Ngati-Hinemanu me Ngati-Paki

13/04/2026

7PM 13th April 2026 UPDATE

12/04/2026

CYCLONE VAIANU UPDATE: 12 April 2026

You can find the latest 9PM updates on:
MetService New Zealand
NZ Civil Defence

12/04/2026

‼️CYCLONE VAIANU UPDATE‼️

As of Sunday 12 April 2026:

In preparation of the cyclone Winiata Marae have activated - to give emergency support & a shelter to our whānau, community & travellers.

15/02/2026

RANGITĪKEI STORM UPDATE – Monday 16 February, 12:00pm

💭 A message from Mayor Andy
"Although the district has suffered a lot of damage due to high winds, we’ve dodged a bullet in terms of the rainfall by not receiving what had been expected following the Red Warning.

We know that the warning has been downgraded to an Orange Warning, so we will closely monitor this over the next few hours and I hope that it doesn’t eventuate in anything like what we’ve already had.

Trees have brought down a number of powerlines in the district, including one of my own and so I’d like to apologise to my neighbours and nearby residents who’ve been impacted by the outage.

We know that there are thousands of people without power at the moment and PowerCo are working as hard as they can to get things back up and running. Please be patient with them as the scale of this event is quite significant.

We’ll also be assessing damage to crops in the district, as we know this is likely to have impacted on our growers of maize, wheat and barely at a busy time of the year for them.

I’d like to thank all our staff, emergency responders and the Rangitīkei Response Team for their efforts over the past two days in preparation for this weather event, and responding to the needs of residents."

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🚙 Roads
Our Operations Team have been out on the roads this morning, along with contractors to assess damage and clear fallen trees and debris where it is safe to do.

Most of our roads are still passable, although some are down to one lane. If you have any information about roads that are impassable, please contact us.

We will be updating our Current Road Status Map on our website as we get more information. The map also includes State Highway closures.

Taihape-Napier Road is closed. We will update you when the road is open again and any restrictions that might be in place.

Avoid travelling if you can, however if you must, please drive to the conditions.

💧 Water
A conserve water notice is in effect for the follwoing towns:
• Taihape
• Managaweka
• Hunterville
• Rātana

Please be sparing with water usage while our Operations Team look to restore power to these water treatment plants.

♻ Rubbish and recyling
All waste transfer stations in the district are closed until further notice.

🏉 Parks and Reserves
All the parks and reserves in the district are closed until further notice. Many trees have come down in areas which could cause a risk to people. We’ve contacted aborists to assist with clearing these fallen trees, but it will take some time.

📖 Community Hubs
The Taihape, Marton and Bulls community hubs are all open today if you require our services. Again, please only travel if necessary.

🔌 Power and network outages
There are many power outages across the wider region. PowerCo have crews working to restore power as soon as possible, but it is likely to take some time. There’s also issues with cellphone network coverage in some places, mainly in the north of the district. Again, technicians are working to restore the network as soon as possible.

📱Who to call for common high wind scenarios?
👉 If there is an immediate risk to life please call 111.
👉 For trees down on a local road in our district please call us on 0800 422 522.
👉 If you see downed power lines, stay well clear and call PowerCo on 0800 27 27 27.
👉 Fallen trees on state highways – NZTA Waka Kotahi on 0800 444 449.
👉 Fallen trees on private property - insurance provider or 111 if life threatening
👉 Power outages - your power retailer

🟠 Updated weather warning
An Orange Heavy Rain Warning has been issued for parts of our district between 8:00am and 3:00pm on Monday, 16 February. This replaces the earlier Red Heavy Rain Warning that was issued yesterday, Sunday 15 February.

Council are monitroing the situation alongside Civil Defence Manawatū-Whanagnui.

Of particular interest to us is the forecasted height of the Turakina River, which is expected to peak at 4:15pm today and may lead to the closure of Turakina Beach Road. We’ll provide as much advanced notice should this need to happen.

If it is safe for you to do so, it might pay to make some preparations to your property following the storm last night, such as clearing out gutters and drains, tying down outdoor furniture and play equipment.

Our next scheduled update today will be at 5:00pm.

15/02/2026

UPDATE: 10:47AM MONDAY 16 FEBRUARY

The red level heavy rain warning has now been lifted, and new orange level warnings have been issued for several areas of the region. Please see our latest post (pinned at the top of our page) for the latest update.
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⚠️ A red level heavy rain warning was issued by MetService New Zealand at 2.36pm today (Sunday 15 Feb) for Manawatū, Rangitīkei and Ruapehu districts north of Feilding and east of State Highway 1.

🌧️ Expect 140 to 180 mm of rain. Peak rates of 10 to 20 mm/h Sunday night and Monday morning.

🌊 Threat to life from dangerous river conditions, significant flooding and slips. Conditions will disrupt travel, make some roads impassable, and isolate communities.

💧 Do not enter floodwaters and avoid travel. Act quickly to self-evacuate if you see rising water. Be ready for power and communications outages.

➡️ Keep an eye on the weather and visit https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home for the latest updates

15/02/2026

⚠️ Weather event update | Sunday 15 February 2026, 10:31pm ⚠️

Heavy rain is forecast to intensify across northern Rangitīkei overnight, with the heaviest downpours expected late evening through the early hours of Monday morning.

Current forecasts indicate the most intense rainfall period is likely between midnight and 3am, particularly in rural north Rangitīkei and in the upper catchments feeding into the Rangitīkei, Tutaenui, and Whangaehu Rivers.

Where there is rain, there is also often wind. Strong west to southwesterly winds, with gusts up to 130km/h in exposed areas, are also expected overnight.

⚡ We understand some parts of the district are without power, PowerCo will be working as hard as possible to get this back up and running. You can find the current outages here: https://outages.powerco.co.nz/
If your outage is not listed, contact your electricity provider.

⚠️We've also had reports of multiple downed trees across roads throughout the city. Crews are getting to them as fast as possible.

We have Council staff available and closely monitoring river levels, road conditions, and weather updates. The State of Emergency remains in place.

At this stage, no evacuation orders have been issued and no evacuation centres have been activated.

We are not asking anyone to evacuate at this time. Our response team has been out tonight door-knocking and notifying our remote communities - the key message is to prepare, secure animals, and move stock to higher ground where possible.

If anything changes, we will give residents as much warning as possible. Keeping up to date with our official updates is key. The regional Civil Defence Centre is also operative and providing regular updates: Civil Defence Manawatū Whanganui

Now is a good time to familiarise yourself with your local Community Response Plan, which outlines what would happen if evacuations were required in your area:
👉 www.rangitikei.govt.nz/services/civil-defence-emergency/community-response-plans

Other key things to note:
🚗 Napier-Taihape Road is closed. For updates on State Highways: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/manawatu-whanganui
🚗 Please delay any planned travel until the morning
⛈️ MetService updates: https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home

11/11/2025

*************MEDIA RELEASE***********

Ngāti Hinemanu me Ngāti P**i Heritage Trust Refuses to Endorse Settlement Agreement for Historic Waitangi Claims

Mōkai Pātea Waitangi Claims Trust (MPWCT) signed an Agreement in Principle with the Crown; however key iwi leaders say the deal leaves their people behind and is totally insufficient to cover Crown transgressions

Ngāti Hinemanu me Ngāti P**i Heritage Trust (NHNPHT), the iwi mandated entity representing major Waitangi Tribunal claims (WAI 662, 1835, and 1868) publicly reject the signing of the MPWCT Agreement in Principle (AIP) on November 6, 2025, stating it fails to deliver justice for historic grievances

What’s at Stake?

WAI 662: Unlawful arrest, and eviction of Ngāti P**i rangatira Winiata Te Whaaro and his hapū from their ancestral lands including destruction by fire of their kainga village along with the theft of 11,000 sheep from their successful farming enterprise.

WAI 1835: Multiple Crown breaches causing loss of Ngāti Hinemanu me Ngāti P**i whenua, taonga, te reo, land alienation and exclusion of tīpuna from land blocks.

