Eke Panuku is your monthly panui. It's a place to share our stories and the history of our lands and tupuna. We’ll also use it to let you know what’s happening and what’s coming up. You can access current and back issues on this page.

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Resources for Response & Recovery

The Nelson/Tasman Districts are continuing to experience extreme weather events.  Below are some resources for whānau returning home in flood affected areas:

Weather Event Update from TDC - Friday 11 July 2025

MetService has updated its warning for the Tasman region southeast of Motueka to a RED warning. This is not based on the rainfall amounts alone, but on the likely impacts from the rain. There is also a Severe Weather Watch for wind for the Tasman District.

The orange warning for Golden Bay remains the same. Expect another 80 to 120mm to fall on top of what we have already had, with 70 to 95mm in the ranges over the past 24 hours. Peak rainfall will occur early afternoon and then remain as showers into Saturday. We are now expecting river flows to be higher than we modelled yesterday, thanks to the persistent rain overnight.

River Conditions

In the Aorere River, expect a moderate flood (annual) which will cause the usual surface flooding at Ferntown. In the Tākaka River, we are now expecting moderate to large flood, that will cut access off to Tākaka township for a small period of time later this afternoon. These affected access points are Waitapu Splash, Bridges Hollow and Lindsays Bridge. As well as surface flooding, there is potential for further pressure on slope stability. The higher intensities, depending on where they occur, may cause the smaller catchments to rise quickly and produce further flooding.

There has been steady rain overnight in the rest of the Tasman region. This combined with another 80 to 120mm on top has escalated the Warning for Tasman Southeast of Motueka to a Red. While this amount of rainfall generally would cause less concern, very sodden ground, damaged infrastructure and changed river systems mean that there is a small chance that the impact from this rain may be as bad as two weeks ago.

Our models for areas such as the Motueka Valley up to and including the Motupiko are showing moderate to large floods in the main river, but plan for something larger, especially given the changes and damage that exist in these river channels. The effects from the last flood are still raw and obvious, and need little explanation.

Ground Conditions

Riwaka, Brooklyn and Moutere Valley residents should expect moderate to large floods of a size less than that seen two weeks ago, while planning for something larger. The worst period will be later in the day, probably after dark, potentially with road closures from slips and flooding.

The Wai-iti Valley and Pitfure areas also remain sodden and will also react strongly to the forecast rain – the same message applies. The Waimea Plains groundwater table is very high, and the surface flows we have seen since the last storm have already reactivated to greater levels. Expect flooding through low-lying areas, old channels and across roads in places. Later today, this may get as bad as 2022 when some houses were flooded, but this is very hard to predict. These effects will persevere for some days.

The Maitai and Wairoa Rivers are less impacted with the expectation of smaller floods (annual at most). Further slipping, disruption to travel and tree fall are most likely impacts in this area.

With the wind watch, areas most exposed to northerly to nor easterlies will be affected. With the ground saturated and root systems exposed by erosion, expect some tree fall added to the mix.

Tide and Storm Surge

Low tide is 16.30 this afternoon which will coincide with strong winds so limit the impact of excessive wave run up and winds should be dropping by the time of the evening high tide.

Also would not be expecting storm surge impact due to a lack of low pressure and the timing of the low tide. The following high tide is at 22.30 at 4.1meters.

Summary

In summary, at the least, there will be a number of disruptions to road travel from flooding, slips and tree fall. Flooding in low-lying areas and basements etc will occur. It’s possible floods may get large in the areas noted above. Our best estimate is for floods and impacts of moderate to large size, but the uncertainty of this event, and the damage to drainage systems, etc., that remains from two weeks ago, means that caution should be applied.

Lastly, we repeat again our strong recommendation to take a cautious approach to your planning for today, and expect the impacts to build throughout the day, peaking after dark, in some cases after midnight.

Our teams are watching this event very closely, and will provide updates as we have them.

Links for more information:

• Updates on local road conditions: https://roadinfo.ramm.com/nz/roadclosuremap.html...
• Updates on state highway conditions: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/regions/tasman/

Weather Event Update - Wednesday 9 July 2025

 

MetService has updated the Severe Weather Rain Watch for northwest of Motueka to now include Friday’s rain. Another Watch has also been issued for the rest of the region for Friday's rain. While our Hydrology team does not normally precede a Watch with an update, they have due to the implications of rain on saturated ground and the likelihood of the Watch being upgraded to a Warning for Friday’s rain.
The Watch for northwest of Motueka is for 57hrs from 3pm Wednesday to 12am Saturday. The rain over Wednesday will be the heaviest in the coastal parts of Golden Bay, rather than the ranges, with rainfall intensities low. However, the rain on Friday is more orographic, thus heavier in the ranges, and doubling Wednesday’s rainfall amount with 140 to 180mm in the ranges. There is uncertainty between the rainfall models, so closer to Friday we will have a better idea on the intensities.

