Severe weather causes chaos across South and lower North Island

Wednesday 17 September 2025 · 4 outlets · 7 reports · updated Wed 17 Sep 2025, 7:14pm

In this story Fire and Emergency New Zealand, NZME, MetService

Heavy rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds have battered the South Island and lower North Island. High winds caused a truck to roll in Canterbury, requiring a rescue, and led to difficult plane landings at Wellington Airport. MetService issued warnings for gusts up to 130km/h and significant rainfall.

How they headlined it

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1. StuffWed 17 Sep 2025, 4:00am

   Severe weather warnings issued for large parts of New Zealand (opens in new tab)

   • Winds reaching 138kph see wobbly plane landings, fires, truck rolled over (opens in new tab) Wed 17 Sep 2025, 7:14pm
2. NZ HeraldWed 17 Sep 2025, 5:00am

   South Island hit by severe winds and rain as North Island braces for wild weather (opens in new tab)

   • Severe weather warnings: High winds and flooding hit South Island as wild weather causes chaos in Wellington (opens in new tab) Wed 17 Sep 2025, 3:51pm
3. 1NewsWed 17 Sep 2025, 11:29am

   Watches upgraded to warnings as heavy rain, severe gales loom (opens in new tab)

4. RNZWed 17 Sep 2025, 4:54pm

   Severe weather live: Heavy rain and gales lashing parts of New Zealand (opens in new tab)

   • Heavy rain and gales lashing parts of New Zealand (opens in new tab) Wed 17 Sep 2025, 4:54pm