Weather updates
Cyclone Vaianu local updates
We’re continuing to monitor Cyclone Vaianu as it moves closer to New Zealand, expecting to make landfall within our region on Sunday12 April 2026.
Heavy rain and strong winds may cause:
Please visit getready.govt.nz to prepare your property and household. It has a lot of great information about how to get our households ready for an emergency, including making a plan and working out what supplies you'll need. It has information about making an evacuation plan with friends or family and some tips around children and pets.
Support available
- Please contact our call centre on 0800 746 467 for council-related urgent matters. For non-urgent issues please log them on the Antenno app. For emergencies please always call 111.
- Here To Help U can offer a wide range of support.
- Rural Support Trust.
- DairyNZ are also putting out some great advice for our rural and farming communities on Facebook.
- Please watch MetService for updates and take care on the roads.
Council closures
Trees, tracks and public spaces
Our main message is to please stay home and indoors where possible. Please be careful around large trees. Storms can change our parks, tracks and reserves very quickly. Strong winds and heavy rain put extra pressure on tees and the ground around them. Please be aware of falling trees, branches and flying and falling debris. Find out more here.
On Sunday 12 April and Monday 13 April, particularly avoid ares with large trees, such as:
Murray Oaks in Morrinsville
Hetana Street Reserve in Matamata
Tracks, public spaces and playgrounds with large trees.
Morrinsville Recreation Ground
Morrinsville river walk
Te Aroha Domain
Tower Road Walkway
Te Miro Mountain bike track
Please note, this is not an exhaustive list. Please avoid all public spaces, playgrounds and tracks during severe weather.
Road closures/hazards
Please avoid unncessary travel. If you must drive, please be careful on the roads and be wary of wet conditions and any debris on the road, particularly at night. If our teams attend a road blockage and there are strong winds, signage will not be possible. Please drive to the conditions, stay alert and stay connected for any updates.
- Te Aroha footbridge closed
- Thompson Track from Saturday, 11 April 2026
RTS sites
All our sites will be closed on Sunday 12 April 2026.
Council facilities
All our facilities will be closed on Sunday 12 April 2026.
Swim Zone Te Aroha
Te Aroha Mineral Spas
Swim Zone Matamata
Domain House Beauty
Te Aroha Visitor Information Centre – available via phone.
Firth Tower Reserve and Museum
Open Country Community Stadium – Matamata
Matamata Civic Centre
Headon Events Centre
Silver Fern Farms Events Centre
Morrinsville Events Centre
Hauraki Rail Trail is closed Saturday 11 April to Monday 13 April 2026. Follow haurakirailtrail.co.nz for updates.
Extra information
Landslides
Using sandbags
Sandbags can be used to divert water away from your house or other buildings. They can be used to block doorways, drains, and other openings into properties, as well as to weigh-down manhole covers, garden furniture, and to block sink, toilet, and bath drains, to prevent water backing up.
Sandbags require time and effort to fill and place, so they need to be filled and placed in advance of flooding, rather than in the middle of a flood or a storm. They also won’t stop water coming from under a house, through floorboards or other access points.
If you don’t have sand, any fine material including soil can be used. You can also use pillowcases as makeshift sandbags.
Filling the bags:
- Fill bags with sand or any other fine material. Don’t use gravel or rocky soils as they will let the water through.
- It’s easiest if two people are involved - one to hold the bag and the other to shovel the sand in.
- Only fill bags to half or two-thirds full. This gives the sand room to expand as it absorbs the water.
- Don’t tie or seal the bag when you put it in place, fold the flap into a triangle and tuck it under the bag.
Placing the bags:
- Clear any debris from the area where the bags will be placed.
- If you can, put a large sheet of heavy-duty waterproof plastic between the sandbags and the building or surface.
- Place your first row of sandbags lengthwise and flat to the ground, butting each end to the next, folding the open end of the sandbag underneath.
- Place bags in layers like a brick wall, overlapping each row. Place the second row of sandbags on top staggering the joints.
- Stamp bags firmly into place to eliminate gaps and create a tight seal.
- Bags can be placed like this to a height of three layers, if further height is required, place sandbags behind to add strength to your wall.
