Rangitīkei District Council is continuing to respond to the weekend’s severe weather event and we thank residents for their patience as we develop a better understanding of the extent of the damage. Please see latest updates below:

ROADS

Alongside clearing fallen trees, our Downer NZ teams have now travelled approximately 95% of the district’s extensive roading network to assess damage.

The following local roads remain closed:

• Agnews Road
• Brandon Hall Road
• Gibbons Road
• Kawera Road
• Makino Road
• Ngarino Street
• Norwood Lane
• Ohaumoko Road
• O'Taihape Valley Road
• Otara Road
• Pohonui Road
• Purakau Street
• Ruru Road
• Turakina Valley Road
• Warrens Road

The priority has been restoring safe access across the network as quickly as possible. Most roads are expected to be at least single-lane passable by Thursday 19 February.

Once full assessments are complete, we will confirm the approach and timeframes for permanent repairs. This will include the removal of trees and debris that were temporarily pushed to the roadside to reopen routes.

The majority of damage across the network has been caused by fallen trees. There have also been a small number of dropouts and slips, which are being assessed for repair.

Residents are reminded:

• If you are not familiar with a road, do not travel down it.
• Do not use local roads as alternatives to State Highways unless directed by contractors.

WATER

Conserve water notices remain in place for:

• Taihape
• Mangaweka
• Hunterville
• Rātana

In Marton, the regular water truck will not be at the Marton Memorial Hall until further notice. Due to the weather event, the truck has been redirected to support other towns in the district.

PARKS AND RESERVES

All parks and reserves remain closed until further notice.

• While debris has been cleared from play equipment in some locations, many large trees remain unstable with hanging branches. These pose a serious overhead risk.
• Residents are asked to take this seriously and avoid parks, even if they appear clear. We will notify you as parks are cleared and reopened.

POWER

Some residents are now entering their fourth day without power.

• Powerco crews are working to restore supply; however, due to the scale of damage, restoration timeframes are not available.
• For outage updates: outages.powerco.co.nz

Our Community Hubs in Marton, Bulls (Te Matapihi), and Taihape are open for anyone needing to charge devices or access support.

REPORTING DAMAGE

To report damage to Council roads, parks, or infrastructure:

• Call 0800 422 522
• Submit an online service reques

Please note: Requests are being prioritised, but response times may be longer than usual due to the volume of work.

NEXT UPDATE: estimated @ 5pm today, Wednesday 18 February 2026

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