13 April 2026
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Wairamarama Roads Clear of Floodwaters
Updated Monday 13 April 2026, 8.00am
Ponganui and Allen & Eyre Roads are clear of floodwaters. Civil Defence Waikato has been notified and the ‘Road Closed’ signage will be removed at the Waikato District Council’s earliest convenience.
Flooding Alert!
Updated Sunday 12 April 2026, 6.00pm
Ponganui and Allen & Eyre Roads are CLOSED until further notice. (The weather looks clearer overnight, so the water levels should drop. I’ll check on the state of things first thing in the morning and post another update – Kate)
Ponganui Road has flooded in two locations – near the start of the road and below the Rocky Flats cattleyards, just before the start of the gravel. The straight section of road near 52 Allen & Eyre Road is also under water. Be aware!
Please stay out of floodwaters. Water levels can rise quickly, and without warning 💦
Updated Sunday 12 April 2026, 1.00pm
You will have all received an emergency alert yesterday, declaring Waikato to be in a State of Local Emergency. While there’s been no significant impact of the cyclone in the Wairamarama yet, you’re encouraged to keep up-to-date with Metservice’s forecasts and wea
- Strong wind warning (orange), from 2.00am to 11.00pm today (Sunday)
- Heavy rain watch (yellow), from 1.00am to 6.00pm today (Sunday)
The Waikato District Council also has information on support, road closures etc, which will be updated regularly … https://www.waikatodistrict.
Community
The Wairamarama Community Hall can be made available to anyone seeking shelter. We have a generator to ensure a reliable electricity supply in an emergency, as well as a defibrillator (on the wall at the back of the deck), first aid kits, fresh water, hot drinks and snacks, and WiFi. Please contact me on 021 217 0646 if you need access.
Check on your neighbours! Our rural community is spread over a large geographical area, and our roading and access is prone to slips and flooding in weather like this. Your immediate neighbours will be a great source of support, if you need it. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, or offer support! Call or message me on 021 217 0646 if you’d like to be connected.
Power Outages
When winds exceed 100km/hr, the chance of power outages increases significantly. Counties Energy has a user-friendly app which you can use to report power faults and stay up-to-date with outage information. Download the Outage Hub at app.countiesenergy.co.nz. Alternatively, you can call their Customer Care team to report an outage on 0800 100 202
- Treat all downed lines as LIVE, keeping at least 10m away and call Counties Energy immediately!
- If you rely on electricity for medical reasons, ensure you have a plan in place in case the power goes out.
- Disconnect appliances and electronics to avoid potential damage from electrical surges should the power go out.
- Store some water for drinking and washing if you rely on a water pump.
- Keep mobile phones and any battery-power devices charged.
High Winds
Emergency response updates this morning (Sunday) from the Waikato District Council, suggest that winds will increase as the day progresses.
Heavy Rain
Heavy rain can cause flooding and landslides. Livestock should have been moved away from high-risk areas. When the Opuatia Stream breaks its banks, there are several high risk flood areas on Allen & Eyre and Ponganui Roads, shown in red on the map below. Access for some locals will be affected if roads flood.
Have a Plan
In an emergency, you may be stuck at home for three days or more. Figure out what supplies you need and make a plan to work out what you need to get through. Check out https://getready.govt.nz/ for more information.
Communications
Good communication is essential during adverse events. Regular updates will be shared via our Facebook group, this website and email. If you are a Wairamarama local and would like to be added to our email list, simply email your request to wairamaramacommunity@gmail.com. Privacy is assured.
Please share any issues that may affect the rest of the community – by reply, or txt me on 021 217 0646
Walkie Talkies
If you have a walkie talkie, tune into the Wairamarama radio repeater channel 3 to connect with other locals if you need to. For those who not familiar with using walkie talkies:
- Face the direction of the Wairamarama repeater on Brien Road (your body will block the signal)
- Hold the walkie talkie about 10cm in front of your mouth
- Press the transmit button, then speak slowly and clearly across the mic (while holding down the button)
- Release the transmit button when you’ve finished
- Good practice – To, From, Message, ‘Over’
Stay safe,
Kate Reese 🙂
021 217 0646
wairamaramacommunity@gmail.com
Wairamarama flood risk areas on Allen & Eyre and Ponganui Roads
