Category: disasters
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Lost Walker Prompts Safety Reminder in Southland
A solo day walk turned into a rescue mission in Southland after a tramper became lost on the Makarewa Falls Track on Labour Day. Southland Police are urging anyone heading into the bush to ensure they are adequately prepared. Police…
Politics and GovernmentWeatherLaw EnforcementDisastersGeneral Weather SouthlandMakarewa Falls TrackLabour DaySearch and RescueLand Safety CodeHikingNew Zealand Police
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Roadworks Planned for Hawke's Bay State Highways, November 1-7
Roadworks are scheduled for Hawke’s Bay state highways between Saturday, November 1, and Friday, November 7. Travelers between Napier and Wairoa on State Highway 2 should plan for an extra 30 minutes of travel time. Upcoming closures include the SH51…
Politics and GovernmentTransportationDisasters Hawke's BayState Highway 2State Highway 5RoadworksTraffic ManagementClive BridgeDevil's ElbowNZ Transport Agency
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Serious Crash Blocks State Highway 3 Near Rukuhia
State Highway 3 near Rukuhia, Waikato, is blocked following a serious two-vehicle crash near the Narrows Road intersection. Police were called to the scene at approximately 1:20pm. Initial reports indicate critical injuries. The Serious Crash Unit has been notified, and…
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Fatal Crash in Epsom Claims One Life
One person died following a single-vehicle crash on Great South Road, Epsom, last night. Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 6:45 pm. Despite the efforts of emergency responders, one person was pronounced dead at the scene. Police…
DisastersLaw EnforcementTransportationSocial IssuesAustralasia
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Fatal Two-Vehicle Crash in Matamata Claims One Life
One person died following a two-vehicle crash in Matamata. Police were alerted to the incident at approximately 4:40 p.m. today, which occurred at the intersection of Waharoa Road East and Pohlen Road. Upon arrival, authorities located one person deceased at…
WorldTransportationLaw EnforcementDisastersSocial IssuesAustralasia
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Howard Reese Dies in Napier Boating Incident
Howard Reese, 78, of Napier, died following a boating incident off the coast of Napier on October 21. Police have released his name and extended condolences to his family and friends. The death will be referred to the coroner, according…
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Magnitude 5.0 Earthquake Hits Off New Zealand's South Island
A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck off the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand on October 29, 2025, at 07:20:27 UTC. The quake was centered at 47.086S, 164.787E, with a depth of 10 km. Its epicenter was approximately…
WeatherScience & TechnologyDisastersAustralasiaGeneral Weather EarthquakeSouth IslandRivertonInvercargillGoreUS Geological SurveyUSGS Earthquake Reports
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Serious Crash Closes Part of State Highway 2, Mangatāwhiri
Emergency services responded to a serious crash at the intersection of Pinnacle Hill Road and State Highway 2, Mangatāwhiri, after police were called at 2.36pm. Initial reports indicate serious injuries. The road is closed between Avon and Koheroa Roads, with…
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New Zealand Weather Forecast: From Snowy South to Sunny Weekend
Aotearoa New Zealand is experiencing an unstable south to southwest flow, bringing showers and snow, with thunderstorms expected in some areas. The unsettled weather is expected to clear by the end of today, leading to a mix of showers and…
WeatherAustralasiaDisastersGeneral Weather MetServiceSouth IslandNorth IslandSnowThunderstormsMetService New Zealand
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Heavy Snow Warning Issued for Canterbury High Country
MetService issued a Severe Weather Warning at 9:32 am on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, for heavy snow affecting the Canterbury region. A cold southwest flow over the South Island is bringing snow to low levels. A Warning is in force,…
WeatherDisasters MetServiceSevere Weather WarningHeavy Snow WarningCanterburySouth IslandOrange WarningNZ MetService
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Severe Weather Warnings Issued Across New Zealand
MetService has issued severe weather warnings for much of New Zealand, effective Monday night and Tuesday morning, as an active low-pressure system moves across the country from the Tasman Sea. The warnings include Orange Rain Warnings for Northland and the…
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Severe Weather Warnings Issued Across New Zealand
A severe weather warning has been issued for much of New Zealand, with an active low-pressure system from the Tasman Sea bringing heavy rain and strong winds. The warning, issued at 9:10pm on Monday, October 27, 2025, also forecasts heavy…
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Severe Weather Warnings Issued Across New Zealand
A severe weather warning has been issued by MetService, indicating a significant storm will impact much of New Zealand today and Tuesday morning. An active low-pressure system moving across the country is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds…
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Severe Weather Warnings Issued for New Zealand
New Zealand is bracing for a significant storm as an active low-pressure system moves across the country during Labour Day and Tuesday morning. MetService has issued several severe weather warnings, including heavy rain, strong wind, and heavy snow, for various…
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Fatal Motorbike Crash on Waiheke Island
A motorbike crash on Waiheke Island has resulted in one fatality and one person seriously injured. Emergency services responded to the incident on Ocean View Road, Oneroa, just before 2pm, following reports that a three-wheeled motorbike had collided with a…
WorldTransportationSocial IssuesAustralasiaDisastersLaw Enforcement
