20/04/2026
Update at 4.30pm from the Wellington City Council website, Monday 20 April
A state of emergency has been declared for the Wellington region. This is in response to ongoing severe weather, flooding, and impacts on regional infrastructure.
Continue with daily activities only where it is safe to do so, and follow official advice closely. People are advised to:
Move out of low‑lying and flood‑prone areas for the next 24 hours. Flood-prone areas are those that have experienced multiple flooding events in recent years.
Stay inside if your home is safe and avoid non‑essential travel.
Never walk, swim or drive through flood water.
Evacuate immediately to higher ground if flood waters rise.
Do not wait for an alert if you feel you are in danger.
Clear drains and gutters if safe to do so.
Check on neighbours and those who may need assistance, if safe.
There has been flooding and landslips especially around the southern suburbs – Island Bay, Berhampore, Newtown, Brooklyn, Mornington and the Basin Reserve area in particular. We’re working with FENZ and Police regarding reports of slips impacting houses in Brooklyn and Mornington.
General information
Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians are urged to take extra care, there may be manhole covers dislodged, and slips and debris on roadways.
Stay away from parks, reserves and forested areas like the Town Belt. There is a risk of flooding, high winds, slips and falling debris. Even if conditions appear calm, serious hazards may not be obvious.
Two lanes around Basin Reserve closed due to flood damage. Check NZTA for updates.
Wellington City Mission Whakamaru is open for people to take shelter and where evacuees are currently being taken to.
If you need support and cannot get to Whakamaru, contact us on 04 499 4444 and we will put you in touch with our Welfare team.
MetService have issued a red rain warning for Wellington. Stay up-to-date with weather warnings: Weather Warnings and Watches | MetService
Get information and tips at Wellington Regional Emergency Management Office (WREMO)
Check the NZTA Waka Kotahi website for State Highway updates around the region.
Check Metlink for public transport updates.
Keep an eye on Council social media channels for further updates: Wellington City Council page
Visit Wellington Electricity for information about power outages: Outages | Wellington Electricity
Wellington Water recommends all recreational water users follow the advice of Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA), which suggests staying out of the water for two to three days after heavy rain: Can I swim here? | LAWA
Wellington City Council services and facilities
Most Wellington City Council key services and facilities remain open.
The following libraries are closed:
Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui | Central Library
Khandallah Library
Miramar library (from 5.30pm)
Newtown Library (from 5.30pm)
Island Bay Library
The Tip Shop and Recycle Centre are closed.
The Cable Car will be closed from 3pm today.
Wellington Zoo and Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne are both closed for the day.
All Council sports fields (grass and artificial) are closed. Keep an eye on their status.
Rubbish and recycling collections are operating currently, although those with collections today are advised not to put out their rubbish or recycling if possible and to wait for your next collection. Ensure you have the bin clip on if you must put bins out, and bring bins and crates in quickly after being emptied.
Due to severe weather conditions, there may be significant delays in responding to parking complaints.
Landslips
The heavy rains this morning and over the weekend have saturated the city – so sloping ground will be at risk of slipping. Know the warning signs so you can act quickly if you see them. Look for:
small slips, rock falls and subsidence at the bottom of slopes
sticking doors and window frames
gaps where frames are not fitting properly
outside fixtures such as 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; and
water flowing out of a slope.
Be prepared to evacuate your house or property – and call 111 if you need assistance.
If your property or vehicles have been damaged
It is advisable to take photographs of the damage and then contact your insurer as soon as possible.
Preparing for further severe weather
Try to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. If you need to venture out, take care when walking, cycling or driving as there may be surface flooding and debris, plus the risk of fallen trees and powerlines, or damaged infrastructure.
Bring inside or tie down anything that strong winds could break or pick up. If you have a trampoline, turn it upside down to minimise the surface area exposed to wind and tie it down firmly.
Remove any debris or loose items from around your property. Branches and firewood can become airborne in strong winds.
Clear waste and debris away from drains.
Untreated sewage was released this morning from the damaged Moa Point treatment plant to the short outfall at Tarakena Bay.
Avoid swimming or other recreation in the area for 2–3 days after heavy rain and check LAWA.org.nz before visiting south coast beaches.
Avoid collecting shellfish or kaimoana along the south coast, from Ōwhiro Bay to Breaker Bay, at this time.
People should also stay away from the forested parts of the Town Belt – for example on Matairangi Mt Victoria – and other reserves due to the danger from falling trees and branches.
We ask the public to please be patient, travel to the conditions and report slips or weather-related hazards to the contact centre by email at [email protected], fill in the webform or go through the FixIt App.
Kia tūpato koutou katoa!