River Conditions

Wednesday’s rainfall will not produce floods in the rivers, however, Friday’s rain with higher amounts and most likely higher intensities could cause moderate floods in the main rivers of Tākaka and Aorere rivers (up to annual flood) and cause surface flooding and exacerbate the issues of high groundwater levels in the lower lying areas and possibly put further pressure on slope stability.

Summary

The Watch for Nelson and southeast Motueka and north of Lake Rotoroa is for 13 hours from 1pm Friday to 2am Saturday. The higher rainfall will be in the Eastern ranges, with a possibility of 70 to 90 mm. Around Nelson City and the rest of this area, 50 to 60mm. These amounts are at the lower end of the scale, and we would not expect large rivers to flood to any significant level. There is also some stronger wind forecasted for Friday in exposed areas. Again, this rain is most likely to cause issues with further surface flooding in the lower-lying areas and possibly further landslips.
Overall, we can expect further surface flooding and ponding, in particular affecting roads and other low areas that probably have already had some degree of flooding. There is also the potential for further landslips to be triggered. With increased wind, there is the risk of tree fall with sodden ground.
A further update will be shared if there is a significant change to the forecast (most likely Thursday morning).

Links for More Information

Weather Event Update - Wednesday 2 July 2025

 

MetService has updated their warning from yesterday. Their advice stays much the same with a few small changes. Differences that are notable are a shorter duration of the event northwest of Motueka - now 15hrs from Thursday 3am. There is still the possibility of localised heavier rain of up to 30mm/hr, most likely in the ranges.

The other Warning is for the remainder of Tasman, including Richmond and Bryant Ranges. The peak intensities are now a little higher at 15 to 25mm/hr. Otherwise, timing is still from Thursday 6am to 9pm, expecting 80 to 110mm in the ranges and 60 to 80mm.

There is also mention of further rain and showers for the remainder of Thursday and Friday.

Rainfall peak intensities appear to be occurring mid-dayish and then petering off in the evening. This event then, is approximately 15hours, and is a short event in comparison to last week. These shorter events have much more effect on the smaller catchments, or catchments that are already sodden. The timing of the rain will give some time to allow decisions to be made in daylight, before rivers peak later in the day.

River Conditions

In terms of rivers, the main stem of the Tākaka River and its main tributaries, i.e., Anatoki and Waingaro Rivers, expect flows up to annual flood. The usual surface flooding should occur and there is the chance of further landslips, especially around the Wainui and Ligar Bay areas. Tākaka Hill may also suffer from further slips.

Currently, of most concern to us, is the Riwaka and Brooklyn rivers due to this area being the most likely to receive higher intensity rainfall bursts. While we are anticipating only annual flood flows in the lower Riwaka, we would take a cautious approach and plan up to 5 year flood flow impacts, given the saturation and possible elevation changes in bed level. For context, last Fridays flood peak in the lower Riwaka was in a 10 year flood flow range.

Because of the wind direction and the shorter duration, we are not expecting too much happening in the rivers of the upper Motueka, Motupiko and Wai-iti Rivers. However, if the rain affects a wider area (duration and intensity), these could react quickly. We understand that the lower Motupiko River can currently only hold an annual flood flow due to damage.

We expect flows in the main Motueka River to be less than annual, thanks to the short duration of this event.

Ground Conditions

We are noticing in the Waimea Plains conditions similar to August 2022, when the groundwater table reached the surface and flow paths formed over the lower-lying areas. This occurrence lasted for weeks, with periods of small rain holding the water levels up. So any rain we are going to receive from now will exacerbate this effect. The Pitfure area will most likely be experiencing this as well.

It is always prudent to plan for higher flows than predicted, but this is more so at this time. Many rivers have had major bed changes, with less ability to cope with floods. All of our monitoring equipment is recording correctly again (some stations were damaged).

Tide and Storm Surge

The high tide for Thursday is at 3.27pm and Friday 3.57am, being 3.4m, which is relatively low. Barometric pressure is not particularly low, and the wind being north/north-easterly and of moderate strength, we're not expecting issues from storm surge or wave run-up.

Summary

Overall, we can expect further surface flooding, landslipping and road closures to already compromised roads and associated structures, i.e., stop banks.

Links for More Information

 Rain pic


View recent panui below:

Minecraft comes to Te Tauihu

Ka mau te wehi! Check this out, three of our very own Whakarewa whānau Rōpata Taylor, Joy Shorrock, Te Pūoho Stephens, and whanaunga have taken to the gaming world and put ourselves, and our significant places, on the map. It's going to be a hit!


Rākauroa is one of six locations across the motu chosen to be featured in Minecraft.


Check out the trailer of the game whānau, click here. Search Minecraft Marketplace for ‘Aotearoa: New Zealand’ to download and play, it’s available now!


We will stay close to the action on this one and see what happens next. A big congrats to all our whānau across Te Tauihu that were involved, Māori doing great things and being great at it. Mō āke tonu atu, ake ake ake!

 

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