The latest on the weather -from Waikato District Council
Waikato District Council is encouraging its residents to take note of the following advice during this period of bad weather:
You should:
• Stay inside. Avoid driving unless absolutely necessary. If you do have to travel take extra care due to surface water on roads and debris that may be left on the road due to previous slips.
• Drive with extreme caution if travel is essential. If you are driving at night don’t rely on signage, you may be the first to come across a slip or flooding.
• Bring your pets inside. Move stock to shelter or high ground. If you have to evacuate, take your pets with you.
• Put your household emergency plan into action and check your getaway kit in case you have to leave in a hurry. Civil Defence is advising people to have food and water for seven days, especially those who live in rural areas that are easily cut off.
• Secure, or move indoors, all items that could get blown about and cause harm in strong winds.
• Close windows, external and internal doors. Pull curtains and drapes over unprotected glass areas to prevent injury from shattered or flying glass.
• If the wind becomes destructive, stay away from doors and windows and shelter further inside the house.
• Power cuts are possible in severe weather. Unplug small appliances that could be affected by electrical power surges. If power is lost unplug major appliances to reduce the power surge and possible damage when power is restored.
• Stay out of flood water as there is a risk of wastewater contamination and unknown hazards.
• If people or property are in danger always call 111. Call 0800 492 452 to report damage.
• If you feel your home is at risk please seek alternative accommodation with friends or family. If you can’t, please contact Waikato District Council on 0800 492 452.
There are still roads in our district that are closed following last week’s ex-Cyclone Debbie. Closed roads and partially open roads in our district as at 10.15am, 13 April are:
Roads closed:
Maurice Road, Glen Murray
Churchill Rd between 8km and 11km mark, Pukekawa
Clarke and Denize Road, Pukekawa
Klondyke Road, Te Kohanga
Koheroa Road between Kellyville Road and Glass Road intersections, Mercer
Pioneer Road and Bluff Road, Pokeno
Richardson Road, Waikaretu
Partially open
:
Allan and Eyre Road, Onewhero
Kellyville Road (closed to heavy vehicle traffic), Mercer
McIntyre Road, Waiterimu
Pororua Road, Waiterimu
River Road, Tuakau
Te Puroa Road, Ngaruawahia
Waikaretu Valley Rd, Waikaretu
Wairamarama-Onewhero Road
Waingaro Road, Glen Massey
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.
Denim, but make it one-of-a-kind 💙
Not every pair of jeans makes it to the rack... but that doesn’t mean their story ends there. Our talented volunteer Annie has been transforming damaged denim into handcrafted bags, hats and aprons in our Onehunga SPCA Op Shop ✂️🧵
This latest batch even features her own hand-sewn designs, and customers have been loving them, they sell almost as soon as they hit the shelf!
It’s creativity, sustainability and community all stitched together, helping animals in need 🐾
📍 217 Onehunga Mall, Onehunga
🕘 9am–5pm, 7 days
Step by step for a great cause!
Our amazing Hillary Hikers from Edmund Hillary Village showed their support for Bowel Cancer New Zealand's Move Your Butt campaign this month!
Sporting the bright purple and orange campaign shirts, these wonderful walkers hit the Auckland waterfront and marched from Mission Bay to Kohimarama, raising awareness for bowel cancer and the importance of early detection along the way.
Click read more to read the full story.
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