Civil Defence
Cyclone Dovi brings howling winds and heavy rain to NZ
The MetService is warning much of the North Island is in for a wild night of howling winds and heavy rain as the remnants of Cyclone Dovi pass over.
Buller residents prepare for more rain as damage assessed
More rain is forecast for much of the country going into the weekend, including the already drenched West Coast's Buller district which is in a state of emergency. Audio
Buller District Mayor updates on weather, roads
A state of emergency was declared in the Buller District yesterday, and Westport was completely cut off by road. It comes less than a week after the last state of emergency was lifted, following… Audio
Buller water levels lower than feared
Civil Defence in Westport is closely watching the Buller River, after high tide hit at 7pm. Floodwaters have cut off the town today,prompting a state of emergency to be declared as homes were… Audio
Buller resident on evacuation, flood threat
A state of emergency is in place in Westport for the second time in a week.
As the floodwaters rise in the west coast, dozens of residents have had to evacuate.
One of them is Jenny Thomas, who's… Audio
Weather: Low-lying Westport areas expected to flood at high tide
The Buller District has been hit again with heavy rain, less than a week after many Westport residents were forced to leave their homes due to flooding.
The Buller and Orowaiti Rivers are running… Video, Audio
Many West Coast slips cleared, but work to continue over long weekend
NZTA says road crews have cleared many of the slips, but there are still slips and debris along State Highway 6 heading into Westport, around the Fox Hills, and elsewhere on the West Coast. Audio
Covid-19: Kaiapoi fire destroys major employer
The North Canterbury town of Kaiapoi has been hit hard by a huge fire that destroyed the premises of a major employer.
Sutton Tools went up in smoke early yesterday, causing up to 40 nearby homes to… Audio
Helicopters due in to support firefighters in Meremere
About 70 firefighters have been working to extinguish a vegetation fire near Meremere that broke out last night.
Fire and Emergency Incident Controller Thomas Harre says the fire has covered about… Audio
Firefighters working to extinguish Meremere blaze
About 70 firefighters have been working to extinguish a vegetation fire near Meremere that broke out last night.
Fire and Emergency Incident Controller Thomas Harre says the fire has covered about… Audio
Nomuka island photos 'shocking and really sad', resident says
A family from Nomuka expect their home will be unliveable when they return from New Zealand. Video
Tonga eruption: NZ Defence Minister on disaster response
It's now been five days since Tonga's major volcanic eruption and tsunami - and as more information comes to light, aid is beginning to reach the island nation.
The World Health Organisation says… Audio
Painful wait for news from Nomuka
One of the isolated Tongan islands without communication is Nomuka.
It has one of the closest villages to the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, just 70 kilometres to the north-east.
The New Zealand… Audio
Tonga eruption: three dead, evacuations underway
Evacuations are underway in Tonga's hardest hit areas, with every home destroyed on Mango island and extensive damage elsewhere.
Aerial photos are beginning to show the extent of the devastation… Audio
Devastation in Tonga revealed in aerial photos
The extent of the devastation in Tonga is becoming clearer, with aerial photographs taken by the New Zealand Defence Force showing some of the utter devastation on islands.
The Tongan government has… Audio
Severe flooding in Fiji as country prepares for cyclone
Fiji has braced itself for a tropical cyclone overnight, and severe flooding already affecting some areas.
Members of the public were warned to stay put - between 2017 and 2021, a total of 17 people… Audio
Wanaka blaze continues to burn at Emerald Bay
A large scrub fire near Wanaka had residents on high alert overnight.
The blaze ripped through around 200 hectares of regenerating bush at Emerald Bay yesterday afternoon, closing Mount Aspiring… Audio
'Sounded like a major earthquake': Giant mudslides cause devastation
When torrential rain set off a series of giant mudslides in Banks Peninsula's Goughs Bay, Marie Haley spent a terrifying night wondering if her house would go with them.
Inquiry finds structural engineer negligent but not incompetent
A major Masterton building owner is furious at the outcome of a five-year-long inquiry into a structural engineer signing off on flawed earthquake designs. Audio
Review of warehouse fire finds asbestos floated away
A review of firefighting at a big south Auckland warehouse blaze says asbestos floated up to 1km away.
It also shows 22 fire trucks were not decontaminated and may have carried hazardous asbestos… Audio
