Civil Defence Waikato

12/06/2026

🌅 Another cracking Fieldays sunrise, another chilly 4°C start, and somehow we're all still functioning before our first coffee.

It’s the final day of Fieldays, so if you haven’t visited the Emergency Hub yet, now’s your chance.

Grab a passport from Hato Hone St John, Fire and Emergency NZ and us - Waikato Civil Defence, complete the activities, and go in the draw for today’s prize pack.

And while you're at it, sign up for ShakeOut. We promise it’s an earthquake drill, not a dance move.

Then swing by New Zealand Red Cross for a coffee and a few preparedness tips that could be even more useful than that gadget you almost bought.

See you at the Hub! 🚜☕🌎

11/06/2026

💬 HOW AN EMA IS SENT 💬

In advance of the EMA test on 14 June between 6-7pm, we wanted to answer some of your questions about how they work.

🛜 Cell towers broadcast an EMA to any device that connects to it, versus sending messages to individual phones, like a text message.

📍 This means a specific area of the country can be targeted, and an alert can be sent to people whenever they enter that specific area.

🚨 This is why some people can receive multiple alerts. If someone is traveling and moves from one cell tower to another, or someone's phone loses mobile signal and reconnects to a tower or bounces between two towers, an alert will be sent every time a new connection to a tower is made.

📱 This method of sending alerts is also why people can't opt out of EMAs. Nobody's personal information is needed to send an EMA, so there is no database to be removed from.

Find out more about Emergency Mobile Alerts at https://getready.govt.nz/ema

09/06/2026

Up before the birds this morning — and definitely before the frost melted, but that’s Fieldays for you.

Fieldays dawned with a frost so sharp it could slice your gumboot laces, but at least it’s not raining. Small wins.

Mystery Creek is already buzzing: headlights rolling in, tractors humming, and everyone pretending they’re not shivering.

So chuck on your beanie, gloves, and your best “I love early mornings” smile and come find us at the Emergency Hub Cnr T Road and E Street, with our mates Hato Hone St John, Fire and Emergency NZ.

Our team is all about ShakeOut 2026 — our national earthquake drill and tsunami hikoi.

Grab a passport, collect stamps from all three agencies, and you’ll go in the draw for a daily prize.

What are you waiting for — someone to deliver hot chocolates to your ute?

08/06/2026

⚠️ New Zealand's annual test of the Emergency Mobile Alert (EMA) system will be sent on this Sunday 14 June between 6pm-7pm to all capable phones and other SIM-connected devices ⚠️

This test makes sure the EMA system works as it should nationwide, and helps keep you safe during future emergency events.

❗ If you have a hidden phone for your personal safety, or the sound of the alert affects your physical or mental health in any way, we recommend turning off any devices with a SIM connection between 6-7pm on Sunday 14 June, or putting them into flight mode.

👉📱 You can mute the sound of the alert by pressing the volume button on the side of your phone – this mutes the sound of the EMA while leaving the message on screen for you to read in full.

Find out more about Emergency Mobile Alerts at https://getready.govt.nz/ema

08/06/2026

*** Update as at 12:39 pm

There is no tsunami threat to New Zealand following the M7.8 Philippines earthquake. Based on current information, the initial assessment is that the earthquake is unlikely to have caused a tsunami that will pose a threat to New Zealand. ***

A message from NZ Civil Defence regarding the recent earthquake in the Phillippines. We will post any updates to our page as get them.

The Government has introduced an Emergency Management Bill to replace the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002. Learn more about the Bill.

04/06/2026

***update 9pm 5 June. This thunderstorm watch is what the 90s band Lighthouse call “Lifted!” (That includes Waikato and Coromandel Peninsula).

Calvin Harris said it best “ready for the weekend”. That is all, as you were ☺️***

***Update 7pm 5 June: the thunderstorms are travelling east over the northern North Island. The thunderstorm watch is now valid until 10pm, including Coromandel Peninsula.***

Our friends at MetService New Zealand have issued a severe thunderstorm watch for parts of Waikato, valid from 3pm - 8pm today (Friday 5 June).

Also for The Coromandel Peninsula valid from 5pm-9pm today.

Thunderstorms will be accompanied by heavy rain of 10-25mm/h and wind gusts of 100km. There is a moderate risk of heavy downpours of 25/40mm/h with or without thunderstorms.

Rainfall of this intensity could cause flash flooding especially in low lying areas.

🍁 Clear gutters of leaves
🛝 secure backyard play equipment and outdoor furniture
🌧️ never enter floodwaters

Get more information: www.MetService.com/warnings

02/06/2026

Ice, Ice… Maybe? Winter hazards don’t have to drop a beat.

Heavy rain, flooding, power cuts — winter loves a surprise remix.
We're turning up the volume on being prepared: checking drains, stocking essentials, planning for outages, and knowing what to do if flooding hits.

Stay tuned each week during winter for simple ways to keep your whānau safe and prepared for whatever winter drops next.

31/05/2026

***update 11.40am 2 June: all watches and warnings for the Waikato have been lifted. Have a great day everyone.***

***update 8.28am 2 June: Heavy rain watch for Taupoo and heavy rain warning for Ruapehu remain in place while heavy rain watches for the remainder of the Waikato have been lifted.***

***update 5.50pm 1 June: Waikato Regional Council Flood Room is now in monitoring mode. To see what the impacts for river levels, flows and catchments are for your area of the Waikato, visit:
Waikatoregion.govt.nz/flood-room***

⚠️ Waikato weather update ⚠️

🌧️ Rain is forecast to develop across Waikato today, becoming heavier overnight and into tomorrow (Tuesday).

🟡 There are a number of wind and rain watches in place across the Waikato region, with severe weather warnings active in neighbouring regions.

🚗 With the long weekend coming to an end, expect busy roads.

Please take care if you’re travelling:

👉 Slow down and drive to the conditions
👉 Watch for surface flooding and reduced visibility
👉 Increase your following distance

Stay up to date with the latest here:

metservice.com/warnings/home

journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions

26/05/2026

🐮Bessie the cow has udderly no idea what’s happening. One minute she’s minding her business, the next she’s wearing a toy car and starring in a viral moment she did not plan for.

Emergencies can feel a lot like that — sudden, confusing, and completely out of your control.

Don’t be like Bessie. 🐮

Having a preparedness plan means you’re not caught off guard. You know what to do, where to go, and how to keep the people (and pets!) you care about safe.

👉🏽A plan gives you confidence.
👉🏽A plan gives you some control.

💪🏽Take a few minutes today to get prepared. getready.govt.nz