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Severe Storm Expected to Hit New Zealand on Labour Day
A severe weather outlook issued by MetService at 10:26 am on Sunday, October 26, 2025, forecasts a significant storm to impact much of New Zealand on Labour Day, Tuesday, October 28, 2025. The complex trough of low pressure over central…
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Severe Weather Warning: Storm to Hit New Zealand on Labour Day
A significant storm is forecast to impact much of New Zealand during Labour Day and Tuesday morning, prompting severe weather warnings from MetService. An active low-pressure system in the Tasman Sea will move across the country, bringing heavy rain and…
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Fatal Crash Closes Matuku Road in Morrinsville
One person has died following a single-vehicle crash on Matuku Road in Morrinsville overnight. Police were called to the scene at approximately 2.45am where one person was found deceased. The Serious Crash Unit is conducting a scene examination, and the…
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Severe Storm Predicted to Hit New Zealand on Labour Day
A severe weather outlook issued by MetService at 10:25 am on Saturday, October 25, 2025, forecasts a significant storm to impact much of New Zealand on Labour Day, Monday, October 27, 2025. A complex trough of low pressure moving from…
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Media Monitor: Thousands Without Power in New Zealand
Radio New Zealand is reporting that more than 25,000 homes and businesses across Southland and south Otago could be without power for some time. RNZ also reports that extreme winds have wreaked havoc across the lower South Island, where some…
WeatherHealthWorldSocial IssuesAgricultureMedical ScienceDisasters
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Earthquake Strikes East of North Island, New Zealand
A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck east of the North Island of New Zealand on October 24, 2025, at 08:31:41 UTC, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake was centered at 35.685S, 179.470W, with a depth of 10 km. The…
WorldWeatherDisasters EarthquakeNorth IslandHicks BayGisborneUSGSSeismologyUSGS Earthquake Reports
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New Zealand Weather: Settled Weekend Before Severe Weather Returns on Monday
After a week of wild weather, New Zealanders can look forward to a more settled weekend before another severe weather event arrives on Monday. Thursday saw extreme conditions across the country, with infrastructure and properties damaged, power cuts, flooding, and…
WeatherSportAustralasiaGeneral WeatherDisasters MetServiceSevere WeatherCanterburyAucklandWellingtonMetService New Zealand
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New Zealand Braces for Severe Weather: Heavy Rain, Snow, and Gales Forecast
A strong westerly flow is expected to cover New Zealand, bringing a series of severe weather conditions across the country. Issued at 10:20am on Friday, October 24, 2025, the MetService outlook warns of potential impacts from Sunday, October 26, through…
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Fire Ban in Canterbury Ignored, Police to Prosecute
Canterbury Police are investigating fires lit in the region despite a total fire ban. The ban, which extends to Monday, aims to reduce wildfire risks amid windy conditions. Superintendent Tony Hill, Canterbury District Commander, expressed disappointment and warned of prosecutions…
Politics and GovernmentDisastersLaw Enforcement Canterburyfire banfireworkswildfiresCanterbury PoliceTony HillNew Zealand Police
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Fatal Crash in Cavendish Claims One Life
One person died in a single-vehicle crash in Cavendish, Ashburton, overnight. Police were called to the scene on Anama Valetta Road at approximately 10.45pm. One person was pronounced dead at the scene. Another individual was transported to a hospital with…
WorldTransportationDisastersLaw EnforcementSocial IssuesAustralasia
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Severe Gale Warning Issued for Tararua District
MetService has issued a Severe Weather Warning at 8:24pm on Thursday, October 23, 2025, for central New Zealand, anticipating westerly gales and heavy rain. A front over the central North Island is expected to move north early Friday morning, with…
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Serious Crash Closes Piha Road
Piha Road is currently closed in both directions following a serious single-vehicle crash this evening. Police were alerted to the incident around 5:40 PM via Automatic Crash Detection from a cellphone. Initial reports indicate that at least one person has…
Law EnforcementTransportationSocial IssuesDisasters Piha RoadPihaWaitematāCrashSerious Crash UnitNew Zealand PoliceAccident
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Severe Weather Warnings Issued for Central New Zealand
MetService has issued severe weather warnings for central New Zealand, effective as of 5:00pm on Thursday, October 23, 2025. The warnings include Orange level alerts for heavy rain and strong winds. These warnings follow the passing of a weakening front…
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State Highway 1 Reopens Between Clinton and Balclutha
State Highway 1 between Clinton and Balclutha has now re-opened to all traffic, according to the New Zealand Police. However, the police advise that the stretch of highway further north, between Milton and Balclutha, is open only to light vehicles.…
TransportationWeatherDisastersAustralasiaLaw EnforcementGeneral Weather
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Northland Police Urge Water Safety Ahead of Long Weekend
Northland Police are urging boaties and water users to take safety seriously ahead the first long break of the warmer season. Detective Sergeant Paul Overton, Northland Police Search and Rescue Team Leader, emphasized the importance of preparation. "This is when…
Politics and GovernmentTransportationDisastersLaw Enforcement Northland Policewater safetylong weekendDetective Sergeant Paul OvertonOpito BayCoastguardSearch and RescueNew Zealand Police