Heavy Rain & Strong Winds Disrupt Transport Across New Zealand

Severe weather battered large parts of New Zealand on Monday, as heavy rain and powerful winds disrupted flights, trains, and ferry services, forcing road closures across much of the North Island and cutting power to tens of thousands of residents.

According to Bloomberg, local media reported that some flights resumed operations in the afternoon at Wellington Airport. 

However, cancellations remained widespread after airport authorities confirmed that most morning departures had been suspended.

Air New Zealand said it hoped to gradually restore services later in the day once weather conditions improved, after halting operations at Wellington, Napier, and Palmerston North airports.

Images circulating online showed semi-rural neighborhoods inundated by floodwaters, homes submerged, trees toppled onto vehicles, and sections of roadways collapsing after waters receded.

Residents described the conditions as extreme. 

“The weather was absolutely terrifying,” said Marilyn Pulford, who lives in the rural town of Bunnythorpe, about 160 kilometers north of Wellington.

Emergency services were inundated with calls overnight. Assistant National Commander Ken Cooper said the Wellington region accounted for more than half of the 852 emergency calls received during the night, underscoring the scale of the disruption.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation as cleanup efforts begin and transport networks gradually resume operations.