26/06/2025
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Tasman Flooding situation report 9.30pm Friday 27 June 2025
The Motueka River began to drop earlier tonight but it will be a few hours before we see a real drop in flood levels. The high tide at about 11.00pm will slow that drop but it will continue to fall.
Whilst the river is dropping there are concerns about the ongoing impact and status of affected properties from Tapawera through to Motueka. We will be monitoring throughout the day.
Other areas that were affected, Golden Bay, Brightwater, Wakefield and further south towards Murchison and St Arnaud and just as much care is required in those areas. Several bridges and roads were impacted and it is advised to check the status of roads prior to travel.
While the immediate danger may have passed it does not mean we are out of the woods yet and the effect of this relatively quick event will be felt for some time.
In the light of day, we are asking people to only travel if they need to as a full survey of the damage will only have begun in the morning. Essential travel only if possible, until roads are fully open.
All roads will need to be surveyed as much of the damage will have been hidden under water.
On the State Highway network there is a large slip on the southern side of the Spooners Saddle which has breached the catch fence, and due to the flood water there’s significant damage to the road in Kohatu.
When it’s daylight and if it’s safe to do so, NZTA will start clearing the slip debris on the Spooners. If the flood water has receded, they’ll inspect and assess the Kohatu area to determine what’s needed. They anticipate working in this area throughout the day so care will be required.
Link to NZTA’s journey map for the State Highway closures and warnings: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/nelson-and-marlborough/vms/353
Link to the combined NCC and TDC local roads map: Road disruptions and closures: https://roadinfo.ramm.com/nz/roadclosuremap.html?region=nelson
A number of properties will have been affected, with that damage only visible in the daylight so care will be required
We are asking all those that require assistance or have any questions to call the Council 035438400.
There are still some areas of concern, but signs are encouraging, and if anyone feels in danger or unsafe they dial 1-1-1 immediately for assistance.
Following the heavy rainfall and flooding we’ve received reports of properties that had buildings flooded. If water goes through a building, it can damage electrical outlets, and damp conditions can potentially cause other safety issues.
If you’ve had water go through your home or other building and need assistance, please call your local council who can send out Building Inspectors to check the structures and give you advice about how to make them safe.
If you’re in Nelson City, please call 03 546 0200 or in Tasman District call 03 543 8400
Friday 9.10pm Dovedale Water Supply Update - Dovedale water scheme customer are advised that due to a power outage in the Dovedale area, the water treatment plant is not operating and is unlikely to do so overnight.
No water is able to be pumped into the network and to the scheme reservoirs.
We therefore ask that customers conserve water wherever possible until further notice in order to preserve storage in your tanks.
We will update you when normal flows have been resumed.
Please also be reminded that there is a permanent boil water notice on the Dovedale supply.
Update 7.54pm Friday 27 June - People are being asked to keep off roads unless travel is absolutely necessary particularly on rural roads south of Nelson and in the Motueka Valley where there is still a lot of surface water.
State of Emergency Declared in the Nelson Tasman region! Tasman Mayor Tim King has declared a state of emergency for the Nelson Tasman region, following severe weather and evacuations. With further rainfall forecast, the declaration will enable a rapid response from our partnering agencies should it be required.
We've had A LOT of rain overnight, which has resulted in slips and flooding all around the region. Treat all flood water with caution as it could contain debris or be contaminated.
There are many road closures in place at the moment or caution advised due to surface flooding, this includes the main highways around the region being closed. It's a good idea to stay off the roads if you don't need to be out and about. If you do, check both these maps for up-to-date road closures before you head out:
• Updates on local road conditions: https://roadinfo.ramm.com/nz/roadclosuremap.html?region=tasman
• Updates on state highway conditions: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/regions/tasman
Please conserve water until further notice. The heavy rain event has affected the quality of the source water supplying some of our water supplies. In some cases, our treatment plants may not be able to adequately treat this low-quality water if the rain continues. In addition, the rainfall may cause damage and power outages that could affect our ability to supply water. We therefore request that everyone on a Council water supply conserve water wherever possible until further notice. Reducing demand will help ensure that we do not have to supply water that may not have received adequate treatment and that we have sufficient water in storage reservoirs to continue supplying if damage or other issues occur.
There are also disruptions to eBus services. The Motueka and Wakefield services are not running on Friday, and the Route 2 service will start and stop at the Richmond Interchange, therefore closing the Wensley Road and Bateup Road stops.
