Tapawera Volunteer Fire Brigade

01/06/2026

01/06/2026

01/06/2026

🚨FLOODING - TAKE EXTRA CARE🚨

Tasman District Police are urging motorists to take extra caution on the roads this morning, with flooding present throughout the region.

In particular there is substantial flooding on SH6 in Brightwater and Wakefield.

Please drive to the conditions, and don't attempt to drive through floodwaters - you risk becoming stuck, or striking something that can't be seen from above the water.

In an emergency, dial 111.

01/06/2026

Update: 8am
New reports concerning flooding on the Richmond side of the Brightwater bridge. Approx 1m deep about 7.30am. Take extreme caution and cars not recommended. Checking out alternative routes.

Update:8am, now clear 👌
⚠️Warning ⚠️ surface flooding on the northern side of Spooners hill, down to Belgrove. Extreme caution required! Aquaplane is high risk.

10/05/2026

To the mothers that raised us.
To the mothers still raising little ones.
The mothers to be,
The Stepped Up mothers,
The mothers who’ve passed,
The mothers who race out the door when the pagers sound.
The mothers who stay behind and keep the family running.
Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Tapawera Volunteer Fire Brigade.
You are the heartbeat of our community no matter what type of uniform you have on!
Enjoy today!
(Inspired by Richmond Brigades post)

08/05/2026

Update & Upgrade:
So far the stop banks are holding well, keep an eye on those problematic areas if travelling.
As at 1.30pm, Kohatu Junction is still CLEAR of surface flooding.
any updates of the Culvert in Tadmor, low lying roads/houses at Tapawera Baton before the gravel road, Stanley Brook hill & Sunday creek road are welcome 🤗
Stay safe,
Peak rainfall between 6-8pm this evening.

Kia ora Tasman | te tai o Aorere. Our Hydrology team have an afternoon weather update for you all:

MetService has maintained Heavy Rain Warnings for northwest Tasman (north of Motueka) and the Nelson–Nelson Lakes National Park ranges through this evening. A Strong Wind Watch also remains in place for all of Nelson and Tasman from noon to 9 pm, with northerly winds approaching severe gale in exposed areas.

Notable rainfall totals to date:
• Collingwood: 100 mm
• Tākaka township: 94 mm
• Tākaka Hill: 100 mm
• Lower Motueka: ~40 mm
• Motupiko: 34 mm
• Golden Bay ranges: up to 360 mm (highest in the Anatoki catchment)
• Richmond & Bryant Ranges: 80–230 mm (highest near Slaty Peak)

Summary of expected flood flows:
• Moderate flooding (annual to 5 year): Tākaka, Riuwaka, Wai iti, Wairoa/Waimea, Maitai
• Low to moderate (up to annual): Aorere, Anatoki, Brooklyn, Motupiko
• Below annual: Motueka River

Heaviest rainfall is expected to peak around 6-8 pm this evening, with river flows anticipated to peak between approximately 7 pm and 11 pm.

In the Golden Bay ranges, a further 120–160 mm is forecast, with peak intensities of 20–30 mm/h possible. The Tākaka and Aorere rivers stabilised this morning but are beginning to rise again as rainfall increases. The Cobb Dam has remaining storage capacity. Moderate flooding is expected in the Tākaka River and tributaries (annual to 5-year flood flows), with potential overbank flows into adjacent paddocks.

Rainfall is also expected to increase this afternoon and evening in the Riuwaka catchment. Flows are expected around annual levels, potentially up to 5-year floods, generally contained within the channel and berms. Localised roading impacts are possible in the Riwaka Valley and on SH60 at the base of Tākaka Hill.

The main Motueka River is not expected to reach flood levels, with flows likely to remain below annual.

Across the eastern ranges and hills behind Nelson and Richmond, a further 80–120 mm is forecast, with up to 140 mm possible in the Richmond Range. Peak intensities of 15–25 mm/h are expected this afternoon. Rivers may rise again, with moderate flooding possible in the Wai iti, Wairoa, and Maitai rivers (annual to 5-year flood flows).

Although antecedent conditions are relatively dry, intense rainfall may still trigger slips. Small streams may respond rapidly and unpredictably where debris is present.

Links for more information:
• MetService warnings: https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home -south.
• Road closures across the region: https://rebrand.ly/httfpkm
• River flow reports: https://www.tasman.govt.nz/flow-report/
• Rainfall reports: https://www.tasman.govt.nz/report/

07/05/2026

Update:

Mōrena, here's an early morning update from our Hydrology team:

Last night, MetService added a yellow strong wind watch across the entire Nelson Tasman region for Friday midday to 9pm, expect northerly winds that may approach severe gale in exposed places.

Also, in the east, the orange heavy rain warning had additional advice, to expect 120 to 180mm but possibly as much as 250mm along the Richmond Ranges (range behind Maitai River through to St Arnaud) on top of the rain already fallen to 8pm Thursday.

Besides the addition of the strong wind watch across the region, based on the current weather forecast, the event in general remains of a nature and scale outlined yesterday, with forecast for the heaviest weather this afternoon.

In the ranges of Golden Bay and Tākaka Hill, overnight between 150 and 275mm rainfall was recorded, with the higher amounts in the Aorere River catchment. The Aorere and Tākaka Rivers have started to rise, and are both currently below Annual Flood flow. Road signage has been installed at the usual low points in roads in the lower Aorere River Valley.

