Weather event updates – January 2023
MetService New Zealand upgraded its severe weather warning to Red from 4am Tuesday to 4am Wednesday. An Orange Heavy Rain Warning and Severe Thunderstorm watch was issued for Northland on Monday 30 January. Find out which roads in the Far North have been impacted.
As of 1.15pm, 1 February.
Maromaku-Towai Road has now re-opened as flood waters have receded. However, contractors confirm that Opahi Road (also known as Opahi Station Road) is impassable due to flood waters. This road is also within the Maromaku-Towai catchment and it is expected that flooding on this road will recede this afternoon.
As of 8.15am, 1 February
This is our last update on roads affected by this heavy rain event. One road remains closed at Maromākū-Tōwai and eight roads are passable with caution, with one road potentially affected by an overslip.
| Road | Road status | Road damage |
| Commerce Street, Kaitāia | Drive with Caution | Surface Flooding |
| West Coast Road, Mitimiti | Drive with Caution | Surface Flooding |
| Maromākū-Tōwai Road, Tōwai | Road Closed | Flooding |
| Takou Bay Road, Kāeo | Drive with Caution | Fallen Tree |
| Otatara Marae Road, Waimā | Drive with Caution | Road washout/Scouring |
| Matawaia-Maromākū Road, Maromākū | Drive with Caution - 4wd Passable | Flooding |
| Pokapū Road, Moerewa | Drive with Caution - 4wd Passable | Flooding |
| Curtis Road, Rāwene | Drive with Caution | Fallen Tree |
| Hōreke Road, Hōreke | Drive with Caution | Fallen Tree |
| Wekaweka Road, Waimamaku | TBC | Overslip |
As of 6pm, 31 January
This is final update for Tuesday 31 January. While the Heavy Rain Warning issued by MetService remains in place until 4am Wednesday, emergency services are coping well with calls for assistance. Civil Defence Northland, emergency services and council staff will continue responding to weather-related callouts. Far North residents should call 111 in an emergency or 0800 920 029 if they need assistance from the council.
As of 4.30pm, 31 January 2023
Maromākū-Tōwai Road remains the only road closed in the Far North but there is a growing list of roads where caution is required.
Road closure information
| Road | Road status | Road damage |
| Grigg Street, Kaitāia | Open | Surface Flooding |
| Commerce Street, Kaitāia | Caution Required | Surface Flooding |
| Kohukohu Road, Kohukohu | Road Open | Surface Flooding |
| Kaitāia-Awaroa Road, Kaitāia | Caution Required | Surface Flooding |
| Kohukohu Road, Kohukohu | Road Open | Fallen Tree |
| West Coast Road, Mitimiti | Caution Required | Surface Flooding |
| Kohukohu Road, Kohukohu | One Lane | Fallen Tree |
| Paponga Road, Kohukohu | Road Open | Fallen Tree |
| Tirohanga Road, Kawakawa | Road Open | Fallen Tree |
| Maromākū-Tōwai Road, Tōwai | Road Closed | Flooding |
| Te Tio Road, Umawera | Drive with Caution | Fallen Tree |
| Ōtaua Road, Ōtaua | Road Open | Fallen Tree |
| Mihirata Road, Motatau | Road Open | Flooding |
| Takou Bay Road, Kāeo | Drive with Caution | Fallen Tree |
| Otatara Marae Road, Waimā | Drive with Caution | Road washout/Scouring |
| Matawaia-Maromākū Road, Maromākū | Drive with Caution - 4wd Passable | Flooding |
| Matawaia-Maromākū Road, Maromākū | Drive with Caution - 4wd Passable | Flooding |
| Pokapū Road, Moerewa | Drive with Caution - 4wd Passable | Flooding |
As of 12.30pm, 31 January 2023
Two district roads in the Far North are closed due to flooding or fallen trees while several others are impacted by the current weather event.
