Sandbags offered as Thames-Coromandel braces for Cyclone Vaianu

Published on 09 April 2026

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Sandbags are being distributed throughout the Thames-Coromandel as the district prepares for Cyclone Vaianu’s arrival this weekend. 

Thames-Coromandel District Emergency Management team are monitoring the track of Cyclone Vaianu in conjunction with Metservice. 

The district is still operating in Recovery mode following the January storm and this will be the third major weather event this year. 

Thames-Coromandel Civil Defence and Emergency Manager Brian Carter says local communities are well versed in preparing for weather events and responding accordingly. 

Sandbags are available in Whangamatā, Pāuanui, Tairua, Whitianga, Coromandel, and Thames. People can find out more about locations and pick-up by visiting the council’s website or referring to below. 

“We are expecting a significant wave event for eastern Coromandel beaches during Saturday and Sunday with a peak on Sunday morning. It is important people prepare as best they can and stay away from beaches during the storm. 

“We may see some coastal inundation from waves and potential slips throughout the district.” 

Much of the Coromandel is slip-prone and common areas subject to flooding are where rivers and streams meet the coast. In heavy rain and high tide, these waterways can back up and flood. 

Brian says they are working with Waikato Regional Council on modelling wave impacts and asking campground owners to ensure campers are located away from areas prone to flooding. 

The Council and Emergency Management teams have also taken standard pre-storm preparations. These include ensuring we have fallback in power supplies at our crucial infrastructure locations, raising the level of treated water supplies in our reservoirs to 100% and running our wastewater treatment plants at maximum to lower their levels. 

“We have close relationships with local Community Response Groups located throughout our district who are there to help when communities become isolated, or when, required.” 

Flooding and slips caused by weather events such as what’s forecast can change can happen suddenly and without warning. 

For now, preparation is key. It’s important our communities have a plan, should they need to evacuate, having a grab bag and doing what they can to protect their property. This can include sandbagging flood-prone doorways, securing loose items on their properties, stowing away deck furniture, tying down trampolines and clearing gutters.  

We expect to have a clearer idea of the cyclone’s potential impact as we get closer to the weekend. 

Anyone concerned about flooding of their property can access sandbags at the following key locations from today through till Saturday: 

Sandbag locations

Thames
TCDC office 515 Mackay St - empty bags only 
Thames - Shoppers' car park, Danby Field Queen St - sand only

Coromandel Town  
CILT, 150 Pound St – empty bags, sand 

Tairua
Tairua Fire Station, 233 Main Road – empty bags only 
6 Tokoroa Road (in the EV charging carpark) – sand (available from 4:30pm approx)

Pāuanui
Pāuanui Fire Station, 60 Jubilee Drive – empty bags only 
Sheppard Ave (by the tennis courts) - sand 

Whangamatā
TCDC office, 620 Port Road – empty bags only 
Whangamatā Fire Station – empty bags only 
Whangamatā old dump station on Martyn Road – sand and bags 

Whitianga  
- TCDC office, 10 Monk St – empty bags only 
- Behind the skate park/old fire station (access from Town Hall carpark and Monk St service lane) - empty bags, sand 
- Buffalo Beach main reserve – empty bags, sand 

At each sandbagging station or nearby, you can collect sand. Please bring your own shovel. 

Please take only what you need! 

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