WAIPĀ AND ŌTOROHANGA DISTRICTS EXTEND STATES OF EMERGENCY

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE:

Waipā and Ōtorohanga Districts extend States of Emergency

Friday 20 February 2026

Both Waipā and Ōtorohanga Districts have extended their respective states of emergency for a further seven days.

The decision follows ongoing response efforts by both councils, emergency services, iwi and partner agencies after severe weather events across the two districts.

The State of Emergency now remains in place until Saturday 28 February, enabling response agencies to continue accessing resources and acting quickly to support affected communities.

Waipā District Mayor Mike Pettit said the extension was about keeping people safe as recovery work continued.

“Extending the State of Emergency is about one thing - keeping our community safe. We are not out of the woods yet. While good progress has been made, there are still some significant issues we are dealing with,” Mayor Pettit said.

Ōtorohanga District Mayor Rodney Dow said conditions in parts of the Ōtorohanga District also remained challenging, with ongoing impacts to roads, farms and access routes.

“Our district has been significantly affected, and the State of Emergency gives us the ability to keep supporting communities, coordinate response efforts and respond quickly as conditions continue to change,” Rodney Dow said.

“The extension is not a reason to panic. It gives enacts the right legal settings to continue managing the situations in the best way possible.”

Local iwi have suspended commemorations of the Battle at Rangiaowhia this weekend to allow the community to focus on recovery efforts. The Western Waikato Emergency Operating Centre paused this morning to acknowledge the memorial.

Across both districts, response efforts remain focused on restoring road access where communities have been isolated by bridge and culvert damage, supporting farms affected by road closures, and addressing critical infrastructure and water supply issues - including in Pirongia.

“There are still people who cannot return to their homes, and the upcoming switchover of the Pirongia water supply will be a critical point in time,” Waipā District Mayor Pettit said.

“There are council staff, contractors and roading crews working around the clock across both districts, and we are constantly reviewing the situation. We thank communities for their patience and understanding as we work through these challenges together.”

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