface flooding and dangerous road conditions.

If you haven't already now is a good time to:
👉Secure anything outside that could blow away
👉Charge phones and devices
👉Check drains and gutters are clear
👉Think about your travel plans especially if you are heading out of our region north

Road conditions can change quickly during severe weather. SH3 through Awakino Gorge area is already operating under restrictions and closures due to ongoing slip damage and roadworks. Further rain and wind may impact access or cause additional disruptions.

Before travelling check:
👉NZTA Journey Planner
👉MetService Weather warning and watches
👉 Official council channels

Know how to stay informed: https://taranakiem.govt.nz/stay-informed

06/05/2026

A strong wind warning is in place for Taranaki tomorrow (8 May) from 3pm through to midnight.

Northerly winds could gust up to 130km/h in exposed areas.

Strong winds can bring down trees and powerlines, make driving difficult, and pick up loose outdoor items.

Now’s a good time to:
🏡 Secure trampolines, outdoor furniture, and loose items
🚗 Take extra care on the roads, especially if you drive a motorcycle or high-sided vehicle
📱 Keep up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings from MetService

There is also a Heavy Rain Watch in Place for the Taranaki Maunga from 4pm tomorrow until 11pm.

We’ll continue monitoring the situation and share updates if needed.

06/05/2026

Many people might expect an Emergency Mobile Alert to go to everyone during an emergency.

In reality, alerts are sent to phones in specific areas where there’s an immediate risk.

So if you don’t get one, it doesn’t always mean nothing’s happening it just means your area may not be directly affected.

That’s why it’s helpful to stay informed in a few different ways:
📱 Follow official pages
🌧 Check the forecast
👀 Keep an eye on what’s happening around you

Emergency Mobile Alerts are just one tool to help keep people safe, the more ways you stay informed, the better prepared you’ll be.

04/05/2026

Let’s keep it simple.

You don’t need a fancy setup to be prepared, just the basics.

Here’s a quick checklist:
💧 Water (3 days)
🔦 Torch
📻 Radio
🔋 Spare batteries
🩹 First aid kit
🥫 Easy long lasting food
🔌 Power bank

That’s it. Start there
Save this so you can tick it off later

03/05/2026

We've seen a number of severe weather events around New Zealand recently even if Taranaki hasn't been directly impacted getting prepared is still important. Getting prepared now means you’re not scrambling when something does hit.

Start small:
✔️ Check your supplies
✔️ Know where your torch is
✔️ Have a plan with your household

Send this to someone who keeps saying “we’ll do it later”

23/04/2026

NZTA have advised that SH3 closed between Piopio-Mōkau remains closed until at least Saturday 2 May due to significant slips.

Recent heavy rain has caused a large, still-moving slip making the area unsafe. Crews need to build a stable platform before the road can reopen (likely one lane under traffic management).

We know this is disruptive. Crews are working to reopen the road as soon as it’s safe.

For updates follow the NZTA facebook.

State Highway 3 between Piopio and Mōkau remains closed until at least Saturday 2 May while roadworkers clear a significant number of slips. This date may change if the weather worsens or if we uncover further damage to the road.

Heavy rain over the last several days caused many slips along this stretch of road. One significant slip (pictured) is the main reason the road cannot reopen yet.

This slip has seen roughly 12-16 thousand cubic metres of material come down the hill – the equivalent of almost 1,400 standard rubbish trucks. The slip is still moving, which means more material could come down without warning.

Before we can reopen the road, we need to build a ‘bench’ – a stable platform that creates a catch area for any further debris and makes room to reopen one lane under traffic management. Until the bench is in place and our geotechnical assessments confirm the area is stable, it isn’t safe to have traffic through the gorge.

While this part of State Highway 3 is closed you can use State Highway 4 as an alternative route. We know how disruptive this is – we’ll have travel restored as quickly as we can.

We’ll continue to provide updates on this page – follow us if you aren’t already.

18/04/2026

ROADS UPDATE Sunday 19 April 12:30pm:
🔴SH43 between Whangamomona and Taumarunui is CLOSED due to flooding.
🔴SH3 Awakino between Mokau and Piopio remains CLOSED.
🟠SH3 Mt Messenger is OPEN under stop/go traffic controls for the remainder of the day.

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ROADS UPDATE Sunday 19 April 9am:
🟢SH43 is now OPEN under temporary speed restrictions.
🟠SH3 Mt Messenger is under stop/go traffic controls for the remainder of the day.
🔴SH3 Awakino between Mokau and Piopio remains closed.

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UPDATE 8pm: SH43 is CLOSED as well between Whangamomona and Taumarunui

🔴SH3 Awakino and SH43 Whangamomona - Taumarunui are CLOSED🔴

SH3 Awakino between Mokau and Piopio, and SH43 between Whangamomona and Taumarunui are CLOSED due to flooding and rockfalls caused by heavy rainfall. These roads will remain CLOSED overnight.

More rain is forecast overnight across parts of the region. As slips and other hazards can occur without notice, please avoid travelling in this area until further notice.

Check the NZTA website for updates: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions

16/04/2026

Update Sat 18 April evening:

MetService have updated the forecast for the current Orange Heavy Rain Warning.

➡️ New Forecast: Expect a further 30 to 50 mm of rain but 70 to 90 mm about the King Country, central plateau and Taranaki Maunga on top of what has already fallen. Peaks rates of 15 to 25 mm/h in possible thunderstorms, and a low risk of localised downpours of 25 to 40 mm/h this evening and overnight.

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Update Sat 18 April morning:

MetService have adjusted the Period for the Orange Heavy Rain Warning.

➡️ New Period: 23 hours from 10:00am Sat 18 Apr to 9:00am Sun 19 Apr
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Heads up Taranaki whānau, we have some rain coming this weekend.

🔶Taranaki has been issued an Orange - Heavy Rain Warning🔶

Heavy Rain Warning - Orange:
➡️ Area: Taranaki north of Etham, also the King Country
➡️ Period: 19 hours from 10:00am Sat 18 Apr to 5:00am Sun 19 Apr
➡️ Forecast: Expect 80 to 110mm of rain, likely more about Taranaki Maunga. Peaks rates of 15 to 25 mm/h in possible thunderstorms, and a low risk of localised downpours of 25 to 40 mm/h.
Low 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.

For more information, check the MetService website:
https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home