Historical emergencies

Heavy rain between 16 and 17 July 2021 resulted in flooding in Marlborough and Buller. The Buller River flooded causing significant flooding in Buller requiring wide-scale evacuations. States of local emergency were declared for Buller District on 16 July and Marlborough District on 17 July. The state of local emergency for Marlborough was terminated on 28 July and replaced with a notice of local transition period. The state of local emergency for Buller was terminated on 6 August and replaced with a notice of local transition period. 

A state of local emergency was declared for the Wellington City Southern and Eastern wards  on 29 June 2021 owing to a severe sea swell event affecting the Wellington South Coast. Evacuations were required on Breaker Bay Road. The state of local emergency ended on 30 June 2021.

A state of local emergency was declared for Canterbury on 30 May 2021 due to widespread flooding after heavy rain. The declaration was lifted on 3 June 2021. States of local emergency remained in place for Waimakariri, Selwyn and Ashburton districts from 3 June to 10 June 2021.

A magnitude 8.1 earthquake in the Kermadec Islands occurred at 8:28am on 5 March 2021. This was the second earthquake in the Kermadec Islands region that day following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake at 6:41am. These quakes followed an earlier magnitude 7.3 earthquake at 2:27am on the same day in the Hikurangi region. A tsunami warning was issued at 9:17am and evacuation of some land areas was required. An emergency mobile alert was sent to areas under land and marine threat. At 1:17pm, following advice from GNS Science that the largest waves had passed, the threat level wass now downgraded to a Beach and Marine threat for all areas which were previously under Land and Marine threat. At 3:43pm the tsunami activity advisory was cancelled following advice that the beach and marine threat had passed.

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake in the Kermadec Islands occurred at 6:41am on 5 March 2021. This quake followed an earlier magnitude 7.3 earthquake at 2:27am in the Hikurangi region. A National Advisory: Tsunami Activity was issued at 7:29am for the East Coast of the North Island from the Bay of Islands to Whangarei. At 8:28am a second magnitude 8:1 earthquake occurred in the same area.

A magnitude 7.3 earthquake occurred in the Hikurangi area east of the North Island at 2:27am on 5 March 2021. A National Advisory: Earthquake Being Assessed message was issued at 2:40am. At 3:28am a Tsunami Warning: Land and Marine was issued advising people to evacuate the East Coast of the North Island from Cape Runaway to Tolaga Bay. An emergency mobile alert was issued to the areas under land and marine threat. At 5:02am the threat was downgraded to a National Advisory: Tsunami Activity following advice from GNS Science that there was no longer a land threat. The National Advisory was cancelled at 6:01am following advice that the threat of strong and unusual currents and surges had passed. This earthquake was followed by two large quakes in the Kermadec Islands: a magnitude 7.4 quake at 6:41am and a magnitude 8.1 quake at 8:28am. 

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake southeast the Loyalty Islands occured at 2:20am on 11 February 2021. The earthquake was assessed by the National Emergency Management Agency and a National Advisory: Tsunami Activity message was issued.

A state of local emergency was declared for Napier City on 9 November 2020 due widespread flooding after heavy rain. The declaration was lifted on 13 November 2020.

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake south of the Kermadec Islands occured at 12:50am on 19 June 2020. The earthquake was assessed by the National Emergency Management Agency and a National Advisory: No Tsunami Threat to New Zealand message was issued.

A nationwide state of national emergency was declared on 25 March 2020 at 12:21pm due to COVID-19 and was extended six times. The state of national emergency ended on 13 May 2020 at 12:21pm and was replaced by a National Transition Period. The state of national emergency covered all of New Zealand including the Chatham Islands, Stewart Island, and other offshore islands. The National Transition Period was terminated at 1.53pm on Monday 8 June 2020.

Visit covid19.govt.nz to get the latest information about Aotearoa New Zealand's response to COVID-19 and what you can do to protect yourself.

Widespread flooding in the lower South Island resulted in evacuations in Milford, Gore, Mataura and Wyndham, and extensive road closures across the Southland region.

A State of Emergency was declared for the Fiordland Community Board Area on 3 February 2020 owing to flooding in the Fiordland area. On 4 February States of Emergency were declared in for the Southland Region, including Gore, and for the Clutha District owing to widespread flooding. The State of Emergency for the Clutha District was lifted on 7 February. The State of Emergency for Southland ended on Tuesday 18 February and was replaced with a Transition Notice.

At 2:11pm on Monday 9 December 2019, Whakaari White Island erupted. The eruptions were short-lived and generated an ash plume to ~12,000ft above the vent. Forty seven people were on the island at the time of the eruption, resulting in multiple injuries and fatalities. A key focus of the response has been on supporting the victims, their friends and families and on recovery of bodies that remain on or in the vicinity of the island. 

• Links to key information for affected people and for people visiting the area.

A local state of emergency was declared in the Timaru District on 7 December 2019 due to flooding in the Rangitata area. The state of emergency was lifted on 13 December 2019.

Updates and advice about the fire at the New Zealand International Convention Centre on Hobson Street in central Auckland is available on Auckland Council's Our Auckland website:  https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/articles/news/2019/10/fire-in-auckland-central-city/

The beach and marine tsunami warning has been cancelled.

There is no tsunami threat to New Zealand following the magnitude 7.0 Kermadec Islands region earthquake at 10.55am.

Based on current information, the initial assessment is that the earthquake is unlikely to have caused a tsunami that will pose a threat to New Zealand.

There is no tsunami threat to New Zealand following the magnitude 7.7 New Britain Region Papua New Guinea earthquake at 12.58am 15 May.

Based on current information, the initial assessment is that the earthquake is unlikely to have caused a tsunami that will pose a threat to New Zealand.

A local state of emergency was declared in the Westland District at 1745hrs on 26 March 2019 due to severe weather.

For further updates please go to: https://www.facebook.com/emergencywestcoast

A state of local emergency was declared at 8.00am Wednesday 6 February 2019 in the Nelson Tasman Civil Defence Emergency Management Group area due to the effects of the Pigeon Valley Fire.

The state of emergency expired at 8:00 am, 27 February 2019.

A boil water notice was issued on Friday 1 February 2019 for Martinborough Township. An Emergency Mobile Alert was issued on Friday 1 February 2019 and again on Saturday 2 February 2019.

See https://www.swdc.govt.nz/ for more information.

A 7.6M earthquake occured at 5.18pm on Wednesday 5 December 2018 southeast of Loyalty Islands. A no tsunami threat national advisory was issued by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management.