|
Road name |
Road status |
Road damage |
|
Grigg Street (Numbers 20-50) |
Open |
Surface Flooding |
|
Commerce Street (130) |
Caution required |
Surface flooding |
|
Kohukohu Road (1372) |
Road open |
Surface flooding |
|
Kaitāia-Awaroa Road (1416) |
Open |
Surface Flooding |
|
Kohukohu Road (1348) |
One lane |
Fallen tree |
|
West Coast Road Mitimiti (2924) |
Open caution required |
Surface flooding |
|
Kohukohu Road (1524) |
One lane |
Fallen tree |
|
Paponga Road |
Road closed |
Fallen tree |
|
Tirohanga Road (2400) |
Road open |
Fallen tree |
|
Maromākū-Tōwai Road (2840) |
Road closed |
Flooding |
|
Ayrtons Access Road |
Road open |
Fallen tree |
|
Te Tio Road (5650) |
Drive with Caution |
Fallen Tree |
|
Ōtaua Road (2239) |
Road open |
Fallen tree |
|
Mihirata Road (500) |
Tbc |
Flooding |
As of 8.30am, 31 January 2023
Only one road closure currently at Maromākū-Tōwai Road. Flood waters are receding in other areas.
| Road | Road status | Road damage |
| Grigg Street | Open | Surface Flooding |
| Commerce Street | Caution Required | Surface Flooding |
| Kohukohu Road | Road Open | Surface Flooding |
| Kaitāia-Awaroa Road | Open | Surface Flooding |
| Kohukohu Road | One Lane | Fallen Tree |
| West Coast Road Mitimiti | Open Caution Required | Surface Flooding |
| Tirohanga Road | Road Open | Fallen Tree |
| Maromākū- Tōwai Road | Road Closed | Flooding |
| Ayrtons Access Road | Road Open | Fallen Tree |
As of 4.30pm, 30 January 2023
This is the final update of the day (Monday 30 Jan). We will provide further updates tomorrow as required. Only one road remains closed this evening. Maromākū-Tōwai Road is closed due to flooding which is deemed too deep for 4WD access. Closure signs are in place. Other roads listed below are open, but down to one lane or are passable only by 4WD. Caution is strongly advised when traveling on these roads.
Road closure information
|
Road |
Road status |
Reason |
|
Commerce Street |
Caution required |
Surface flooding |
|
Kaitaia-Awaroa Road |
4wd only |
Surface flooding |
|
Kohukohu Road |
One lane |
Fallen tree |
|
West Coast Road |
Open caution required |
Surface flooding |
|
Maromākū-Tōwai Road |
Road closed |
Surface flooding |
As of 1pm, 30 January 2023
Road closure information
| Road | Road status | Reason |
| Grigg Street | Open | Surface Flooding |
| Commerce Street | Caution Required | Surface Flooding |
| Kohukohu Road | Road Open | Surface Flooding |
| Kaitāia-Awaroa Road | 4wd only | Surface Flooding |
| West Coast Road | Road Closed | Surface Flooding |
| Tirohanga Road | Road Closed | Fallen Tree |
| Horahora Road | 4wd only | Surface Flooding |
| Maromākū Road, Tōwai | Closed for 3km | Flooding, no 4WD access |
As of 12.30pm, 30 January 2023
Road closure information
| Road | Road status | Reason |
| Grigg Street | Open | Surface Flooding |
| Commerce Street | Caution Required | Surface Flooding |
| Kohukohu Road | Road Open | Surface Flooding |
| Kaitāia-Awaroa Road | 4wd only | Surface Flooding |
| West Coast Road | Road Closed | Surface Flooding |
| Tirohanga Road | Road Closed | Fallen Tree |
| Horahora Road | 4wd only | Surface Flooding |
Confirmed community reports of flooding (to be confirmed)
- Maromākū Road, Tōwai closed from 3KM due to flooding. Too deep for 4WD access
As of 9am, 30 January 2023
MetService New Zealand has issued an Orange Heavy Rain Warning and Severe Thunderstorm watch for Northland until 12pm Monday.
Two roads in the Far North have been impacted so far - one by surface flooding and another by a fallen tree. Our contractors are inspecting the road network and responding to customer callouts. We will update our list of affected roads regularly.
|
Road |
Road status |
|
Grigg St (Kaitāia) |
Surface flooding 4WD access only |
|
Tirohanga Rd (Kawakawa) (2400) |
Road closed due to fallen tree |
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