Overview

• Wellington is experiencing its first red wind warning since 2019, with gusts reaching up to 150 km/h and threats to life and property reported.
• Authorities have advised residents to shelter indoors, citing risks from flying debris, falling trees, and power outages.
• Transport disruptions persist as flights to and from Wellington remain cancelled and Cook Strait ferry services are suspended until Friday afternoon.
• The Selwyn District in south Canterbury has declared a state of emergency due to flooding, while Christchurch's Avon River has burst its banks, prompting evacuations and school closures.
• Record rainfall of 109 mm in 24 hours was recorded in Ashburton, exceeding its May average, while Tekapo saw the season's first significant snowfall.