Severe weather watch and power cuts for the Waikato today
Wild weather lashing the Waikato has cut power to hundreds of homes and made driving conditions treacherous. Most of the country is in for a showery and windy Monday, with a colder spell on the way that may bring snow to the Desert Rd on Tuesday.
- Rain is expected to continue in Hamilton through until Wednesday this week.
- WEL Network put out a statement at 7am on Monday saying several areas were experiencing power outages.
- Power is out to 684 properties north of Huntly in the Kimiha area. In Hillcrest around 55 homes are without power due to an unplanned outage. WEL said high winds and heavy rain posed a threat to field staff who have been advised to make sites safe and return at a later time to complete repairs.
MetService has issued a strong wind watch for the Waikato until 5pm Monday.
- Check on power outages at wel.co.nz
- People are advised to keep up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings here.
- Read more and follow updates here
Poll: As a customer, what do you think about automation?
The Press investigates the growing reliance on your unpaid labour.
Automation (or the “unpaid shift”) is often described as efficient ... but it tends to benefit employers more than consumers.
We want to know: What do you think about automation?
Are you for, or against?
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9.3% For. Self-service is less frustrating and convenient.
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43.6% I want to be able to choose.
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47.1% Against. I want to deal with people.
Time to Tickle Your Thinker 🧠
If a zookeeper had 100 pairs of animals in her zoo, and two pairs of babies are born for each one of the original animals, then (sadly) 23 animals don’t survive, how many animals do you have left in total?
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
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Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
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