State of Emergency declared for Waitaki District

Published on 06 July 2026

Update 7.30am 6 July 2026

A Local State of Emergency has been declared for the Waitaki District following significant overnight flooding in Oamaru.

Emergency services have been responding to multiple calls for assistance throughout the night. The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) was activated at around 2am this morning

Since midnight, Fire and Emergency New Zealand has responded to over 50 emergency calls, with flood response crews assisting 18 people to evacuate to the Oamaru Fire Station. More than 20 people have self-evacuated from their homes as flooding has affected a number of residential and commercial properties across the town. Around 13 people and 4 dogs are currently sheltering at the Community-led Evacuation Centre at the Network Waitaki Event Centre.

Mayor Melanie Tavendale said declaring a State of Emergency ensures the resources and coordination needed are in place to support the community.

"This has been a significant localised flooding event. Our priority is the safety and wellbeing of everyone affected. We ask people to stay off the roads in affected areas, avoid floodwater, and follow the advice of emergency services."

Community-led Evacuation Centre

A Community-led Evacuation Centre has been established at the Network Waitaki Event Centre, 2 Centennial Park, Oamaru North. Access is via the Tayward Street carpark entrance.

The centre is open for anyone who needs a safe, dry place to shelter.

Small pets, including dogs and cats (contained), are welcome.

Anyone who needs assistance getting to the Evacuation Centre should contact emergency services.

Roads and travel

State Highway 1 is closed between Seven Mile Road and State Highway 83. A detour is in place and motorists should follow all signage and directions.

Council roading teams and contractors are currently assessing local roads across the district as fast as they can. Some roads may not yet be officially closed with signage but could still be unsafe or impassable. Current road closures can be found on the Waitaki District Council website.

Residents are urged to:

• Stay home in affected areas unless travel is absolutely necessary.
• Never drive through floodwater.
• Watch for slips, debris and damaged road surfaces.
• Check the NZTA website for state highway closures and the Waitaki District Council website Road Conditions page for local road closures.

Southbound access into Oamaru remains under assessment.

Sandbags

Sandbags and sand are now available from the Eden Street car park.

Why was a State of Emergency declared now?

MetService issued a Orange Heavy Rain Warning yesterday for Coastal Otago. Based on forecasting available at the time, the northern extent of the most severe rainfall was expected to remain further south.

Emergency management staff worked closely with MetService throughout the event.

Forecast guidance indicated North Otago was not expected to receive significant rainfall.

However, Oamaru experienced an intense, highly localised downpour shortly after midnight. Rainfall records show approximately 46mm fell over four hours, with 34mm falling in just two hours. This unexpected intensity resulted in rapid surface flooding across parts of the town.

As the scale and impacts of the flooding became clear overnight, a Local State of Emergency was declared to enable the necessary emergency response and support for affected residents.

Need help?

If your home is flooding, you are trapped, or your safety is at risk, call 111 immediately.

If you need to evacuate and require somewhere safe to stay, go to the Community-led Evacuation Centre at the Network Waitaki Event Centre or contact emergency services if you need assistance getting there.

If there is damage to your home or property contact your insurance provider.

The weather forecast indicates rainfall is expected to ease during the day, however authorities continue to monitor conditions closely.

The public is encouraged to monitor official Waitaki District Council and Civil Defence channels for the latest information and updates. 

ENDS