Category: disasters
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Severe Weather Expected to Hit New Zealand
A strong, moist northwest flow is expected to bring severe weather to New Zealand, according to a MetService outlook issued on Thursday, October 9, 2025. The forecast, which spans from Saturday, October 11, to Tuesday, October 14, indicates that watches…
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Severe Weather Warnings Issued for Central and Southern New Zealand
MetService has issued severe weather warnings for central and southern New Zealand, forecasting heavy rain and strong northwest winds. An unsettled northwest flow with embedded fronts is expected to affect these areas into the weekend, with a slow-moving front near…
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Severe Weather Warning: Heavy Rain and Strong Winds Forecast for New Zealand
MetService issued a severe weather warning at 8:11pm on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, for central and southern New Zealand, anticipating periods of heavy rain and strong northwest winds. An unsettled northwest to westerly flow, accompanied by embedded fronts, is expected…
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Bucklands Beach Fire Now Treated as Double Homicide
A fatal fire in Bucklands Beach last Thursday is now being treated as a double homicide, police have confirmed. Emergency services were called to a Murvale Drive home around 2.30am, where they found the house fully engulfed in flames, according…
Law EnforcementSocial IssuesDisasters Bucklands BeachFatal FireDouble HomicideMurvale DriveCounties ManukauTofilau Faamanuia VaaeluaArsonNew Zealand Police
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Serious Crash Closes State Highway 1 at Domett, Canterbury
A serious crash has closed State Highway 1 at Domett, Canterbury, this morning. The single-vehicle accident, reported around 10 a.m., occurred between Darrochs Road and Ethelton Road. One person has sustained critical injuries and will be airlifted to a hospital.…
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Severe Weather Expected to Hit New Zealand
A severe weather outlook issued by MetService at 10:03am on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, indicates that a strong, moist northwest flow will impact New Zealand, with an embedded front affecting the upper South Island. High confidence exists that rainfall accumulations…
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Severe Weather Warning: Heavy Rain and Strong Winds Forecast for Central and Southern New Zealand
MetService has issued a severe weather warning for central and southern New Zealand, forecasting periods of heavy rain and strong northwest winds. A trough moving over the South Island today is bringing strong northwest winds to exposed areas. From Thursday…
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Police Briefing on Fatal Bucklands Beach Fire
Police will hold a stand-up briefing this afternoon concerning the fatal house fire in Bucklands Beach on October 2. Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Vaaelua, Counties Manukau District Crime Manager, will address the media at 12.30pm at the Counties Manukau Police…
MediaLaw EnforcementSocial IssuesDisasters Bucklands Beachfatal fireTofilau Faamanuia VaaeluaCounties ManukauManukau Station Roadpress conferenceNew Zealand Police
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Body Found in Manapouri Search Area
A body has been located by police in the Manapouri area during a search for a missing hunter. The search began Monday evening after the man did not return from a hunting trip off Supply Bay Road near Lake Manapouri.…
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Severe Weather Outlook: Heavy Rain and Gale Winds Forecast for New Zealand
A severe weather outlook issued by MetService forecasts a week of heavy rain and strong winds for New Zealand, starting Thursday, October 9, 2025. A moist northwest flow is expected to strengthen ahead of a front moving onto the far…
WeatherDisastersEnvironment MetServiceSevere Weather OutlookWestlandCanterburyWellingtonMetService - Severe Weather Outlook
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Severe Weather Warning: Gales and Heavy Rain for New Zealand
A severe weather warning has been issued for New Zealand, with a strong front bringing heavy rain and severe gales. The warning, issued at 8:35pm on Monday, October 6, 2025, highlights the Canterbury High Country and central New Zealand as…
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Serious Crash Blocks Kingston Garston Highway
A serious crash on State Highway 6, just south of Kingston, has blocked the Kingston Garston Highway. Police were alerted to the two-vehicle collision at 11.10am. Three people have sustained minor injuries, and ambulance services are present. Motorists are advised…
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Severe Weather Warning: Heavy Rain and Strong Winds Forecast for Southern and Central New Zealand
A severe weather warning has been issued for southern and central New Zealand, with a front bringing heavy rain and strong winds to the South Island. The warning, issued at 9:08 am on Monday, October 6, 2025, includes orange-level alerts…
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Magnitude 5.0 Earthquake Strikes Kermadec Islands, New Zealand
A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand, on October 5, 2025, at 14:32:00 UTC. The quake's epicenter was located at 30.566S, 178.031W, with a depth of 81 km. In New Zealand, the time near the epicenter was…
WeatherWorldDisasters EarthquakeKermadec IslandsSeismologyUSGSGeological SurveyHicks BayUSGS Earthquake Reports
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Severe Weather Warning: Heavy Rain and Strong Winds Forecast for Southern and Central New Zealand
MetService has issued a Severe Weather Warning for southern and central New Zealand, effective Sunday, October 5, 2025. A strong northwest flow, preceding a front, is expected to move onto the South Island on Monday afternoon and then quickly progress…
