Council's bulk water mains repairs and storm issues
Hi Neighbours, here's where we are up to as we deal with the effects of the last few days' weather.
Monitoring overnight and this morning of the riverbank subsidence near our Eastern Bulk Main water pipes has been completed and shows an improved situation. The urgent stabilisation works we have been putting in place in recent weeks have proved effective at this stage despite the weather and high river levels. Further rain is forecast locally and in the Taupo catchment this afternoon, so we are maintaining our monitoring.
We are continuing to request that people conserve water just in case we have to shut down this main, and we thank the community for their efforts.
It is important to note that these precautions are all about potential disruption to supply of water, not about water quality. There are no issues with our water treatment plant or our ability to treat water. The issue is basically that if further subsidence affects the Eastern main we may have to supply the city from the Western Main only.
The heavy rain, coupled with soaked ground, created a number of wastewater overflows at sites throughout the city yesterday. As of this morning we are aware of 77 properties which have been affected and clean-up work is being organised. We understand people want this work done as quickly as possible but we simply can’t get people and equipment to everyone at the same time and ask for your patience while our crews get it sorted.
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
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.
Will these roadworks affect you?
Don’t expect a quick trip between Cambridge and Tamahere for much of this year, because major roadworks are starting.
Asphalt works on that section of Waikato Expressway will run from March through to late 2026, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says. Motorists are warned to plan for significant delays.
“Unfortunately the pavement, particularly in the slow lanes, has deteriorated faster than expected,” NZTA’s Roger Brady said.
Will these roadworks affect you? Tell us more in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).
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