20/04/2026
Updated 4.55PM
🔴 RED HEAVY RAIN WARNING now in place for the Wellington Region
Conditions have escalated. People across the region are urged to stay indoors and avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.
We are aware that there is misinformation going around the community. Clarification is as below:
• No bridges are closed as of 4.55PM today.
• Council staff are not door-knocking to ask community to evacuate.
🚧 Road update: closures in the region
⛔ Closed:
• One lane closure at 615 Whiteman Valley due to slip
👍Opened:
• All state highways remain open.
If you’re travelling, check conditions before you leave and be prepared for detours and delays.
🚉Public transport update
• Bus and rail services remain operating at this stage.
• If you are using the Wairarapa Line, you are strongly encouraged to travel on the 4:25pm service at the latest.
• All Metlink harbour ferry services are cancelled today and tomorrow.
Passengers are advised to:
• Act early, head home, and stay home
• Avoid unnecessary travel
• Allow extra time for journeys
• Expect delays and disruptions across bus and rail services
🚨Know your risk🚨
If your property is prone to flooding, you are encouraged to move to higher ground. Do not wait for conditions to worsen.
You can view flood-prone areas, including stormwater, rivers, and low-lying zones, here:
👉 https://gwrc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html...
Please continue to follow all previous advice. Conditions are changing quickly, and updates will be provided as they come through. Stay safe.
--------------------
Update 3.30pm
🛡️Council has activated its Emergency Operations Centre as part of the Local State of Emergency that has been declared in the Wellington Region.
Our teams and contractors are responding to calls within the community.
🔴 A Red Heavy Rain Warning and Strong Wind Watch are currently in place until 9pm tomorrow Tuesday (21 April).
🌬️ Rain with heavy falls is expected to continue, with possible downpours. We are also expecting strong southerlies, with gales gusting 100km/h in exposed places.
🙅♂️Reports that Council is door-knocking and asking residents to evacuate are incorrect. We are asking residents who are in known flood areas to be prepared to move if necessary. If you feel unsafe do not wait for a formal request to evacuate.
In the meantime people are advised to stay inside if your house is safe and avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.
--------------------
Updated 2.30PM
‼️Local State of Emergency declared for Wellington Region‼️
A Local State of Emergency is now in place across the Wellingotn region, including Upper Hutt as severe weather continues to impact our communities.
Heavy rain is saturating the ground, increasing the risk of flooding, slips, and rapidly rising rivers. Further rain is forecast, and conditions may worsen quickly.
👉🏻 What this means for Upper Hutt
• There is an increased risk of surface flooding and slips, especially in low-lying and hillside areas.
• Streams and rivers can rise quickly.
• Conditions can change rapidly over the next 24 hours
👉🏻 What you should do now
If you haven't take action using our checklist from yesterday, to take a few simple steps to be ready:
• Check your emergency supplies and just top up what you need.
• Secure outdoor items that could be moved by the heavy rain or wind or bring them inside to prevent damage.
• Clear gutters, drains and debris around your property to reduce flooding risk.
• Make a plan for your household and pets in case services are disrupted
• Check in on neighbours, friends, and anyone who may need extra support, when it is safe to do so.
• Be prepared for power outages. Have torches ready and fully charge phones and power banks
• Prepare for possible disruptions, including travel delays and localised flooding.
• Talk with your family about a plan in case services like power, water, or internet are disrupted.
Stay safe
• Do not walk, swim, or drive through floodwater.
• Avoid low-lying and flood-prone areas, especially if your property has flooded before.
• Move to higher ground immediately if water levels rise or you feel at risk. Do not wait for conditions to worsen.
• Stay home if it is safe to do so and avoid unnecessary travel.
What a state of emergency means
This allows emergency services to:
• direct evacuations if needed
• restrict access to unsafe areas
• prioritise response efforts to protect life
👉 IT DOES NOT MEAN EVERYONE HAS TO EVACUATE. Continue daily activities only if it is safe to do so but avoid unnecessary travel.
ℹ️ Stay updated through official channels,
📍 Weather: MetService New Zealand
📍 Emergency prep: Wellington Region Emergency Management Office
📍 Roads: NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi - Wellington
📍 Public transport: Metlink
📍 Local updates: Follow us on Facebook or our website or the other local councils in our region
We’ll continue to provide updates as the situation develops. Stay safe.
Update: Monday 10.05pm
🚧 Additional road and safety update
Please STAY AWAY from the parking area under the Silverstream Bridge. People have been gathering there to observe river levels; however this poses a significant safety risk.
Please do not go near rivers, streams, or bridges during this weather event, as water levels can rise quickly and conditions can change without warning.
UPPER HUTT ROAD UPDATES
⛔ Closed / restricted:
• One lane is closed at 615 Whiteman Valley due to a slip.
• The right lane on Wallaceville Hill Road is closed due to a fallen tree.
STATE HIGHWAY UPDATES
• For the latest information on state highway, please check: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/journey-planner
Please avoid unnecessary travel.
If you’re travelling, check conditions with NZTA and the local councils before you leave, drive with care, increased following distance and be prepared for detours and delays.
--------------------
Update: Monday 8.10pm
📍 Local road and bridge update
We are continuing to actively monitor local roads, bridges, and surrounding infrastructure across Upper Hutt.
