Wellington flood crisis eases as rain warning downgraded but disruption continues

A rare red rain warning was in place for Wellington overnight and into Tuesday morning as days of heavy rain pushed the region into crisis.

Flights were cancelled, a state of emergency remains in place, and worsening conditions forced tough decisions across the capital.

Several Air New Zealand flights into the capital were cancelled on Tuesday morning including services from Gisborne, Tauranga, and Christchurch, following earlier disruption caused by severe weather.

MetService said at 1.30pm that the Red rain warning for Wellington has now been downgraded to an Orange Warning, as the worst of the system moves through the region.

Officials warned that conditions remain hazardous, with saturated ground meaning even moderate rain could still trigger slips.

People in affected areas are being urged to remain cautious and watch for signs of land movement.

Heavy rain is now shifting into Hawke’s Bay, while forecasters say Wednesday is expected to bring more settled weather across much of Aotearoa.

But warnings remain in place for the next 24 hours and may be updated as conditions change.

Flooding and strong winds battered Wellington as a rare red rain warning was in place earlier across the region. Photo/RNZ/Supplied

MetService has urged the public to continue monitoring its severe weather warnings for the latest updates.

Police searched for Karori man Philip Sutton on Monday after floodwaters and debris hit his home, as severe weather continues to batter the region.

Search and Rescue teams spent hours at Sutton’s Karori South Road property and surrounding areas but were unable to locate him. The search has been called off and will resume on Wednesday.

“They have operated in challenging conditions but unfortunately have been unable to find him,” Wellington District Prevention Manager Inspector Fleur de Bes said in a statement.

“We have cleared his residence, but the weather has hampered aspects of the search and made searching some flooded areas too dangerous.

Floodwaters rise across Wellington as a state of emergency deepens, with emergency crews responding to hundreds of incidents and more rain forecast. Photo/RNZ/Rachel Helyer-Donaldson

“We will continue to make enquiries and will resume the search as soon as conditions allow.”

As the rain continues, rising river levels are now starting to shut down key transport links.

In Lower Hutt, Melling Bridge and Kennedy Good Bridge have been closed as the Hutt River swells, cutting key routes across the city.

Across Wellington, roads remain dangerous, with slips, surface flooding and the risk of overloaded stormwater systems.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand says crews have responded to around 200 weather-related callouts since 3am including flooding inside homes and landslides.

Rising river levels forced the closure of key bridges in Lower Hutt, cutting off major routes as conditions worsened overnight. Photo/RNZ/Rachel Helyer-Donaldson

“With further heavy rain forecast we have pre-positioned specialist resources including teams with enhanced rescue and water response capability in the Wairarapa and Hutt Valley,” Regional Manager Bruce Stubbs said in a statement.

Wellington City Council says some homes and properties have been badly hit, particularly in suburbs including Happy Valley, Brooklyn, Berhampore and south Karori.

While the number of affected properties is relatively small, officials say the damage in some cases is severe.

Several families have been evacuated or displaced, with support being provided through the Wellington City Mission’s Whakamaru facility.

Emergency crews are also working to reach homes cut off by slips, including along South Karori Road.

Emergency services responded to around 200 weather-related callouts, including flooding in homes and landslides across the region. Photo/RNZ/Supplied

Public facilities across Wellington including libraries, community centres, pools and major venues will remain closed through Tuesday due to the red heavy rain warning.

Residents are being urged to avoid travel, stay out of floodwaters and take extra care as conditions continue to change.

“Do not drive through floodwaters, as there can be hidden obstacles,” Stubbs said. "If flooding has entered your home, switch off and unplug appliances.”

As the situation unfolds, the Green Party is calling on the Government to activate Civil Defence payments to help affected residents.

“A state of emergency has now been declared across the region. The Civil Defence Payment exists for exactly this situation,” Wellington Central MP Tamatha Paul said in a statement.

“People who have just been evacuated shouldn’t have to produce paperwork to prove they need help replacing their food or their bedding.”

The latest developments show how quickly severe weather can escalate, with flooding, infrastructure disruption and safety risks increasing within hours.

For many communities, including Pacific families already dealing with cost pressures, the focus now is on safety as the storm continues.

Authorities are urging people to stay informed and follow official advice as conditions evolve.

RNZ is New Zealand's statutory civil defence lifeline radio broadcaster, providing vital information and updates as they come to hand. All frequencies can be found here.