Reconnecting coastal Wairarapa communities a priority for emergency teams

Feb 19, 2026 | News

The Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO), together with local councils, Red Cross, Fire and Emergency (FENZ) and East Coast Rural Support, continues to support communities across Wairarapa following the recent severe storm, with the south Wairarapa coast community taking priority.

Lake Ferry, Whangaimoana and Ngawi/Cape Palliser remain isolated, with approximately 400 residents still cut off due to road damage, slips, debris, and restricted access routes.

Response teams and partner agencies are conducting ongoing needs assessments, working directly with residents to determine immediate requirements, prioritise welfare checks, and coordinate delivery of essential supplies. Significant impacts on agricultural communities across the district have also been identified, though the full extent of damage is still being assessed.

Red Cross teams are carrying out welfare checks. The Pirinoa Store remains a key information hub for affected communities, and the East Coast Rural Support Trust is assisting rural households and farm-based welfare needs.

Simon Taylor, Wairarapa Emergency Operations Centre Controller, said WREMO is working with local councils, Red Cross, and East Coast Rural Support to support the communities still isolated after the storm.

“Our immediate priority is ensuring Lake Ferry, Ngawi, and Whangaimoana have the supplies and assistance they need while road access is being reestablished.

“We thank residents for their resilience, patience, and community spirit as response teams continue assessments and deliver support. If it’s safe to do so, we encourage everyone to check in on neighbours, especially older and more vulnerable members of the community.”

Emergency responders are still assessing whether there are other affected communities around the Northern coast, with confirmation there is access to Riversdale, Castlepoint, Mataikona and Mauriceville areas.

Infrastructure updates

Turanganui and Hurupi stream bridges

  • The section of Lake Ferry Road by Turanganui Bridge has been reinstated and is now open. Thank you to the crews who have worked so hard to get this work done. Please drive to the conditions as there are some uneven surfaces and a speed limit of 30km/hr is in place.
  • The Hurupi Stream Bridge (Banana Bridge) is still being reviewed and we will provide an update as soon as it is available.

Power

  • Residual outages remain across the wider region; the most recent regional update indicates approximately 300 households in the PowerCo area (Wairarapa) are still without power. PowerCo continues to assess affected southern areas and will provide restoration forecasts as they become available.

Water

  • A boil water notice remains in place for Pirinoa until testing confirms the supply is safe.

Roading

Masterton District:

  • No road closures – however, we emphasise ongoing caution for debris, trees, and slips.

Carterton District:

  • No road closures – however, we emphasise ongoing caution for debris, trees, and slips.

Roading crews continue working to clear slips and debris across the district as quickly as possible. Updated bridge assessments will guide reopening timeframes once confirmed.

WREMO and council teams are working closely with Māori Liaison representatives to identify needs, support local whānau, and ensure the response respects cultural values, whenua, and impacts to culturally significant sites.

Planning teams are gathering information to support early recovery while response operations continue in isolated communities.

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