Community Update - Flooding Event - 1pm Thursday 9th July 2026

The good news is that MetService New Zealand's Yellow Heavy Rain Watch has now been lifted. Rainfall is expected to ease over the next couple of days, bringing some much-needed relief to our district.

Based on assessments from Environment Canterbury river engineers, the Kowhai River no longer poses an immediate flood risk.

Community welfare and infrastructure

We’re pleased to report that all residents affected by evacuation notices can now safely return to their homes.

A huge thank you to our community welfare centres, Takahanga Marae and New Life Church, for accommodating those who needed a safe place to stay. We were pleased to hear that, as of this morning, everyone who had been staying in welfare centres have moved on and no longer require accommodation support.

West End is now open for business. However, State Highway 1 south of Kaikōura remains closed, so we encourage people to plan their travel accordingly.

Building assessments have been largely completed. At this stage, we are aware of nine properties that have been identified as being impacted by flooding, with further assessments continuing across the district today.

If people have concerns about how their property has been affected by flooding, please contact Kaikōura District Council on 03 319 5026.

Kincaid and Fernleigh water schemes

Residents connected to the Kincaid and Fernleigh water schemes are asked to continue conserving water until supplies can be restored. Our teams are working hard to resolve the issue and reinstate normal service as soon as possible.

Boil Water Notice

The Boil Water Notice remains in place for the Peketā Rural Water supply until further notice.

What to do if you think your drinking water is contaminated:

If you experience diarrhoea, vomiting and/or fever and think your sickness has been caused by your drinking water, contact your doctor or Healthline (0800 611 116) and your drinking water supplier as soon as possible. For more information, visit the Water Services Authority website.

Further updates

Thank you to everyone who has supported the response and recovery effort over the past week.

We'll continue to keep the community updated as we head into the Matariki holiday weekend. In the meantime, please continue to follow advice from emergency response agencies and take care on local roads.