Cyclone Vaianu - what you need to know
Published on 13 April 2026
Tuesday 14 April at 5:00pm
- Rangihau Road is now open.
Monday 13 April, 4:00pm
Roading
All of our local roads are expected to be reopened by this evening.
Port Jackson Rd and Port Charles Rd are now open. Just Rangihau Road remains closed, for now.
Our crews anticipate Rangihau Rd to open again by 6pm today.
Check here for the latest on local roads throughout the day.
For state highway information, don’t forget that Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency take care of these.
There is a closure of SH25 on Kereta Hill near Manaia. Please check the transport agency’s website.
Sandbag disposal
Wondering what to do with your sandbags now Cyclone Vaianu has moved on? We’ve got you sorted.
Have your sandbags been in floodwaters? Dispose of any used sandbags for free by visiting any of our refuse and recycling transfer stations around our district (listed below). We have a dedicated drop-off area set aside so they can be managed safely.
It’s important to dispose of sandbags that have been in floodwater properly. Floodwater can sometimes be contaminated, and anything that’s been sitting in it needs to be handled with care.
If you have sandbags that you are confident were not in flood waters or only got wet in the rain, you can spread the sand on your lawn and throw the empty bag in the bin – sand can do wonders for your gardening!
If you have sandbags that are clean, dry and haven’t been used, consider storing them for next time.
Our stations are located throughout our district.
Parks and sports fields
After all of that rain and wind, we are aware some of our parks and reserves may look a little unloved.
Please let us assure you that our teams are working these areas but need some help from our communities to ensure they bounce back well.
Some of our parks and reserves, such as Rhodes Park in Thames, experienced significantly more rainfall and water than others and more rain is forecast.
If you see any signage asking you to please keep off the grass or to stick to established paths, please respect this messaging. This will help all of us restore our beautiful recreational areas to their pre-cyclone beauty.
Thank you from the Mayor
Mayor Peter Revell has a message for people now Cyclone Vaianu has moved on – thank you.
Mayor Revell says the focus is now on cleaning up after the storm but he wanted to express his thanks to everyone who helped our district come through the weather event relatively unscathed.
Watch Mayor Revell’s video here: