• WorkSafe launches investigation into fatal Mauao landslide as 42 landslides remain under assessment, New Zealand

    ByReet Kaur

    WorkSafe New Zealand confirmed on February 20, 2026, that it has launched a formal investigation into the January 22 landslide on Mauao (Mount Maunganui) in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, that killed six people at the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park. The investigation will examine work-related health and safety matters under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, following the completion of Police recovery operations on February 1.

  • Red Warning issued for heavy rain across Manawatū, Rangitīkei and Ruapehu Districts, New Zealand

    ByTeo Blašković

    New Zealand’s MetService issued a Red Warning for heavy rain covering the Manawatū, Rangitīkei, and Ruapehu Districts at 14:36 NZDT (01:36 UTC) on February 15, 2026. The highest-level alert was issued in consultation with Horizons Regional Council as a deep low-pressure system moved south along the eastern North Island, with life-threatening flooding, slips, and river surges expected overnight into February 16. A pre-emptive state of emergency has been declared for the entire Horizons Region.

  • Long-duration fireball lights New Zealand’s South Island, residents report loud bang and shaking

    ByTeo Blašković

    A bright, long-duration fireball was reported over New Zealand’s South Island at 15:22 UTC on February 10, 2026 (04:22 local time, February 11), and was captured on a south-facing security camera in Marlborough. Witnesses responding to the video shared by Fireballs Aotearoa said they heard an explosion-like bang, with some reporting that it shook a house or woke them.

  • Strong M6.1 earthquake hits Kermadec Islands, New Zealand

    ByTeo Blašković

    A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.1 struck the Kermadec Islands region, New Zealand at 10:39 UTC on February 4, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 184.2 km (114 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.1 at a depth of 197 km (122 miles).

  • Very bright fireball streaks across night sky over New Zealand

    ByTeo Blašković

    An exceptionally fast fireball was observed over much of New Zealand at 10:25 UTC on January 29, 2026, glowing from 120 km (75 miles) altitude and burning up entirely by 70 km (43 miles). The event was visible across the lower North Island and upper South Island.

  • Record-breaking rainfall leaves dead and missing in New Zealand

    ByTeo Blašković

    Record-breaking rainfall left at least two people dead and several others unaccounted for in parts of New Zealand on January 21, 2026. The event produced multiple rainfall records and damaging winds, marking the 20th Red Warning weather event since the alert level was introduced in May 2019.