Stafford Drive at the Ruby Bay Cliffs will remain closed over the weekend until sometime on Monday after a geotechnical assessment is complete. This means the Ruby Bay bus stops will be closed Monday morning and the Route 5 eBus will travel into Māpua and Tasman Village via SH60.
Please stay out of Kingsland Forest Park, Dellside Reserve, and Jimmy Lee Reserve in Richmond due to the wet weather impacting tracks and the wider area, the team need time to access conditions.
Evacuations have occurred in the Moutere and Brightwater areas on Friday afternoon. River levels are high, and localised downpours could raise water levels higher, which could trigger the need for further evacuations. If people are evacuated then we ask that they seek accommodation assistance from friends or family first.
For those people who do not have alternative places to go, there are the following options:
- Civil Defence Centre at Motueka Recreation Centre (Old Wharf Road).
- A community-led centre at the Moutere Hills Community Centre (1539 Moutere Highway).
- A community-led centre at St Johns Church in Wakefield (120 Edward Street).
- A community-led centre at Tapawera Memorial Hall (Main Road Tapawera).
Our Motueka Resource Recovery Centre is closed due to slips and blockages.
Our Golden Bay Service Centre, and the Motueka Library and Tākaka Library are closed Friday due to floods and staff access.
Moturoa/Rabbit Island and Rough Island have now reopened following an earlier closure. Caution is required within the reserve areas due to some large areas of ponded water, which may take quite some time to drain away.
All sportsgrounds are closed due to the weather.
We have had a few requests for sandbags, but we (or Civil Defence) don’t have the resources to supply sandbags for private properties. In a major storm, our maintenance crews and contractors focus on ensuring the function and safety of key infrastructure such as roads, stormwater, water and sewerage equipment. This means residents and businesses need to handle their own sandbags for bad weather. Sandbags are not waterproof and are best used for directing water flow rather than keeping property dry. They are useful for stopping water flowing under a garage door or diverting water downhill, but they don't protect against water coming from under a house and through floorboards. Alternative solutions can be sheets of PVC which are a practical way to create a waterproof barrier around doors. If you need sandbags, they can usually be bought from landscape, building and hardware suppliers. Full sandbags are very heavy so generally they only need to be half-full for easier and better placement where they should be stacked overlapping like bricks.
At 3pm Friday, an Emergency Mobile Alert was issued to Tapawera and Tadmor Valley. It said: Issued by: Nelson Tasman Emergency Management. Flooding from the Motueka River and Tadmor River will impact the Tadmor Valley and Tapawera area. Residents are recommended to evacuate to higher ground immediately. Please go to friends or whānau if you can. If you do not have anywhere to go, then go to the Design Room at the Tapawera Area School if it is safe to do so. More information and updates will be available on https://www.nelsontasmancivildefence.co.nz/
At 4pm Friday, we issued a precautionary Boil Water Notice for residents on the Tapawera water supply. This is due to the prolonged heavy rainfall we have been experiencing that has affected the quality of the source water being supplied to the treatment plant. Ponding of surface water in the vicinity of the bores and along with high Motueka River flow, is likely to be the cause of increased groundwater turbidity. The treatment plant automatically shuts down because of the high turbidity (clarity) of the source water however reservoir levels have become very low, and we need to start treating water again and sending into the reticulation. Because of the relatively high-water turbidity, we cannot be confident that the UV and chlorine disinfection will be completely effective at removing contaminants. The boil water notice will be lifted once the source water recovers and the quality of water leaving the treatment plant has improved. Read more about what to do when a boil water notice is in place at https://www.tasman.govt.nz/boil-water-notice.
You can find some useful information at:
• River flow reports: https://www.tasman.govt.nz/flow-report/
• Rainfall reports: https://www.tasman.govt.nz/report/
Remember - If you are concerned about your immediate safety then please call 111 for assistance.
This post and the comment section will be updated as the situation changes.
At 6pm - To those who have been evacuated today and require an assessment of their immediate needs please ring 035437295 to make contact.
URGENT - Residents near the Motueka River from Tapawera to Riwaka should be prepared to evacuate quickly if necessary due to rising levels in the Motueka River. If you need to evacuate, please stay with friends or whanau if you can. Alternatively, go to the Motueka Recreation Centre on Old Wharf Road, if it is safe to do so. If you feel unsafe or see floodwaters, do not wait for an official warning. If you feel an immediate threat dial 111.