Conditions may change quickly as the weather event continues. Please take extra care if you are out and about and expect surface water, debris, and reduced visibility in some areas.
⚠️ Please stay away from rivers, streams, and bridge areas during this weather event. Do not go out to watch rising water or check conditions at bridges.
🚗 If you must travel:
• Drive to the conditions and slow down
• Increase following distances between vehicles
• Use headlights and stay alert for surface flooding, slips, and debris
• Avoid unnecessary travel where possible
⚠️ Safety and reporting
Please help us keep the community safe by reporting issues appropriately:
• Report hazards or debris to Council: 04 527 2169
• For slips on private property, emergencies, or risks to personal safety: call 111
• For property damage or loss of personal contents: contact your insurance provider
We appreciate the community’s support in sharing accurate information and continuing to check on one another where it is safe to do so. Conditions remain dynamic and further updates will be provided as required.
--------------------
Update: Monday 4.55pm
🔴 RED HEAVY RAIN WARNING now in place for the Wellington Region
Conditions have escalated. People across the region are urged to stay indoors and avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.
We are aware that there is misinformation going around the community. Clarification is as below:
• No bridges are closed as of 4.55PM today.
• Council staff are not door-knocking to ask community to evacuate.
🚧 Road update: closures in the region
⛔ Closed:
• One lane closure at 615 Whiteman Valley due to slip
👍Opened:
• All state highways remain open.
If you’re travelling, check conditions before you leave and be prepared for detours and delays.
🚉Public transport update
• Bus and rail services remain operating at this stage.
• If you are using the Wairarapa Line, you are strongly encouraged to travel on the 4:25pm service at the latest.
• All Metlink harbour ferry services are cancelled today and tomorrow.
Passengers are advised to:
• Act early, head home, and stay home
• Avoid unnecessary travel
• Allow extra time for journeys
• Expect delays and disruptions across bus and rail services
🚨Know your risk🚨
If your property is prone to flooding, you are encouraged to move to higher ground. Do not wait for conditions to worsen.
You can view flood-prone areas, including stormwater, rivers, and low-lying zones, here:
👉 https://gwrc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=255ac9dd590a4d1cb347c56ecbb6376e
Please continue to follow all previous advice. Conditions are changing quickly, and updates will be provided as they come through. Stay safe.
--------------------
Update 3.30pm
🛡️Council has activated its Emergency Operations Centre as part of the Local State of Emergency that has been declared in the Wellington Region.
Our teams and contractors are responding to calls within the community.
🔴 A Red Heavy Rain Warning and Strong Wind Watch are currently in place until 9pm tomorrow Tuesday (21 April).
🌬️ Rain with heavy falls is expected to continue, with possible downpours. We are also expecting strong southerlies, with gales gusting 100km/h in exposed places.
🙅♂️Reports that Council is door-knocking and asking residents to evacuate are incorrect. We are asking residents who are in known flood areas to be prepared to move if necessary. If you feel unsafe, do not wait for a formal request to evacuate.
In the meantime people are advised to stay inside if your house is safe and avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.
--------------------
Update: Monday 2.30pm
‼️Local State of Emergency declared for Wellington Region‼️
A Local State of Emergency is now in place across the Wellingotn region, including Upper Hutt as severe weather continues to impact our communities.
Heavy rain is saturating the ground, increasing the risk of flooding, slips, and rapidly rising rivers. Further rain is forecast, and conditions may worsen quickly.
👉🏻 What this means for Upper Hutt
• There is an increased risk of surface flooding and slips, especially in low-lying and hillside areas.
• Streams and rivers can rise quickly.
• Conditions can change rapidly over the next 24 hours
👉🏻 What you should do now
If you haven't take action using our checklist from yesterday, take a few simple steps now to be ready:
• Check your emergency supplies and just top up what you need.
• Secure outdoor items that could be moved by the heavy rain or wind or bring them inside to prevent damage.
• Clear gutters, drains and debris around your property to reduce flooding risk.
• Make a plan for your household and pets in case services are disrupted.
• Check in on neighbours, friends, and anyone who may need extra support, when it is safe to do so.
• Be prepared for power outages. Have torches ready and fully charge phones and power banks
• Prepare for possible disruptions, including travel delays and localised flooding.
• Talk with your family about a plan in case services like power, water, or internet are disrupted.
Stay safe
• Do not walk, swim, or drive through floodwater.
• Avoid low-lying and flood-prone areas, especially if your property has flooded before.
• Move to higher ground immediately if water levels rise or you feel at risk. Do not wait for conditions to worsen.
• Stay home if it is safe to do so and avoid unnecessary travel.
What a state of emergency means
This allows emergency services to:
• direct evacuations if needed
• restrict access to unsafe areas
• prioritise response efforts to protect life
👉 IT DOES NOT MEAN EVERYONE HAS TO EVACUATE. Continue daily activities only if it is safe to do so but avoid unnecessary travel.
Stay updated through official channels,
📍 Weather: MetService New Zealand
📍 Emergency prep: Wellington Region Emergency Management Office
📍 Roads: NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi - Wellington
📍 Public transport: Metlink
📍 Local updates: Follow us on Facebook or our website or the other local councils in our region
We’ll continue to provide updates as the situation develops. Stay safe.
