WEATHER + ROAD UPDATE – 7:35PM (Tue 14 Oct)
Current status
-
Okapatu Rd: Slip. Road partially open with a very narrow lane – light traffic only. Ground is unstable after ongoing rain; more slips possible overnight. Please avoid travel unless essential.
-
SH31 (Kāwhia–Tihiroa): Multiple significant slips. NZTA advise several crews (digger, truck and arborist teams) will be on site tomorrow morning.
-
Whenuaapo Rd, Hauturu: Community report of a large slip ~3–4km up the road.
-
District-wide: Although the rain may have eased, rivers and soil moisture remain high. The situation is active and Ōtorohanga and Waitomo are both heavily affected.
Update – 7:35PM
-
Raglan Rd: Closed due to a slip.
-
Morning priorities: Inframax will focus on Okupatu, Harbour and Raglan Roads first.
Safety reminder
Please avoid affected areas and only travel if essential. We’ll provide further updates as information comes in.
UPDATE 4.45 PM
This will be the final update for the day unless something significant happens - here's our full round up:
Honikwi Rd between Carlin and Wooster (best info we have)
Lurman Road (5km down from Rangiatea Rd)
Newman Rd
Harbour Rd
Tauraroa Rd
SH 31 out of Kāwhia, this is managed by NZTA. Okupatu Rd can take light vehicles only.
Pirongia West 6km from SH31
Bayley Rd - Boundary bridge ŌDC & WDC
WHATS HAPPENING IN THE MORNING (WEDNESDAY):
- Inframax will have 4 crews deployed to start clearing our roads.
- NZTA will be clearing State Highways.
- Council staff will also be out assessing roads.
- First update tomorrow will likely be around 9.00 am once information starts coming in.
- Please stay home if you can tonight, and if you are travelling tonight or in the morning be careful.
You can still use our normal phone number for any overnight 'service requests/fix it' to our assets or other issues - the afterhours call center team will be working and will push critical jobs to the crew.
Have a safe night everyone.
UPDATE 3.16PM
While the rain may have stopped we still have flooding in some areas and dangerous conditions. If you don't have to travel - we encourage you to stay at
home.
New road updates:
Owawenga Rd - Flooding and underslip - CLOSED
Moerangi - Slip - Caution
If you must travel, NZTA will show State Highway road closures on the following website
https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/ . Local road closures should be found on the relevant council's FB and website pages.
UPDATE 1.20PM
Roads are still treacherous. Please stay home and off the roads.
Scown Road Intersection Awatane and Scown - Flooding - Caution and expected to worsen
Pirongia West Rd - 6km from SH31 - Tree down - CLOSED
Waipapa Rd Between Dam and Ranginui Rd - Tree down - CLOSED
Bayley Rd Boundary Bridge Otorohanga and Waipa District - Flooding reported by community - roading team on way to verify.
UPDATE 11.40 AM
Kāwhia is not isolated, Okupata Rd is currently open although we ask you NOT TO TRAVEL unless urgent. SH 31 is closed - and is managed by NZTA.
Honikiwi Rd - slips/flooding between Carlin and Wooster - CLOSED
We are asking you to stay home if possible. If you have to travel, do so with extreme caution.
In addition to the earlier information:
SH31 - Slips/Drop outs CLOSED
Bush Rd - Small Slip (still open)
Tauraroa Rd - Slip - CLOSED
Hanning Rd - Flooding - CAUTION
Kāwhia is not isolated. Okupata Rd is currently open although we ask you NOT TO TRAVEL unless urgent. SH 31 is closed - and is managed by NZTA.
Update 9.20am on Weather Event 14 October 2025
Current Road closures
Turitea Road
Newman Rd
Otewa Rd - Flooding
Lurman Road - (5km down from Rangiatea Rd)
Waipapa Rd - Big slip
Harbour Rd - Flooding
Caution on following Roads - could lead to closures
Paewhenua Rd - Surface flooding
Honikiwi Rd
Okupata Rd - Okupatu Rd
Kaimanga Rd
Lethbridge Rd
Happy Valley Rd
Mangawhero Rd - Flooding
This an active weather event. If you have to travel, please do so with caution.
