February 2026 New Zealand storms

In mid-February 2026, a wet weather system brought heavy rain, flash flooding and land slips to parts of New Zealand's North and South Islands. States of emergency were declared in the Ōtorohanga, Waipā , Tararua, Manawatū, Rangitīkei Districts and Banks Peninsula. Plane, ferry, train and road travel were disrupted in several districts in both islands. One man was killed after his car was submerged at Puketotara on State Highway 39 on 14 February.

Preparations

On 13 February 2026, MetService issued an orange heavy rain warning for the Bay of Plenty east of Ōpōtiki and the Gisborne District north of Tolaga Bay. A yellow heavy rain warning was also issued for the rest of the North Island. That same day, the Hastings District Council issued an evacuation order for residents of the Clifton Motor Camp's campground near Cape Kidnappers due to a high landslide risk.

Timeline

During the week leading up to 19 February 2026, the Wellington Region, the Manawatū-Whanganui east and north of Palmerston North, the Waikato region between Palmerston North and the Coromandel Peninsula, the eastern Northland Region, Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay and Gisborne District in the North Island experienced rainfall totals of 50 to 100 mm. In addition, the ranges and foothills of the central North Island experienced 100 to 200 mm of rain during that week. Other parts of the North Island including Taranaki, the western Waikato, the Auckland Region, the western Northland Region, and the rest of Manawatū-Whanganui experienced between 10 and 30 mm of rainfall during that week.