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Fatal Crash in Aka Aka Claims One Life
One person died following a single-vehicle crash in Aka Aka this morning. The incident was reported to authorities just before 5:30 a.m. on Aka Aka Road. The road was temporarily closed while emergency services responded and investigators examined the scene,…
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Fatal Crash on Thornton Road Claims One Life, Injures Four
A fatal crash on Thornton Road near Matatā has resulted in one death and four injuries this morning. Emergency services were alerted to the two-vehicle collision at 9.20am. One person sustained serious injuries, while three others suffered moderate injuries. As…
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Severe Weather Warning: Heavy Rain and Strong Winds Forecast for Southern and Central New Zealand
A severe weather warning has been issued by MetService at 10:40 am on Sunday, October 5, 2025, for southern and central New Zealand, anticipating heavy rain and strong winds. A front, preceded by a strong northwest flow, is expected to…
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Orange Heavy Rain Warning Issued for North Otago and Dunedin
MetService issued a Severe Weather Warning at 9:26 a.m. on Saturday, October 4, 2025, for heavy rain in Otago and Southland. A complex low-pressure system is moving across New Zealand today and Sunday, prompting warnings and watches for heavy rain.…
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Magnitude 5.2 Earthquake Strikes South of Kermadec Islands
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck south of the Kermadec Islands on October 3, 2025, at 16:26:58 UTC. The quake was located at 33.665S, 179.011W, with a depth of 38 km. Its epicenter was approximately 499.9 km NNE of Hicks Bay,…
WeatherWorldDisasters EarthquakeKermadec IslandsHicks BayWhakataneGisborneTaurangaUSGS Earthquake Reports
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Heavy Rain Warning Issued for Eastern Bay of Plenty and Otago
A severe weather warning was issued by MetService at 7:35pm on Friday, October 3, 2025, for heavy rain expected in eastern Bay of Plenty and eastern Otago. A complex low-pressure system west of New Zealand is moving onto the country…
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Investigation Ongoing into Fatal Bucklands Beach Fire
An investigation is underway into a fatal fire that occurred early Thursday morning in Bucklands Beach. Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Va’aelua of Counties Manukau CIB stated that the police investigation is in its early stages. "The cause of the fire…
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MetService Issues Severe Weather Outlook for New Zealand
A severe weather outlook issued by MetService at 10:25 am on Friday, October 3, 2025, indicates a period of rain for most of New Zealand as a complex trough slowly moves eastwards. This will be followed by a building ridge…
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MetService Issues Severe Weather Outlook for New Zealand
A severe weather outlook issued by MetService at 10:12am on Friday, October 3, 2025, indicates a period of unsettled weather for New Zealand. The complex trough is slowly moving eastwards, bringing rain to most areas, followed by a building ridge…
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Police Investigate Suspicious Fires Near Wanaka, New Zealand
New Zealand Police are appealing to the public for information and video footage related to suspicious fires in Albert Town near Wanaka on September 20. Detective Phill Hamlin of Otago Lakes Criminal Investigations stated that the investigation team believes the…
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Fatal House Fire in Bucklands Beach Claims Two Lives
Two people have died following a house fire in Bucklands Beach early this morning. The incident occurred on Murvale Drive, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause. Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Va’aelua of Counties Manukau CIB, stated that…
Law EnforcementSocial IssuesDisasters Bucklands Beachhouse firefatalMurvale DriveCounties Manukau CIBTofilau Faamanuia Va’aeluainvestigationNew Zealand Police
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New Zealand Weather Outlook: Rain and Gale Warnings Issued
A large complex trough is moving slowly eastwards across New Zealand, potentially bringing rain to many areas. According to the MetService Severe Weather Outlook issued at 9:40am on Thursday, October 2, 2025, an associated low is expected to form east…
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House Fire in Bucklands Beach Leaves Two Missing
Emergency services responded to a house fire on Murvale Drive in Bucklands Beach this morning. The blaze was reported around 2:30 a.m., with the property fully ablaze upon arrival. Police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand are investigating the incident.…
DisastersLaw EnforcementSocial Issues House FireBucklands BeachMurvale DriveCounties Manukau CIBTofilau Faamanuia Va’aeluaNew Zealand PoliceAccident
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Magnitude 5.2 Earthquake Strikes Kermadec Islands, New Zealand
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand, on September 30, 2025, at 23:29:58 UTC. The earthquake's epicenter was located at 30.621S, 177.724W, with a depth of 35 km. The quake was 856.4 km NNE of Hicks Bay,…
WeatherWorldAustralasiaDisasters EarthquakeKermadec IslandsSeismologyUSGSNational Earthquake Information CenterHicks BayUSGS Earthquake Reports
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Body Found on Mount Taranaki After Search
Police confirmed a body was found on Mount Taranaki after a search began for a missing person reported on September 30 at 1pm. The individual was found deceased just after 5pm. A visible police presence is expected in the area…