Category: disasters
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New Zealand Braces for Severe Weather: Heavy Rain and Strong Winds Expected
New Zealand is set to experience significant severe weather this week, with heavy rain and strong winds predicted for the North Island from Monday, January 19th, to Friday, January 23rd. Northland is currently under a Yellow Heavy Rain Watch until…
WeatherGeneral WeatherDisastersEnvironment Heavy RainStrong WindsNorth IslandTropical LowSevere WeatherMetService New Zealand
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State Highway 2 Blocked After Truck Overturns
State Highway 2 in Waiora is currently blocked following a single-vehicle crash where a truck overturned this morning. Police responded to the incident around 10:40 am. The driver of the truck was not injured. However, a number of livestock were…
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Magnitude 5.1 Earthquake Strikes Off New Zealand Coast
A magnitude 5.1 earthquake occurred off the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand on January 18, 2026, at 16:45:09 UTC. The seismic event took place at a depth of 18 kilometers. The epicenter was located approximately 297.9…
WorldDisastersGeneral Weather EarthquakeSouth IslandSeismic ActivityGeologyNatural DisasterUSGSUSGS Earthquake Reports
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Missing Tramper Found Alive in Kahurangi National Park
A 66-year-old tramper, Graham Garnett, has been found alive in Kahurangi National Park. Garnett had been missing since December 30, when he failed to return from a tramp in the Baton/Ellis River area. A large-scale search operation was launched, involving…
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One Dead in Whakatāne Road Crash
One person has died following a serious single-vehicle crash on Tahuna Road in Whakatāne yesterday afternoon. Emergency services were called to the scene around 3:40pm. Another person involved in the crash remains in a serious condition in hospital. The Serious…
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One Dead in Early Morning Haruru Crash
One person has died following a serious crash in Haruru early this morning. The incident occurred around 12:10 am today when a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle on Puketona Road, near the Garden Court intersection. Despite the efforts of…
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Magnitude 5.2 Earthquake Strikes Kermadec Islands Region
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake has occurred in the Kermadec Islands region, located north-east of New Zealand. The seismic event was registered on January 17, 2026, at 03:34:03 UTC, with its epicenter situated at geographic coordinates 30.506S and 178.231W. The earthquake's…
WorldDisastersEnvironment EarthquakeKermadec IslandsSeismologyGeographic CoordinatesMagnitudeDepthUSGS Earthquake Reports
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Police successfully airlift stranded motorists from Waioeka Gorge
Police have confirmed that all individuals stranded in the slip-struck Waioeka Gorge on State Highway 2 have been successfully airlifted out. The rescue operation began last night after police were alerted to slips blocking the road in both directions. The…
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Onehunga Shooting: Man Critical, Police Seek Public Assistance
A man is in a critical condition in hospital following a firearms incident in Onehunga yesterday. Police discovered the victim at an Arthur Street property shortly after 11am, responding to reports of a shooting. Detective Senior Sergeant Matt Bunce stated…
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Police Seek Information on Fatal Tikitere Crash
Police are seeking public assistance following a fatal crash on State Highway 30 in Tikitere last week. The collision, involving two vehicles, occurred around 4:20 am on Thursday, January 15. Emergency services responded to find two people deceased at the…
Law EnforcementDisasters TikitereState Highway 30Fatal CrashPolice AppealCCTV FootageDashcam FootageRotoruaNew Zealand Police
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Over 40 Rescued After Flooding Closes State Highway 2
More than 40 people have been evacuated following severe flooding and slips that led to the closure of State Highway 2 between Matawai and Ōpōtiki. The first slip was reported around 9 am on Friday after heavy rainfall in the…
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Police Launch Rescue Operation on State Highway 2
Police have commenced a rescue operation to assist members of the public stranded by landslips on State Highway 2 in the Waioeka Gorge, located between Ōpōtiki and Matawai. The operation is being conducted in collaboration with partner agencies. Inspector Nicky…
Politics and GovernmentLaw EnforcementDisasters Rescue OperationState Highway 2LandslipsŌpōtikiMatawaiWaioeka GorgePoliceNew Zealand Police
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State Highway 29 Lane Blocked After Matamata Crash
The eastbound lane of State Highway 29 near Matamata is currently blocked following a single-vehicle crash. Police were alerted to the incident just before 5pm. Two individuals have sustained moderate injuries and are receiving medical assistance. Authorities are urging motorists…
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Four-Vehicle Crash Blocks Harper Avenue in Christchurch
Eastbound lanes on Harper Avenue in Christchurch are currently blocked due to a four-vehicle crash that occurred around 4:40 PM. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported as a result of the incident. Police are advising motorists to avoid the area…
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Name Release: Fatal Crash in Hamurana
Police have released the name of the person who died following a crash in Hamurana, north of Rotorua, on Tuesday, January 13. He has been identified as 21-year-old Te Peeti Melahkai Raki, of Hamilton. Two people remain in hospital as…
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Police Provide Update on Waitārere Beach Incident, Emphasize Ongoing Investigation
Police are continuing their investigation into a tragic incident at a Waitārere property this week, which resulted in one death and three critical injuries. Inspector Ross Grantham, Manawatū Area Commander, acknowledged public interest and comments from the deceased man's family,…
Law EnforcementDisasters Waitārere BeachPolice InvestigationTragic IncidentManawatūCritical InjuriesPost-mortemScene ExaminationNew Zealand Police
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State Highway 2 Closed Between Ōpōtiki and Matawai Due to Slip
State Highway 2 has been closed between Ōpōtiki and Matawai due to an earlier slip. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays while detours are in place.
