Update 5.30pm, Saturday 25 April

Waste disposal drop-off options

The Council has the following free, one-off waste disposal options available for people needing to urgently dispose of storm waste:

a storm waste drop-off service at the Maranui landfill on Queens Drive, Lyall Bay – from Friday 24 to Monday 27 April
a special kerbside collection service (bags) – collections likely starting from Monday 27 April (bags available at locations on Saturday 25 April and Monday 27 April)
a kerbside collection for large eligible items – collections likely starting on Monday 27 April.

These are only for households and businesses highly impacted by the heavy rain in: Berhampore, Island Bay, Kingston, Mount Cook, Mornington, Vogeltown, Brooklyn, Newtown, Ōwhiro Bay and South Karori.

A proof of address will be required to use the Maranui landfill storm waste drop-off site.

The Southern Landfill in Ōwhiro Bay has reopened and is accepting general domestic waste and storm waste drop-offs at its usual rates.

The Tip Shop is closed from Friday 24 April to Sunday 26 April, except for the Recycling Centre and for those wishing to drop off items.

Maranui landfill waste drop-off

Impacted households and local businesses from suburbs in Berhampore, Island Bay, Kingston, Mount Cook, Mornington, Vogeltown, Brooklyn, Newtown, Ōwhiro Bay and South Karori can take their storm waste to the Maranui landfill, 370 Queens Drive, Lyall Bay | View on Google Maps. The entrance is by the bottom of Hungerford Road.

To drop-off storm waste at this site, proof of address is essential. Drop-offs are free.

You will need to place your waste into the skip bins. The Council will then truck this to the landfill.

Drop-off hours:

8am–4pm, Friday 24 April
8am–4pm, Saturday 25 April
9am–4pm, Sunday 26 April
9am–4pm, Monday 27 April

What items are storm waste?

Flood-damaged furniture
Wet carpets, underlay, and rugs
Soft furnishings (curtains, cushions, bedding)
Gyprock and plasterboard (from damaged walls)
General household items ruined by water
Small garden debris (twigs and silt)
E-waste

What can’t be disposed of?

Asbestos-containing materials (found in many older Wellington lino floors and wall claddings – this is a critical health risk)
Hazardous chemicals (paints, oils, solvents, or pool chemicals)
Lithium-ion batteries (e-bike batteries, power tools are a fire risk) can go to the Tip Shop
Gas bottles or fire extinguishers
Heavy medical waste or sharps
Large amounts of clean fill or concrete (these will exceed the crane’s lift limit)
Food waste (use your standard yellow bags to avoid attracting pests)

Kerbside collection – bags

We’ve set up a special free waste collection service for households severely impacted by the storm. Our data shows this is 600–700 households. This is for people most impacted by the storm, who haven’t already organised waste disposal and can’t easily make it to the Maranui landfill.

Large heavy-duty bags that can take up to 1 tonne of waste are available to pick up:

Please bring proof of address to show you’re a household from Berhampore, Island Bay, Kingston, Mount Cook, Mornington, Vogeltown, Brooklyn, Newtown or Ōwhiro Bay.

We will also be doing drop offs for impacted households in South Karori. If you didn’t receive a bag, and your property is severely impacted, please contact 04 499 4444.

These bags can take silt, sodden carpet, small furniture items and asphalt. As we only have a limited number of these bags (1,000 in total), we need to limit who we can provide this service to.

The bags need to be filled kerbside and collection will likely start on Monday 27 April. We’re currently working out the details (including when this collection service will end) and will update residents when details are confirmed.

Kerbside collection – large items

We are also doing a collection of large eligible waste items for people impacted by the storm who can’t fit large waste items into a car, trailer or the Council-supplied heavy-duty waste bags. This is for impacted households and businesses in Berhampore, Island Bay, Kingston, Mount Cook, Mornington, Vogeltown, Brooklyn, Newtown, and Ōwhiro Bay. Please put items out over the weekend for collection on Monday.

This pick-up will likely run from Monday 27 April. We’re currently working out the details (including when this collection service will end) and will update residents when details are confirmed. 

Mayoral Relief Fund

A $100,000 Mayoral Relief Fund has been launched to support people affected by the severe weather. The fund will be administered by the Wellington City Mission and is now open for public donations. Read our Mayoral relief fund media release. Apply or donate via Wellington City Mission.

State of emergency lifted

Wellington City Council and all three Wairarapa councils have now terminated their state of emergency and formally declared a Local Transition Period. 

This reflects that the most immediate life‑safety risks from the severe weather have passed – but the impacts are not over. 

Recovery is a new phase of our response, focused on supporting people, coordinating clean‑up and restoring services, while continuing to manage risks like saturated ground and slips.

The Wellington City Emergency Operations Centre remains active. Emergency services and response teams are actively working in affected areas, including supporting properties impacted by flooding and landslips, particularly in the southern suburbs.

If you notice a dangerous situation developing, do not wait for an official warning – act immediately. Call 111 if you need urgent assistance. 

Advice for returning to your home

If you have evacuated and are returning home, do not assume that the property is safe.

See public health advice on the Health NZ website.

The ground is saturated from rainfall. If you see signs of renewed flooding or signs of a slip, leave the property.