State of emergency lifted in parts of Wellington Region as flood response eases

The state of emergency has been lifted in parts of the Wellington region as the response to severe weather begins to wind down.

Upper Hutt City, Porirua City, and the Kāpiti Coast are no longer under a state of emergency.

But for much of the region, it is not over yet.

The state of emergency remains in place across the rest of Wellington including all of Wairarapa, as teams continue to assess damage, check building safety and support recovery efforts.

Emergency powers were put in place as heavy rain and flooding hit the region, causing disruption to homes, roads and infrastructure.

Police are urging the public not to join the search for missing Karori man Philip Sutton after operations were paused due to dangerous conditions, warning that unstable ground, floodwaters and debris pose serious risks.

Despite this, some locals have continued searching with volunteers reporting they found a bag and a mud-soaked item of clothing near the flood-hit area.

Wellington Civil Defence Emergency Management Group chair Anita Baker declared the state of emergency to help coordinate the response and keep people safe.

These powers allow emergency teams to act quickly including supporting evacuations and managing risks and are only used where needed.

While conditions have eased in some areas, officials say people should still stay alert.

Residents are being urged to keep up to date with official information from MetService, Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO), local councils and trusted media.

Recovery work is ongoing, and authorities say conditions can still change quickly.

For now, the message is clear: some areas are moving out of emergency mode but others are still dealing with the impact.