June 2025 Newsletter

Kia ora,

WREMO has had a busy few months wrapping up the final workshops and community engagements, alongside leading a major emergency management exercise across the region’s nine councils.

We've also seen our fair share of wet and wild weather recently, and with winter now settling in, it's a good time to pause and remind ourselves of the small but important things we can do to stay warm, safe, and prepared.

In this issue, we’ll take a look back at the Red Warning wind event in early May, share highlights from WREMO and the councils' most recent exercise, and offer some top tips to help you get ready for whatever this winter may bring!

Red Warning Wind Event

Waves crashing over the seawall at Island Bay - Wellington City Council

Last month saw MetService issue our region's first red weather warning.

Here in Windy Wellington, we are pretty used to the wind, but these were some of the strongest southerlies we have seen in quite some time. Combine that with the heavy sea swells and multiple rain warnings forecasted and it turned into quite the storm.

We want to give a massive shout-out to everyone involved in last month's response.

From our council staff, emergency services and Response Team volunteers who responded into the night, to the council contractors and clean-up crews who were up in the early morning clearing debris from our roads.

We also want to give a shout out to our communities for your stellar efforts to keep yourselves and others safe and your patience throughout the event. To those who couldn't get home, worked from home or may have self-evacuated - thank you.

Below are a few photos of the event and impact we saw across the region:

Surface flooding in Lower Hutt - Hutt City Council

White Rock Road near Tuturumuri School - South Wairarapa District Council

Silverstream Volunteer Fire Brigade clearing a fallen tree - Wellington Fire and Emergency

Get Weather Ready With Me

Know what to do BEFORE severe weather hits

1. Know your hazards:

Check Greater Wellington's River Flood Map to see if you are in an area prone to river flooding.
Find out from your local council if your home or business is at risk of flooding.
Check Greater Wellington’s storm surge modelling.

2. Know how to stay informed

Sign up for severe weather warning push notifications via MetService
Know your local radio station frequency
Follow WREMO and your local council channels

3. Reduce the impacts of severe weather

Trim trees and remove any debris or loose items from around your property.
Tie down, or bring inside, anything that strong winds could pick up or break (Wellington is notorious for flying trampolines!).
Clear leaves and debris from external drains to help prevent surface flooding.

4. Make a household plan

Identify where you could evacuate if flooding occurs.
Identify a safe space in your whare to gather during a thunderstorm (away from windows).
Know how to switch off your utilities.
Plan for your pets and livestock.

5. Emergency supplies:

Prepare a grab bag with essential items in case you have to evacuate with little or no warning.
Plan for the supplies you may need if you are stuck at home with no power or water.
Keep and recycle materials and tools to repair damage to windows, such as bubble wrap, cardboard, tarpaulins and duct tape.

Know what to do DURING severe weather:

Stay informed - Listen to the radio and follow WREMO and your local council on their social media and website.
Stay indoors and don’t drive unless you need to evacuate.
Bring pets inside and move livestock to higher ground where possible.
If you see rising water:
- GTFO (Get The Flood Out): Act quickly if you see rising water. Do not wait for official warnings. Move to higher ground.
- Never try to walk, swim or drive through flood water. Flood water is dangerous, it can contain sewage, toxic chemicals and hidden debris. Even water just 30cm deep can sweep you off your feet and pick up your vehicle.
During a power outage:
- If you lose power, unplug major appliances. This will reduce the power surge and possible damage when power is restored.
- Don’t use candles due to the risk of fire.
- If you are medically dependent on power, in an emergency call 111 or go to your nearest medical centre.
- Treat all all downed lines/electrical equipment as live at all times.

Know what to do AFTER severe weather

Stay away from damaged areas until the all-clear is given.
Help others if you can.
Stay alert for extended rainfall, landslides, flooding and hazardous debris.
If your property is damaged, contact your insurance company as soon as possible and take photos of any damage before cleaning up.
Throw out any food and water that has been in contact with flood water as it may be contaminated.
Clean up carefully and take care around remaining flood water - you may need to wear protective gear.

You can find more information about severe weather and flooding on the WREMO website.

Exercise Wai Riri

Throughout May, over 500 people across councils, WREMO and partner agencies put on their emergency management vests for Exercise Wai Riri – a scenario which focused on severe weather.

With the severe weather that impacted our region in early May, it was a timely reminder of why we run exercises like these.

Twice a year, our region’s nine councils run exercises to help practise and prepare for an emergency response. Each local council stands up an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) that focuses on impacts specific to their area.

Greater Wellington stands up the Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) to coordinate a regional response and provide support to each of the EOCs.

Exercises like these are a valuable opportunity to test our skills, systems, and relationships, ensuring we’re ready to respond when we need to.

Upcoming Events

Tawa: Emergency Response Practice - June 28th 2025

Porirua: Continuity Planning for Community Groups - June 30th 2025

See our website for futher information: Calendar of Events

Don’t see your area in our upcoming events, no problem!

You can come along to any of our Emergency Response Practices or better yet, let us know if your community is keen to have a go at your local Community Emergency Hub.

It’s free, it’s fun and best of all anyone can do it!