Severe weather in Northland
A severe weather watch is in place today as thunderstorms are expected this morning and afternoon (Tuesday 9th May). Some of these thunderstorms may become SEVERE, producing localised torrential rain in excess of 40 mm/h and a slight chance of a damaging tornado. If any tornadoes occur, they will only affect very localised areas.
Here's what you need to know:
- Watch out for surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys - these could lead to slips.
- Due to surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain, driving may be hazardous.
- Expect thunderstorm activity to ease by Tuesday evening.
For information on preparing for and keeping safe during a storm, see the Civil Defence Get Ready 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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