21 January 2026
12.55pm
Kia ora e te whanau – most of you will have received an emergency alert, which was sent to all areas of the Bay of Plenty.
- Advising Red Heavy Rain Watch for the region
- Kawerau District Council and Civil Defence teams are working collaboratively in the background to understand what could be needed and proactively put in place
- Council operations staff are checking the district
- Risk to Kawerau may be surface flooding from heavy downpours
- Risk of trees and branches falling – please keep watch
Safest thing for Kawerau community – please stay off the roads
- Avoid any unnecessary travel
- Roads in nearby regions are prone to slips like the Matata Straights and the Rotoma and lakes areas
- The Waioeka Gorge (from Opotiki) remains closed from slips last week
- Risk to neighbouring districts of rising rivers and flooding
Kawerau Strength Is Manaakitanga/Caring for Others
- Please check in on your neighbours, whanau and friends by phone or message
- Be prepared it may be a wet and wild night
- Kawerau may need to be prepared to receive people and we will keep you posted
- Be mindful of our animals and where they are tonight
- Our strength is in our manaaki for our own community and our neighbouring communities
For more information on the weather, please visit Met Service
Contact Emergency Services on 111 for Fire, Police or Ambulance