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: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙
One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.
So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?
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58.9% Yes, supporting people is important!
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26.1% No, individuals should take responsibility
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15% ... It is complicated
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.
Tamahere home in dentist case was once centre of accountant’s fraud
It’s been a feature in a recent Hamilton District Court trial , but a Tamahere mansion already has an complicated history.
The property in Woodcock Rd - notable for having a hydroslide in the back yard - the scene of now-disproved alleged sexual offending by Hamilton dentist Rahul Gautam - made headlines more than 15 years ago, when it was a focus in the case of accountant Gary Soffe.
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