![\"Flooded](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4JPTZNS_Ruamahanga_River_floodingIMG_1582_jpeg.jpeg\")
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\nFlooded Ruamahanga River, taken from hillside at Morisons Bush looking down on the South Wairarapa. Pockets of native bush and windbreaks are now islands among flooded paddocks.
\nPhoto: Mike Laven\n<\/p>\n
River levels have been dropping in Tararua District since an emergency mobile alert was issued over the threat from the Wainui River, upstream from Herbertville.<\/p>\n
Civil Defence Manawat\u016b Whanganui said the alert stopped broadcasting just after 3.30am on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Also overnight the Moutoa floodgates, between Foxton and Shannon, were opened after levels in the Manawat\u016b River got high enough just after 2am.<\/p>\n
Carterton’s mayor Steve Cretney said on Tuesday night five homes were evacuated on Gladstone Road as a precaution due to rising river levels.<\/p>\n
The occupants of the homes that were evacuated have been able to return home today.<\/p>\n
The Waihenga Bridge on State Highway 53 will remain closed until water levels drop by a further metre.<\/p>\n
“I think we’re all very grateful and that we seem to be through the worst of the heavy rain that we had here,” Cretney said.<\/p>\n
He said the extent of the damage would not be known until floodwaters receded further. The slips that have been visible have been cleared.<\/p>\n
“But we’re looking like we’ve come through it pretty unscathed. So, we’ve been very lucky.”<\/p>\n
He added that evacuees were orignially reluctant to leave. “They were determined not to be evacuated, but the police and the Fire and Emergency teams actually persuaded them to see a bit of sense and what could potentially occur, and they agreed to be evacuated.”<\/p>\n
Being proactive was “good” in these situations. “I fully support our police and Fire and Emergency and our civil defence emergency management team in those decisions.”<\/p>\n
Rivers still very high<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Wairarapa councils are warning people they are not out of the woods, even as weather eases and flooding recedes.<\/p>\n
Heavy rainfall yesterday and overnight has left very high rivers, with some roads still closed.<\/p>\n
In a social media post, the Masterton and South Wairarapa councils are telling people the rivers are likely to stay high for at least another 24 hours.<\/p>\n
That meant there was still a risk of more flooding, as well as slips which can occur quickly and without warning.<\/p>\n
SH53, the main road to Martinborough, is still closed because of water that is very close to the top of the bridge.<\/p>\n
A state of emergency remains in place.<\/p>\n
200mm of rain in Hastings District<\/p>\n
In Hawke’s Bay, Civil Defence said overnight emergency crews were on the ground supporting people and properties caught in localised flooding in parts of Hastings District.<\/p>\n
Police say 40 people were evacuated from an area in Te Awanga Point overnight due to flooding.<\/p>\n
Officers helped with the evacuations shortly after 10pm alongside Fire and Emergency New Zealand.<\/p>\n
Hastings District Council said 10 people from the campground in Te Awanga were supported with accommodation, three people have not yet returned.<\/p>\n
The council estimated it has had up to 200mm of rain in some places in the last 24 hours.<\/p>\n
The rain has now eased but the council was advising people to stay away from streams and rivers and to take care on roads as some trees have fallen.<\/p>\n
Staff would continue to monitor the situation today but at this stage no further issues were expected.<\/p>\n
North of Wellington, State Highway 2 at Remutaka Hill was reopened.<\/p>\n
FINAL UPDATE 6:20AM, WED 22 APR \u2014 NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi – Wellington (@nztawgtn) April 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Repair works after a washout forced the road to shut<\/a> have been completed.<\/p>\n But NZTA warns that river levels at Ruamahanga River are still high.<\/p>\n Heavy rain watches for Hawke’s Bay, Northland and Coromandel<\/p>\n A heavy rain watch has been issued for 24 hours for eastern Northland south of the Bay of Islands, Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel Peninsula.<\/p>\n The rainfall is expected from 9m on Thursday. MetService says it’s uncertain at present when the heaviest falls will occur.<\/p>\n Hawke’s Bay from Tutira northwards also has a heavy rain watch in place through until 2pm today.<\/p>\n MetService was expecting some periods of heavy rain, with peak rates of 10mm to 15mm per hour this morning.<\/p>\n \nFlood damage at a property on Balfour Street in the Wellington suburb of Mornington. ‘Hazards remain’ – council<\/p>\n Most Wellington City Council services, including pools, recreation centres, libraries, and community centres, are reopening on Wednesday after heavy rain and flooding hit the capital this week.<\/p>\n A council spokesperson said Island Bay Library remained closed due to flood-related damage, as did the Newlands Library and Community Centre, due to previous storm damage.<\/p>\n Grassed sports fields also remain closed.<\/p>\n The council said the Botanic Garden and \u014ctari Wilton’s Bush were open, however, they recommended avoiding the Town Belt and reserves while rangers assessed tracks and clear debris.<\/p>\n The Southern Landfill has also been impacted by heavy rain and was only open for commercial waste only.<\/p>\n “This will be reviewed daily. We are working on options to support residents to safely dispose of storm-related waste and will provide an update in the coming days.”<\/p>\n Kerbside rubbish and recycling collections were continuing as normal.<\/p>\n WCC said the state of emergency remained in place while the risk of further impacts continues.<\/p>\n “While the heaviest rain has passed, hazards remain. Please stay alert for slips and landslides, these can occur quickly and without warning, even after the rain has eased.”<\/p>\n It said emergency services and response teams were actively working in affected areas, including supporting properties impacted by flooding and landslips, particularly in the southern suburbs.<\/p>\n The Wellington City Emergency Operations Centre also remained active and would continue operating for the duration of the emergency.<\/p>\n Caution needed, mayor says<\/p>\n \nFran Wilde Heavy rain in South Wairarapa is beginning to ease but its mayor is advising people to remain “very, very careful”.<\/p>\n South Wairarapa mayor Fran Wilde welcomed the region being opened up. “The good news is that the Remutaka Hill Road is now open.”<\/p>\n The critical stretch of State Highway 2 had been closed since yesterday following a bridge washout.<\/p>\n “However, I think we still need to ask people to be very, very careful,” Wilde said.<\/p>\n River levels were still high and would need time to drain.<\/p>\n “There’s a lot of water,” she said.<\/p>\n Wilde said some bridges were still not open, includng the main bridge into Martinborough.<\/p>\n When asked how much it would cost to repair damages to the road infrastructure she said: “I have absolutely no idea. I couldn’t say that until our people have been out and looked at everything.”<\/p>\n Torrential rain over the weekend caused flooding and damage<\/a> to parts of the lower North Island.<\/p>\n
SH2 between Kaitoke and Featherston (Remutaka Hill) has now REOPENED following an earlier bridge washout. Road users are advised to take extra care along this route. ^JP https:\/\/t.co\/SpWFlIf1FP<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/thHzMW4AV8<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Flood](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4JPVP7E_Image_86_jfif.jpeg\")
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\nPhoto: RNZ \/ Mark Papalii\n<\/p>\n![\"Fran](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4JZEG9T_FRAN_WILD_CROP_png.jpeg\")
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\nPhoto: Supplied\n<\/p>\n