2026 Wellington Floods

Overview

On April 20, 2026, a record-breaking deluge dumped 77 mm of rain in under one hour across Wellington's southern suburbs, triggering catastrophic flash flooding and widespread landslides. The Wellington Region Emergency Management Office declared a state of emergency as floodwaters swept through neighborhoods including Island Bay, Berhampore, Newtown, Brooklyn, and Mornington. Fire and Emergency New Zealand responded to more than 180 calls in a single morning. Multiple homes were rendered uninhabitable, mandatory evacuations were ordered in Carterton as the Hutt River and Waiwhetū Stream overflowed, and State Highways 1, 2, and 58 were blocked by debris and floodwaters. A 60-year-old man was reported missing after floodwaters swept through his home in the Karori suburb. Wellington Mayor Andrew Little estimated damage could reach hundreds of millions of dollars and launched a Mayoral Relief Fund in partnership with Wellington City Mission. The New Zealand government fast-tracked $10 million in relief for affected families and infrastructure. The New Zealand Red Cross deployed emergency management volunteers and Disaster Welfare and Support Teams to provide shelter, household goods, and psychosocial support.