WAI 1868: 1961 confiscation by the NZ Defence Force of 1,716 acres “defence purposes” from the whānau of Raumaewa Te Rango a Ngāti Tama, Tūwharetoa rangatira.
Key Issues Raised

Lack of Consent: Despite NHNPHT hapū claimants removing their claims from the MPWCT draft Deed of Mandate (dDOM) in 2020 the Crown and MPWCT continue to negotiate these claims without Ngāti Hinemanu me Ngāti P**i hapū claimant consent.

Insufficient Redress: Financial and commercial compensation offered by the Crown does not reflect the harm suffered from the scale of tahae whenua.

Exclusion of Iwi Voices: The absence of a “de-coupling clause”, proposed by MPWCT to the many iwi and hapū outside of the area they say they represent, means many iwi and hapū are denied a say in their collective claim.

Weak Commitments from The Crown: Terms like “endeavour” and “explore” used by the Crown are seen as hollow promises. NHNPHT demand stronger, meaningful language and genuine commitment.
Recent Developments

Legal Action Threatened: NHNPHT has notified the Crown and MPWCT of intent to pursue High Court action if issues remain unresolved.

Progress Noted, But Not Enough:

Regardless of the 2024 unanimous support of all Iwi to ‘unbolt’ the Rangitikei river claim from the MPWCT negotiation and settlement process it remains within the MPWCT AIP;

NHNPHT credits updates, to include river provisions along with landlocked land workstreams to legal pressure, not genuine Crown engagement

Memorandum Of Understanding Signed:

Although NHNPHT signed a MoU on November 5, 2025, with MPWCT to secure a future input to negotiations in regard to their claims, NHNPHT do not support the AIP as it stands

NHNPHT will continue to fight for fair and meaningful redress for Ngāti Hinemanu, Ngāti P**i, and Ngāti Pouwharekura descendants.

Updates will be shared via social media and at www.hinemanu.co.nz

*************END***********

18/07/2025

He Mihi Nui ki ngā Uri o Mōkai Pātea

To the whānau of Raketepauma Marae, Ngati Rangi, Winiata Marae and Moawhango Marae

On behalf of Opaea Marae and the whānau pani, we express our most heartfelt thanks for the incredible awhi, manaakitanga, and unwavering tautoko you gave us during the tangihanga of our beloved Takutai Moana.

In one of our heaviest times, you lifted the load. With open hearts, open doors, and tireless hands, you embraced us all. The way you prepared, provided, held space, and held us, it was nothing short of extraordinary.

Your generosity reached far beyond the visible. The way you welcomed the multitudes, over many days, with such grace and strength, spoke volumes of who we are as a people, and reminded us of who Takutai was too: a woman who lived in service, love, and dignity.

All Marae stood together in unity and compassion, honouring our Mareikura with the same aroha she gave so freely in life. Your presence, your actions, your aroha, it carried us.

In addition, the contributions of the Community, the Maori Wardens, and Nga Iwi katoa, locally and from other regions, are acknowledged. Your involvement was notable.

There are no words great enough to truly express our gratitude, but still, we say:

Tēnei te mihi. Tēnei te mihi. Tēnei te mihi.

Moe mai rā e Takutai – embraced by your people, held in our hearts forever.

Nā mātou, me te aroha mutunga kore,
Te whānau pani o Takutai

16/05/2025

15/05/2025

⭐MŌKAI⭐ARIKINUI⭐KAITIAKI⭐️Maurini Haines-Winiata one of our Kaumatua who have been on this journey of Te Mana o te Wai - Mōkai Arikinui Our Kaumatua have been an essential part of the conception of this Kaupapa. Their contribution & guidance has ensured Mātauranga Māori is weaved and blended with Western Science. Maurini has stood hand and hand with the next generation to ensure the hauora of our wai is paramount. More information, follow the link.https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KrT9QbjwqC75po7trD3vmA3v_BYbEnZa/view?usp=drive_link

14/05/2025

Tseleste Tahau is a year 13 student from Rangitīkei College who has been on the 'Te Mana o te Wai - Mōkai Arikinui program' journey.

Tseleste, with many other rangatahi that has been trained to correctly collect water samples, test samples and then make recommendations off of results will be present this weekend if you have any questions for them.

More information, follow the link.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KrT9QbjwqC75po7trD3vmA3v_BYbEnZa/view?usp=drive_link