Flood Room

Flood room is activated

Published at 11:30pm on Sunday, 12 April 2026

Situation

The strong winds and heavy rain affecting our region associated with Cyclone Vaianu are easing as it moves southeast of the North Island tonight (Sunday, 12 April). Whilst the immediate threat from this system has passed and all Cyclone Vaianu-related severe weather watches and warnings for our region have now been cancelled, Flood Room remains activated as some rivers will continue to rise over the coming 24-48 hours whilst catchments drain and because MetService has forecast further rainfall throughout the coming week.

Flooding and landslides have occurred in a number of catchments and our Hauraki (Waihou-Piako) zone is in active flood response mode. A new convective front moving across the region on Monday 13 April may bring thunderstorms and localised downpours across already saturated catchments, meaning further flooding and land instability is possible. New severe weather alerts may be issued at short notice by MetService.

You are urged to keep up to date with the latest forecasts, adjust plans as needed and be prepared to act, following all advice of civil defence and emergency response agencies. You should remain alert to weather forecasts, your surroundings and not take any chances.

Landslides can occur without any warning signs, even when the rain subsides. If you or people you know are in these areas, please be vigilant to signs of landslides and do not hesitate to act.

Warning signs:

• Small slips, rock falls, and sinking land, at the bottom of slopes.
• Sticking doors and window frames, which may mean the land is slowly moving under the house.
• Gaps where window frames are not fitting properly.
• Steps, decks, and verandas, moving or tilting away from the rest of the house.
• New cracks or bulges on the ground, road, footpath, retaining walls and other hard surfaces.
• Tilting trees, retaining walls, or fences.
• Water flowing out of a slope, like a new spring.

If you learn or suspect that a landslide is occurring, or is about to occur in your area, here’s what to do:

• Move quickly out of its path and stay away from it. Evacuate immediately if it is safe to do so. Your best protection is higher ground outside the path of the landslide.
• If you cannot leave safely, the side of your house furthest from the landslide is likely to be the safest location on your property.
• Take your pets with you and move livestock to safe paddocks if you can do so without endangering yourself.
• Alert your neighbours. They may not be aware of the potential hazard. It may save their lives. Help neighbours who need assistance to evacuate if you can do so without putting yourself in danger.

Be prepared

There are simple preparedness steps you can take now:

• Download the MetService App to your phone to receive weather alerts for your area. 
• Add links to your local council and civil defence emergency management websites and follow their social media profiles.
• Check drains and gutters around your property to ensure water can flow freely.
• Secure outdoor items that could blow away or block drainage channels.
• Review your household emergency plan, including how you will stay informed if conditions change. 

If an event does occur:

• Avoid driving through floodwaters and plan alternative routes if you live in a flood‑prone area.
• Contact local civil defence (or your council) if you observe any evidence of a landslip or flood impacts.
• Contact 111 if you are in immediate danger.

Please keep up to date with the current MetService weather forecasts and messages from local Civil Defence.

Visit our Environmental Data Hub for the latest river level and rainfall accumulations.

MetService forecast

Changes to the weather can occur quickly, so please keep up to date with the latest forecasts. For national severe weather information, MetService is New Zealand’s only authorised provider of Severe Weather Alerts. Download the MetService App to your phone to receive weather alerts and access rain radar information for your area.

Wind

There are no strong wind watches or warnings in place for the Waikato region at the time of this update.

Rain

There are no heavy rain watches or warnings in place for the Waikato region at the time of this update.

Thunderstorms

While there are no Thunderstorm Watches or Warnings, MetService has issued a 'Thunderstorm Outlook' indicating low to moderate risks of thunderstorms and localised downpours across the region throughout Monday 13 April. There is a possibility severe thunderstorm watches or warnings may be issued by MetService at short notice, so please be alert for and act on these without hesitation – do NOT wait for further analysis by Waikato Regional Council.

For information on preparing for and keeping safe during a storm, see the National Emergency Management Agency's Get Ready website.

A low risk of thunderstorms for much of the region between midnight Sunday and midday Monday, however, for the southwestern region including Waitomo, the risk is considered moderate as the front approaches and any thunderstorms that occur will be accompanied by heavy rain 10 to 25 mm/h.

Conditions are expected to intensify as the new front moves onto the western North Island during Monday afternoon. There is a moderate risk of thunderstorms for all of the region with heavy rain 10 to 25 mm/h, along with a low risk of downpours boosting localised rainfall rates to 25 to 40 mm/h. The moderate risk of thunderstorms eases in western parts during the afternoon and evening, but a low risk remains.

