NZRT12

27/03/2026

Mountain rescue your thing??

26/12/2025

FYI

⚠️UPDATED⚠️

Things are kicking off now, so we've brought the timing forward.

🟡⚡Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued⚡🟡

📍Where: Christchurch, Canterbury Plains, Canterbury High Country, North Otago, Central Otago, Southern Lakes, Dunedin, Clutha, Southland, Fiordland

🕛When: Noon-9pm Saturday 27th

⁉️What: Possible downpours, large hail and lightning strikes. Surface flooding, hazardous driving conditions, and damage from large hail.

⁉️Why: Wicked buoyancy! 🎈

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi - Canterbury & West Coast
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi - Otago & Southland

Get the full Watch information here: http://bit.ly/AllWarnings

20/12/2025

FYI, some big hail stones coming down apparently

🔴Severe Thunderstorm Warning🔴

Area: Selwyn, Waimakariri, Ashburton

More details at: bit.ly/STWarning

Forecast: At 05:45 pm, MetService weather radar detected severe thunderstorms near ASHBURTON, WINCHMORE, HINDS, LAURISTON, LONGBEACH, THE ASHBURTON RIVER MOUTH, LOWCLIFFE, TINWALD and WESTERFIELD.

These severe thunderstorms are moving towards the northeast, and are expected to lie near ASHBURTON, RAKAIA, HORORATA, WINCHMORE, LAURISTON, CHERTSEY, TE PIRITA, SEAFIELD, PENDARVES and DROMORE at 06:15 pm and near RAKAIA, SOUTHBRIDGE, DARFIELD, HORORATA, DUNSANDEL, KIRWEE, SELWYN, CHARING CROSS and GREENDALE at 06:45 pm.

These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by very heavy rain and large hail.

15/12/2025

FYI

Find out more information about our recently issued flood warning.

12/12/2025

Merry Christmas everyone!
Last weekend NZRT12 had the opportunity to take part in the Rangiora Santa Parade.
It took a lot of glitter, hard work, and holiday spirit to pull this off — and we were over the moon to receive the award for Best Decorated Float!
A big shout-out to Scott and Vicki Miers from the PTS Group for generously donating the use of a truck and a driver. We appreciate your support of NZRT12 and the community.
Thanks to everyone who waved and cheered us on. We absolutely love this community. Stay safe this festive season, and enjoy precious time with your family and friends.

03/12/2025

Last night we had the privilege of helping out with Toot for Tucker, gathering donations from our amazing community to support local families in need this festive season.

A huge thank you to everyone who came out, waved, tooted, and donated. Your generosity will make a real difference for whānau who could use a little extra support at this time of year. ❤️

13/11/2025

This week’s training focused on the ladder slide – an improvised rescue technique used to lower (or raise) a stretchered patient from height.
As this technique uses the ladder outside its intended design, emphasis was placed on safety controls, communication, and coordinated movement throughout the operation.

22/10/2025

FYI

⚠️A total ban on open fires and fireworks comes into force across the whole of Canterbury at noon today because of the gales, high temperatures and low humidity that are forecast for the next few days. This means no new fires at all, for any reason, and no fireworks. ⚠️
• We are asking every landowner, agricultural contractor, forestry manager and lifestyle block owner to help us avoid any more fires starting, or reigniting from previous burns.
• Anyone who has had an outdoor fire since the beginning of September is asked to go and check today that it is completely out. If you see any sign of heat or smoke, please act immediately to fully wet down the site. If this is not possible, call 111 so that firefighters can assist.

Yesterday’s fires showed the devastating effects that wildfires have on communities, putting lives at risk and causing significant damage. We are asking everyone to do their bit to make sure this doesn't happen anywhere else.

22/10/2025

Stay safe everyone, and please note the change to bin collections

🔴💨 RED Strong Wind Warning – Thursday 23 October 💨🔴

MetService has upgraded the Strong Wind Warning to RED for Christchurch and the Canterbury Plains, including Waimakariri.

🕙 10am – 4pm Thursday 23 October

Severe northwesterlies with damaging gusts up to 130 km/h are expected in exposed places.

🔴💨 Destructive winds may cause widespread damage, including to trees, powerlines, and roofs. Flying debris and falling trees pose a threat to life, and driving conditions will be very dangerous.

📻 Updates will be shared across media and radio in case of power outages.

🏡 What you should do
• Use Wednesday’s lull to prepare
• Secure trampolines, outdoor furniture, bins, and anything that could blow away.
• Stay indoors or in a sturdy shelter away from trees.
• Avoid travel where possible — debris and strong winds will make driving hazardous.
• Stay well clear of downed powerlines and call MainPower if you see damage.
• Avoid parks, rivers, and coastal areas – Tūhaitara Coastal Park is closed.
• Check outdoor fire sites from the last two weeks – make sure they’re completely out.
• Don’t light fires or use outdoor gas cookers.
• If you are medically dependent on power, make sure you have what you need or consider relocating temporarily.
• Kerbside collections for Thursday will move to Saturday 25 October. There will be no change to Friday collections.
• All bin deliveries/repairs scheduled for tomorrow will be postponed and carried out over Friday and Saturday.

➡️ Read the full update on our website: https://www.waimakariri.govt.nz/council/news-and-information/2025/10/strong-wind-warning/_nocache

06/10/2025

With the help of over 20 energetic youth group volunteers (who really brought the chaos with yelling and screaming!), NZRT12 got to participate in a post-earthquake mass casualty training exercise last week.
We focused on quick casualty extractions in response to ongoing aftershocks, using a combination of stretcher evacuations and improvised carries, depending on the nature of each injury.
Being able to train with real people in realistic scenarios helps us prepare more effectively for real-life emergencies.

20/09/2025

FYI

RED WIND WARNING - Morena Canterbury MetService have issued a Red Wind Warning for the high country, foothills and inland on the Canterbury plains. Please consider how these winds my impact you and your property and take action NOW to mitigate any impacts.

The rest of Canterbury is now under an Orange Warning, and we are still expecting warning amounts of rain in the head waters of our lakes and river. Please take extreme care this weekend with the significant weather impacts we're facing.

🔴💨Area: Canterbury about and west of the foothills, also west of SH1 south of the Rakaia River
Period: 17 hours from 10:00pm Sat 20 Sep to 3:00pm Sun 21 Sep
Forecast: Severe gale northwesterlies with damaging gusts of 150 km/h in exposed places.
Impact: Threat to life from flying items and falling trees. Destructive winds will cause widespread damage including powerlines and roofs, with dangerous driving conditions and significant disruption to transport and power supply.
Action: Stay indoors or seek sturdy shelter away from trees. Avoid travel. Be ready for power and communication outages.

🟠💨Area: Canterbury east of SH1 south of the Rakaia River, and away from the foothills further north
Period: 12 hours from 3:00am Sun 21 Sep to 3:00pm Sun 21 Sep
Forecast: Severe gale north to northwesterlies gusting 120 km/h in exposed places, especially about Banks Peninsula.
Low chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.

🟠🌧Area: Headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers
Period: 12 hours from 3:00am Sun 21 Sep to 3:00pm Sun 21 Sep
Forecast: Expect 120 to 180 mm of rain about the main divide, and 100 to 150 mm within 30 km farther east. Peak rates of 20 to 30 mm/h expected Sunday morning. Freezing level 2200 metres.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Impact: Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.
Action: Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously.