/news/emergency/rss 九一星空无限 Keep up with the latest breaking news across New Zealand with 九一星空无限talk ZB. Sat, 17 Jan 2026 09:25:37 Z en /news/emergency/port-waikato-jet-ski-incident-body-found-during-search-for-missing-man/ /news/emergency/port-waikato-jet-ski-incident-body-found-during-search-for-missing-man/ A body has been found during the search for a man who went missing while jet skiing in Port Waikato on Christmas Day.  The man disappeared after three people got into trouble near the sandbar at the Waikato River mouth at 6.30pm Thursday.  Police units, including an Eagle helicopter, assisted Surf Life Saving New Zealand with the initial search.  Two people, including a five-year-old child were rescued, however, one person could not be found.  The search resumed this morning, with the Police Eagle finding a body at Port Waikato.  It is believed to be the man who went missing while jet skiing on Christmas Day.  Police will be referring the matter to the Coroner.  A rāhui has been placed over Port Waikato and surrounding areas until 8pm today by the people of Te Pūaha o Waikato.  It affects Sunset Beach and the Waikato River from Port Waikato to Kariotahi Beach.  Coastguard NZ earlier said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the missing individual. We will continue to support police in the search over the coming days.  “A special acknowledgment to all our volunteers and staff who responded to this incident, as well as others across the motu this Christmas. Thank you for your sacrifice and dedication to helping others on the water.”  Fri, 26 Dec 2025 22:13:32 Z /news/emergency/state-highway-47-closed-as-crews-fight-multiple-tongariro-fires/ /news/emergency/state-highway-47-closed-as-crews-fight-multiple-tongariro-fires/ Crews are battling multiple fires near Tongariro National Park.  Fire and Emergency New Zealand said crews were at fires on the eastern side of State Highway 47.  There are two fires measuring 30m by 200m.  Crews are also responding to a third fire on SH47 which they have had some difficulty reaching.    A fire has broken out at the Tongariro National Park today. Photo / Liz Brooker Tōī Communication  There are five fire trucks there and three helicopters.  Colin Baker from Ruapehu Scenic Shuttles told 九一星空无限 he received a video of the fire and then five minutes later, the fire siren went off.  “Someone told me it was a third alarm fire.”  Baker said it was “rapidly developing”.  He said he has had multiple phone calls about it and said it was reported to be in multiple locations.  More trucks are on the way, with a further two helicopters on standby if needed, Fire and Emergency said.  Karen Wickson, from Adrift Tongariro, said they learned about the fire in the past hour.  “We’re just heading around to do the detour to pick up our group, and hopefully the fires are put out fairly quickly.”  They currently have a group going the Tongariro Crossing walk.  “Our group is safe. I have spoken with our guide." Wickson said the group has 90 minutes left on their walk and could not see anything.  NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said SH47 between Waimarino and Tongariro was closed.  “Due to vegetation fires, the road is closed between SH46 and SH48.  “Follow the detour and allow extra time for travel.  “If travelling southbound, detour via SH1 and SH49. Reverse for northbound.”  The Department of Conservation said on its Facebook it was aware a fire had been reported near where the November blaze took place in Tongariro National Park.  “We are currently working with Fire and Emergency NZ to get more information and will share details once we know more.”  A large vegetation fire burnt thousands of hectares in Tongariro National Park last month and triggered evacuations and closed highways.  - More to come  Mon, 08 Dec 2025 02:28:08 Z /news/emergency/severe-winds-rip-roof-from-tapanui-supermarket-as-storm-batters-otago/ /news/emergency/severe-winds-rip-roof-from-tapanui-supermarket-as-storm-batters-otago/ Winds ravaging Otago this afternoon have lifted the roof off the Four Square supermarket in Tapanui, leaving the store closed until further notice. Photos from the scene show the roof partially crumpled on top of the building. Fire and Emergency New Zealand has declined to comment on the specific incident at the private property, citing privacy reasons, but confirmed that there have been calls reporting at least 19 roofs lifting across Otago this afternoon. The supermarket posted on Facebook, urging the public to stay away from the scene until it is secure. Severe winds have torn the roof off the Tapanui Four Square. Photo / Supplied No injuries have been reported so far. The country has been buffeted by strong winds and rain, causing widespread damage across multiple regions. Southern District Police have urged motorists against non-essential travel, with debris blocking a number of roads. A roof was blown off a building south of Oxford. Photo / Mike Thorpe Detective Sergeant Hamish Fraser says a number of power lines and trees have come down in strong winds. Clinton woman Jean Anderson, whose roof has also been ripped off, said: “Just hoping it doesn’t rain too much and that we can get a tarp or something up.” ”Also, the power line has come adrift from the end of the house so that’s also going to be a pain - but we’ve had plenty of offers of spare beds, and a spare house even, so we’ll have somewhere to stay if things get worse." 23 October, 2025 Three cars parked at Dunedin's Caledonian sports ground have been damaged by falling branches Extreme winds are causing mayhem in the South Island with power outages, trees down, and bush fires. New Zealadn Herald photogrpah by Ben Tomsett MetService issued red strong wind warnings across much of the South Island’s eastern regions and southern parts of the North Island. Gusts of up to 150km/h are expected in exposed areas of the Canterbury High Country, with Christchurch and the Canterbury Plains forecast to reach 140km/h until late afternoon. Across the South Island, heavy rain warnings remain in place, with some areas expected to receive up to 150mm of rain on top of previous rainfall. The storm has caused widespread damage: trees have been uprooted in Hurunui, caravans flipped in Culverden, and multiple roofs lifted, including one at a home in Clinton, South Otago. Authorities in Clutha and Grey districts have urged residents to conserve water as water treatment plants experience outages. Local councils have closed parks, libraries, and community facilities, and emergency operations centres have been activated to monitor impacts. Residents have been advised to avoid travel due to fallen trees, downed power lines, and debris on roads. Ben Tomsett is a multimedia journalist based in Dunedin. He joined the Herald in 2023. Thu, 23 Oct 2025 02:30:52 Z /news/emergency/canterbury-storms-rip-roof-off-oxford-home-as-winds-hit-150kmh/ /news/emergency/canterbury-storms-rip-roof-off-oxford-home-as-winds-hit-150kmh/ Wild winds tearing through North Canterbury have ripped the roof off a home as severe gusts battered the region. Oxford resident Jade Teki-Stewart, who was inside the house when the roof came off, said the force of the wind was “unimaginable.” “We were in the far room and I saw something fly past the window,” she said. “I was like, ‘the roof’s come off!’, and you could hear it. I would never want to be in a hurricane.” A roof was blown off a house south of Oxford in Canterbury in high winds. Photo / Mike Thorpe Jade said her family had been monitoring the conditions using a small wind meter before the damage occurred. “We only clocked them at 109km/h, but it must be more than that,” she said. “That was the shortest gust we saw, and then the roof came off, so it must have picked up.” Despite the destruction, all three people in the house escaped uninjured. “We’re all good,” she said. “It was like what you’d imagine a hurricane was, we’re just lucky that the windows didn’t blow. We have windows on that side and that’s what we thought would go, rather than the roof.” High winds are causing havoc in Canterbury with power outages, downed trees, roofs blown off. Photo / Ben Tomsett The family has since begun cleaning up, with friends and relatives heading out to help clear debris before winds strengthen again. She said trees had been toppling nearby just before the roof lifted off. “We were watching those trees come down one after the other, and we were like, ‘oh no, all the [neighbour’s] deer are gonna get out... and then our roof went.” She said the storm had also blown a water tank onto the property. Wild weather has been rampaging across the South Island and lower North Island today, with severe weather warnings throughout the country. In Hanmer Springs, 50 properties are being evacuated as a precaution due to a large vegetation fire. Fire and Emergency crews are battling the blaze on Medway Rd, where Hurunui District Council is helping residents evacuate. High-end wedding venue, Braemar Lodge and Spa is among those affected. Access to Hanmer Springs village is blocked due to State Highway 7A being closed - evacuees are being told to go to Hanmer Springs Attractions Jet Boat base. A vegetation fire at Hanmer Springs in Canterbury where high winds are causing havoc. Photo / Gavin Martin Potentially deadly winds of up to 150km/h are expected across the South Island today, with red strong wind warnings in place for Canterbury, Wellington and Wairarapa. More than 100 flights have been cancelled, and a local state of emergency remains in effect for Canterbury as forecasters warn the worst may not be over. Heavy rain warnings are also in force, with up to 150mm more rain expected in parts of the South Island. Mike Thorpe is a senior multimedia journalist for the Herald, based in Christchurch. Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:12:52 Z