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State Highway 2 Closed Between Ōpōtiki and Matawai Due to Slip
State Highway 2 has been closed between Ōpōtiki and Matawai due to an earlier slip. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays while detours are in place.
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Bay of Plenty Faces Thunderstorms and Heavy Rain, Nelson/Tasman on Alert
MetService has issued a severe weather warning for the Bay of Plenty region, anticipating thunderstorms and localised downpours. The warning, effective from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Friday, January 16, 2026, forecasts an additional 30 to 60 mm of…
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Two Dead in Hamilton Two-Vehicle Crash
Two people have died following a serious crash involving two vehicles in Beerescourt overnight. Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 12:30 AM. Upon arrival, two individuals were found deceased. The Serious Crash Unit conducted a scene examination,…
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Serious Injuries in Two-Vehicle Crash on SH1, Waipapakauri
Emergency services are attending a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 1, north of Waipapakauri in the Far North. The collision, reported at 4.45pm near Ogle Drive, has blocked both lanes of the highway. Seven people from both vehicles have sustained…
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Search for Missing Tramper in Kahurangi National Park Suspended
The search for missing tramper Graham Garnett, 66, in Kahurangi National Park has been suspended. The decision was made after extensive searches of the area, a difficult outcome for everyone involved. Police extended their thanks to Land Search and Rescue…
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State Highway 6/Great North Road Closed After Serious Crash
State Highway 6/Great North Road is closed near Eglinton Street following a two-vehicle crash reported just after 3pm. Initial reports indicate that there are serious injuries resulting from the incident. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays,…
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New Zealand Braces for Wet and Stormy Week with Heavy Rain and Thunderstorms
New Zealand is set for a week of unsettled weather, with heavy rain, downpours, and thunderstorms expected across the North Island and the northern part of the South Island. While the most intense weather is forecast for Thursday and Friday,…
WeatherGeneral WeatherDisasters RainThunderstormsNorth IslandSouth IslandTropical CycloneMetService New Zealand
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Two Dead in Early Morning Tikitere Crash
Two people have died following a serious crash in Tikitere early this morning. Emergency services were called to the two-vehicle crash on State Highway 30 at around 4:20 AM. Sadly, two people were located deceased at the scene. One other…
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Serious Crash Closes State Highway 30 in Bay of Plenty
Road closures are in effect on State Highway 30 in Tikitere, Bay of Plenty, after a serious crash involving two cars occurred early this morning. The crash was reported to Police at 4:20 am. Diversions have been established at the…
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Police Response Credited with Saving Lives in Waitārere Beach Incident
Manawatū Police stated that their swift attendance at a shooting in Waitārere Beach likely saved the lives of three victims. The incident occurred early this morning, following a 111 call at approximately 12:40 am. Upon arrival at the Waitārere Beach…
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Stuart Street in Dunedin Blocked Due to Structure Fire
Stuart Street in Kaikorai, Dunedin, is currently blocked due to a structure fire that occurred this afternoon. Police were called to assist Fire and Emergency New Zealand at approximately 3:40 p.m. Road closures are in effect on Stuart Street, spanning…
Law EnforcementDisasters DunedinStructure FireRoad ClosureStuart StreetKaikoraiEmergency ServicesTraffic DelaysNew Zealand Police
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Serious Crash Closes Motorway Lanes in Papakura
Police are responding to a serious crash on the Southern Motorway in Papakura, Auckland. The collision, which occurred in the northbound lanes near the Papakura on-ramp, involved a car and a bus and was reported at 10:50 AM. One person…
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Three Critical After Waitārere Beach Shooting; One Dead
Three people are in a critical condition following a shooting incident overnight in Waitārere Beach. Police discovered a man deceased at the scene on Waitārere Beach Road and are not seeking anyone else in connection with the event. Responding to…