Severe weather and possible tornado
MetService have issued a Severe Weather Watch for the west and north of the North Island today - Thursday 2nd June.
There are expected squally thunderstorms alongside heavy rain and hail, as well as a possible small tornado. There is some risk that the thunderstorm will become severe with localised downpours of 25 to 35 mm/h, 110 km/h wind gusts, and the chance of a localised damaging tornado.
Low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys with this intensity of rainfall may cause flash flooding and/or slips. This will make the driving conditions hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility due to the rain. Wind gusts of this strength, and damaging tornadoes can cause structural damage, including trees and power lines.
The weather watch is in place until 6pm tonight but any changes will be reported on the MetService website.
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!
Get up to $30,000 back* with your new home
Sign up to an independent apartment or townhouse at a participating Ryman village by 31 March 2026 and receive a $30,000 credit on settlement or sign up to a serviced apartment and receive a $10,000 credit on settlement*.
Imagine a new smart TV, your next getaway or furniture for your new home. With more money staying in your pocket, it’s yours to spend!
Discover the lifestyle that awaits.
*Participating villages only, Terms and conditions apply.
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
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