New Year’s Chaos: 120km/h Gales and Heavy Rain Force Mass Event Cancellations Across NZ
By Lions Roar News Desk | December 30, 2025
WELLINGTON/NELSON — A “turbulent Tuesday” has seen severe gale-force winds and relentless rain sweep across central New Zealand, leaving a trail of destruction and forcing the cancellation of major New Year’s Eve celebrations in Palmerston North and Tauranga.
Major Events Canned
The Palmerston North City Council announced today that its New Year’s Eve event in The Square has been cancelled due to 120km/h wind gusts forecast for the region. The cancellation includes all entertainment and both planned fireworks displays.
In Tauranga, the City Council has also scrapped five community New Year’s Eve events. While community gatherings are off, officials are still hoping to go ahead with fireworks displays at 9:30 PM and midnight, weather permitting, to be viewed from residents’ homes.
Power Outages and Infrastructure Damage
The wild weather has caused widespread power outages across both islands:
- Horowhenua & Kapiti: Thousands are without power in Tokomaru, Shannon, Moutoa, and Koputaroa. In the town of Foxton, residents have been asked to “urgently conserve water” as treatment plants are running on backup generators.
- Nelson/Tasman: Widespread blackouts have hit Richmond, Mapua, Brightwater, and Wakefield. In Nelson, residents reported “carnage” with garages blown apart and roofs lifted off buildings.
- Auckland: High winds tore the roof off an unoccupied home in Hillsborough, scattering debris across the road.
Holiday and Travel Disruptions
Campers have faced terrifying near-misses. At Totaranui in Abel Tasman National Park, a tree crushed tents shortly after a group of campers had moved into a caravan for shelter. At Maitai Valley, trees fell onto vehicles and caravans as campers described the winds as the “worst they had ever experienced.”
Travel has also been severely impacted:
- Air Travel: Air New Zealand has cancelled at least 18 services in and out of Nelson Airport.
- Roads: State Highway 6 (Nelson to Blenheim) and State Highway 57 (Manawatū) have seen closures due to fallen trees and a truck roll near Shannon.
- Ferries: Bluebridge Cook Strait ferries are reporting significant delays as gales impact operations in Picton and Wellington.
MetService warns that while the low-pressure system is expected to ease by January 2, 2026, orange heavy rain and strong wind warnings remain in place for much of the country through New Year’s Eve.
