Our Flood Warning System is designed to protect lives and infrastructure, and has seen lots of improvements in 2025.
News
Flood warning and advisory
Last updated: 13 May 2026
Reporting frequency: Quarterly
Core service: Community Preparedness and Response to Hazards
We maintain and monitor a network of rainfall and river flow sites. This network supports the delivery of a flood warning system.
People and property susceptible to river and coastal flooding will receive warning of the potential impacts during significant rain events so that they are prepared and able to respond.
How are we tracking on our service measures?
Service measure 21: Percentage of time that the Duty Flood Controller is available during the year
Target: 100%
How are we doing: 100% – the flood controllers supported multiple weather events during this quarter, the most significant being the Banks Peninsula event on 17 February 2026
On track
Service measure 22: Percentage of the hydrometric network sites that are operational at any given time
Target: 90% or more
How are we doing: 94% - we utilise radio, cellular and third-party network sites to monitor water levels
On track
More information
We have a qualified duty flood controller on call throughout the year. This means that the community, territorial authorities and the Civil Defence Emergency Management Group get the best possible information about potential flooding impacts during a flood event.
Our hydrometric network, spanning over 200 sites, ensures that people and owners of property susceptible to flooding will receive warnings in a timely manner. There will be times when some individual locations may be out of action, but the aim is to ensure that the network as a whole can do what it is intended to do.