Nelson-Tasman Floods 2025

The story so far

MetService warned in late June 2025 of an active front bringing heavy rain and northwest gales to the South Island and lower North Island, with Westland ranges forecast to get up to 220 mm.^{24, 25 Jun 2025} Local states of emergency were declared in Marlborough and Nelson, where about 60 Spring Creek households were told to evacuate over stopbank cracks and Nelson had over 300mm of rain in 24 hours.^{26, 27 Jun 2025} A second major storm in early July led to evacuations near the Motueka River, and the Nelson Tasman emergency was extended for a week.^{3, 4 Jul 2025} Authorities described the flooding as a one-in-100-year event and the worst in almost 150 years, with about 650 properties assessed and some homes uninhabitable.^{5, 6 Jul 2025}

Key moments

1. 24 Jun 2025MetService warns of heavy rain and gales across the South Island and Wellington.
2. 26 Jun 2025State of emergency declared in Marlborough; Spring Creek households ordered to evacuate.
3. 27 Jun 2025Nelson records over 300mm in 24 hours; emergencies declared in Marlborough and Nelson.
4. 5 Jul 2025About 650 properties assessed after one-in-100-year flooding in Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough.
5. 11 Jul 2025Second state of emergency in three weeks declared for Nelson Tasman.
6. 11 Jul 2025Red heavy rain warning issued for parts of Tasman; Lower Moutere evacuations.
7. 12 Jul 2025Mayor says Tasman now faces a complete rebuild costing millions.
8. 16 Jul 2025Tasman council estimates clean-up costs at $20 million to $25 million.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.