As of 1:00 PM NZDT, Monday, February 16, 2026, several river systems across the North Island and upper South Island are at critical levels. Monitoring agencies and local councils have issued urgent reports in the last 3 hours regarding rivers that are currently breaching or are highly likely to breach their banks.

Critical River & Stream Alerts (Last 3 Hours)

1. Lower North Island (Manawatū & Rangitīkei)

• Pohangina River: Emergency services have been evacuating residents in Ashhurst (Saddle and River roads) as the river is threatening to breach. Water levels at the Saddle Road Bridge reached a point where local evacuation plans were triggered earlier this morning.

   

• Manawatū River: Currently under intense monitoring. As of 10:30 AM, levels at Weber Road and Upper Gorge continue to rise. If the river hits 5.2m at the Teachers College gauge, the Moutoa floodgates will likely be opened to divert water.

   

• Turakina River: Levels at O’Neills Bridge are forecast to reach a staggering 13.6m by this afternoon. Flooding downstream of Turakina is considered highly likely as the river exceeds the 7.5m "danger" threshold.

  

• Oroua River: Rising steadily at Almadale Slackline; expected to cause significant surface flooding in surrounding paddocks by early afternoon.

2. Wellington & Wairarapa

• Waiwhetū Stream (Lower Hutt): Residents in Waiwhetū, Moera, Gracefield, and Seaview have been advised to evacuate or prepare for immediate departure. The stream is rising rapidly and is at high risk of overtopping within the hour.

   

• Ruamahanga River: In South Wairarapa, the Waihenga and Lower Valley Bridges are being monitored for closure. The river is expected to breach bank capacity in low-lying floodplains near Martinborough by mid-afternoon.

• Hutt River: While currently contained within the stopbanks, "rapidly rising" alerts have been issued for the Birchville and Kelson sectors.

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3. South Island (Kaikōura & Canterbury)

• Kaikōura District Tributaries: Environment Canterbury (ECan) updated its warning at 9:10 AM, stating that all rivers and streams in the district are likely to be impacted. Foothill tributaries of the Waiau and Hurunui catchments are seeing increased flows and are at risk of localized breaches.