Likely/potential Impacts

Rivers and lakes

Rivers and streams are likely to rise, and flooding may occur in low-lying areas. Avoid driving through floodwaters and plan alternative routes if you live in a flood‑prone area.

Wind

Downbursts and strong localised winds can occur with thunderstorm activity. Trees may fall and powerlines may come down (treat all as live). Any unsecured items may be uplifted, so now is a good time to tie them down or bring them inside. High-sided vehicles may be affected by strong winds.

Please keep up to date with information from your local power provider, the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and local civil defence.

Coastal impacts

A significant wave event, associated with Vaianu, made beaches hazardous along the eastern Coromandel Peninsula and caused moderate to significant erosion. The minor to moderate risk of coastal inundation associated with the weather system has eased.

Eastern Coromandel

Significant wave events such as these cause waves to reach the lower dunes. Intermittently, there may be some wave run up that overtops low lying dune areas and coastal infrastructure. Waves may rapidly surge up and down the beach face periodically, therefore caution is necessary on the beaches during Sunday.

The significant wave event is likely to cause moderate erosion impacts along many eastern Coromandel beaches. Significant erosion hotspots include Whangapoua, Matarangi, Kūaotunu, Hot Water Beach, Onemana, Whangamatā, Pauanui, Whiritoa and Buffalo Beach, Whitianga.

For Buffalo Beach and Brophy’s Beach, some wave overtopping onto SH25 in low lying sections during 2 hours either side of high tide (and possibly longer) on Sunday.

For eastern Coromandel towns, there was a minor to moderate risk of coastal inundation, although high coastal water levels may have exacerbated river flooding within coastal areas.

Firth of Thames 

For Firth of Thames, there may be some minor wave splashing along low lying areas, approximately 2 hours before and after high tides, on Sunday. 

West Coast

For the west coast of the Waikato region, coastal impacts are unlikely to be significant. A minor wave event is expected from Sunday onwards along the west coast.

High tide times 

The coastal impacts are expected during high tides on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The highest tides will likely occur over Sunday afternoon and early Monday morning.  

The high tides for Whitianga are:

Monday 13/04/2026

High tide - 03:07 am
High tide - 03:24 pm 

The high tides for Firth of Thames are: 

Monday 13/04/2026

High tide - 03:17 am
High tide - 03:27 pm

Land instability

Areas that would normally experience land instability may be affected. 

Any localised downpours that develop about the hill country and ranges of the region will heighten the risk and people in these areas should remain vigilant for early warning signs of earth movement. Road users should plan ahead and keep up to date with the latest from their local council and the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.

Contact local civil defence (or your council) if you observe any evidence of a landslip or flood impacts. Dial 111 if you are in immediate danger. Road users should plan ahead and keep up to date with the latest from their local council and the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. 

What we're doing

For eastern Coromandel towns, a minor to moderate risk of coastal inundation, although high coastal water levels may exacerbate river flooding within coastal areas.

Our Regional Flood Response team of scientists and subject matter experts is analysing the latest data and providing advice to other agencies around the region. This includes a range of functions such as severe weather and natural hazard analysis, understanding and responding to the flood impacts in the region, and ensuring our flood defence systems are operating at full capacity. This data is received, analysed and disseminated 24 hours a day. Our Local Flood Response teams are monitoring catchment impacts, operating flood and drainage schemes, and working with local stakeholders to respond to local issues.

We continue to liaise closely with civil defence, district and city councils and other partners, stakeholders, and agencies, providing them with severe weather impact analysis and support to local response operations.

Waikato Regional Council flood and drainage schemes

Our managed flood infrastructure has withstood the challenges of the recent weather. All flood defence systems have been inspected over the last 48 hours to ensure functionality. Our local operations staff will remain on standby to monitor flood and drainage schemes and will respond as necessary to any issues.

Waikato Regional Council telemetry

Our telemetry network continues to provide real-time data on rainfall and river levels and is monitored 24/7 by our Regional Flood Response team. Visit our Environmental Data Hub for the latest river level and rainfall accumulations. 

Next update

Flood Room will be updated by 1pm on Monday, 13 April, or earlier if the situation changes.

New Zealand Flood Pics

New Zealand Flood Pics is a photographic archive of flooding for Aotearoa New Zealand which is currently hosted by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA). It's free for anybody to upload or download flood photographs and your contributions are welcomed.

Go to New Zealand Flood Pics