State of Emergency declared for Rangitīkei District

UPDATE: Sunday 15 February 2026, 8:30pm

Heavy rain is forecast to intensify across northern Rangitīkei overnight, with the heaviest downpours expected late evening through the early hours of Monday morning.

Current forecasts indicate the most intense rainfall period is likely between midnight and 3am, particularly in rural northern Rangitīkei and in the upper catchments feeding into the Rangitīkei, Tutaenui, and Whangaehu Rivers.

Strong west to southwesterly winds, with gusts of up to 130km/h in exposed areas, are also expected overnight.

A State of Emergency remains in place for the Rangitīkei District.

Council staff are actively monitoring river levels, road conditions, and weather updates. The Emergency Operations Centre remains operational, and the regional Civil Defence Emergency Management Group is also providing regular updates.

At this stage, no evacuation orders have been issued and no evacuation centres have been activated.

Council is not asking residents to evacuate at this time. Response teams have been door-knocking in remote communities this evening to ensure residents are prepared. The key message is to prepare properties, secure animals, and move stock to higher ground where possible.

Some parts of Bulls are currently without power. Powerco is aware of the outages and working to restore supply as conditions allow.

If conditions change, residents will be given as much warning as possible. Council is urging people to stay updated through official channels.

Residents are encouraged to familiarise themselves with their local Community Response Plan, which outlines the steps that would be followed should evacuations become necessary:www.rangitikei.govt.nz/services/civil-defence-emergency/community-response-plans

Roading and travel updates:

• Napier-Taihape Road is currently closed.
• For State Highway conditions: www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/manawatu-whanganui
• Residents are advised to delay any non-essential travel until conditions improve.
• For the latest weather warnings, visit:www.metservice.com/warnings/home

Sunday 15 February 2026, 4:20pm

Mayor Andy Watson has proactively declared a State of Emergency for the entire Rangitīkei District ahead of the severe weather forecast for this evening, overnight, and into tomorrow.

Council has activated its emergency response team and is closely monitoring river levels. Heavy rain, rising rivers, slips, flooding, strong winds, and power outages are possible. We have also activated the process to close the Napier-Taihape Road.

Please take this seriously and prepare now, while there is still daylight. Make sure your devices are charged and you have a battery-powered radio to listen to news updates.

At home

• Move items away from areas of your property that usually flood.
• Clear gutters and drains where it is safe to do so.
• Bring inside anything that could be lifted by strong winds, or tie it down securely.
  
• Bring pets inside where possible.
  
• Charge phones and devices.

On farms

• Move livestock in low lying areas to paddocks that are safe from floodwaters, landslides, isolated trees, and power lines.
• Stay away from areas at risk of slips.
• If a landslide occurs, keep well clear - further movement can happen without warning.
  

Coastal and boating safety
Significant swells are forecast on both coasts.

• Stay out of the water and away from beaches.
• Be prepared to move to higher ground if needed.
• Secure boats and trailers properly.

Look out for each other. Take the time to check in on friends, whānau and neighbours. As always, call 111 if life is in danger.
We will continue to provide updates on our website and on our Facebook page.