As outlined yesterday, based on forecast rainfall, we expect moderate flooding in the Tākaka River and tributaries, between an Annual Flood flow and 5-year Flood flows which may see the river flow outside of normal river channels and across adjacent paddocks. At this stage, it is not expected that water will be across at Waitapu Splash, but this remains a possibility, especially early evening as the Tākaka River peaks. The Cobb Dam has good capacity for storage. For the Aorere River, we expect low to moderate flooding, with Annual Flood flows possible.

In the hills behind the Riuwaka River and Brooklyn River, 40mm rainfall was recorded overnight and these rivers have started to rise. Based on forecast rainfall, we expect low to moderate flooding with Annual Flood flows, where rivers are running bank full but contained within banks. There is a moderate risk of scattered thunderstorms in this area, and the Brooklyn River will be closely monitored.

In the main Motueka River catchment 20-30mm of rainfall was recorded overnight, and rivers have risen slightly. Based on forecast rainfall, we expect low flood flows in the main Motueka River, with Annual Flood flows where the river is contained within its banks.

The Motupiko River catchment recorded 20mm of rainfall overnight. Based on forecast rainfall in the Motupiko River, we expect moderate flooding of 5-year Flood flows, which may see the river flow outside of normal river channels and across adjacent paddocks. It is possible that surface water may cross the road between Korere and Kikiwa and the state highway near Kohatu.

Across the Bryant and Richmond ranges and the hills to the east behind Nelson and Richmond, 20 to 70mm was recorded overnight. Eastern rivers have started to rise, and based on forecast rainfall, we expect moderate flooding in the Wai-iti, Wairoa and Maitai Rivers, of Annual Flood to 5 -year Flood flows, where rivers are running bank full and may flow across adjacent low-lying paddocks and across known low points in roads.

There is a possibility of land slippage later today and early evening where the ground is sodden and heavy rainfall associated with strong winds and topographic uplift over the hills and scattered thunderstorms are forecast. Areas where this risk is possible include Pōhara, Abel Tasman, Richmond and Nelson. Likewise, treefall is also possible later today with severe northerly gales possible in exposed places.

Large wave action on northerly facing beaches of Golden and Tasman Bays can be expected with wind-driven waves. Areas possibly impacted include the shorelines of Abel Tasman and Ruby Bay through to Durville Island.

There is a moderate risk of scattered thunderstorm activity across the region. This may cause localised surface flooding.

Links for more information:
• MetService warnings: https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home -south.
• Road closures across the region: https://rebrand.ly/httfpkm
• River flow reports: https://www.tasman.govt.nz/flow-report/
• Rainfall reports: https://www.tasman.govt.nz/report/

07/05/2026

Please take the time to read this.
Stay safe 👌

Here's an update from our Hydrology team on what we expect to see weather-wise across the region.

MetService has upgraded the yellow weather watch for heavy rain across the eastern ranges to an orange warning, and extended the area to include the Nelson Lakes. An orange heavy rain warning also remains in place for the lower Motueka, Riwaka and Golden Bay area, and another one for the southern end of the western ranges to the Buller River.

The majority of the Nelson Tasman region is now under an orange heavy rain warning advisory for overnight Thursday and Friday, with a moderate risk of thunderstorms across all areas under a warning.

In the west, moderately high rainfall totals and intensities are forecast, with a moderate risk of thunderstorm activity.

Based on the current forecast, we expect moderate flooding in the Tākaka River and tributaries, between an annual flood flow and 5-year flood flows, which may see the river flow outside of normal river channels and across adjacent paddocks. The Cobb Dam has good capacity for storage.

We expect low to moderate flooding in the Aorere River, Riwaka and Brooklyn Rivers, and main Motueka River, with annual flood flows possible, where rivers are running bank full but contained within banks.

Based on the current forecast, we expect moderate flooding in the Motupiko River catchment, between annual flood flow and 5-year flood flows, with a possibility that the river may flow outside normal river channels and across adjacent paddocks.

In the east, moderately high rainfall totals and intensities are forecast, with a moderate risk of thunderstorm activity.

Based on the current forecast, we expect low to moderate flooding in the Wai-iti, Wairoa and Maitai Rivers, with annual flood flows possible, where rivers are running bank full but contained within banks. However, allowing for a moderate risk of thunderstorm activity, it would be prudent to plan for slightly higher flows, between annual flood flow and 5-year flood flows, where rivers are running bank full and may flow across adjacent low-lying paddocks and across known low points in roads.

It is very difficult to forecast for thunderstorm activity and heavy downpours, and localised surface flooding is possible across the region.

Whilst starting with relatively dry ground, this event is slightly longer duration and has heavy rain with thunderstorms possible later in the event when the ground will be saturated. There is a possibility of land slippage across the hills behind Pōhara, Abel Tasman, Richmond and Nelson.

The tidal range is moderate at present, but with very strong northerly winds on Friday, there is the potential for larger-than-normal wind-driven waves along northerly facing beaches of Golden and Tasman Bays Friday afternoon through Saturday morning. This includes shorelines between Ruby Bay and Cable Bay.

Links for more information:
• MetService warnings: https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home -south.
• Road closures across the region: https://rebrand.ly/httfpkm
• River flow reports: https://www.tasman.govt.nz/flow-report/
• Rainfall reports: https://www.tasman.govt.nz/report/

02/05/2026

Was a pleasure to be able to attend the local cross country and provide an extra obstacle. Most of our brigade have some connection to the school and was great to see all the kids in their house colours doing their best and having fun. 🤩