Weather impacts in Horowhenua - Foxton & Shannon to conserve water
Published on December 30, 2025
Horowhenua District Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) is working closely with Electra, advising residents of significant impacts from severe weather that affected the district overnight and into today.
Severe winds have caused widespread power outages, with thousands of properties currently without electricity. Electra crews are working to restore supply and repair network damage. Residents are reminded to report outages and faults via Electra’s hotline on 0800 LOST POWER (0800 567 876) and to check the Electra outage map for the most up-to-date information.
Electra crews are working to restore power to the following areas:
- Tokomaru and Shannon
- Moutoa
- Koputaroa
Power has been restored to:
Numerous fallen trees and large branches have been reported across the district, resulting in local road closures and hazardous driving conditions. Motorists are urged to drive to the conditions, avoid unnecessary travel where possible, and follow directions from NZ Transport Agency contractors and local road maintenance crews.
Reported road closures:
- SH57 north of Shannon (due to a truck trailer being blown over)
- Alve Road/SH56 Opiki down to the SH56 Opiki turnoff and SH57 to Foxton/Shannon Road - detour via SH1/Roniotu Road or Foxton Shannon Road and expect delays.
- SH57 between Tane Road and Opiki Road (SH56)
- Kingston, Pretoria. Te Rewa and Ngui Roads, Ōpiki due to fallen trees
Critical infrastructure:
Our water treatment plants across the district are mostly without mains power. Our local waters team is actively supporting response efforts across all plants and working to get back-up generators online to ensure critical water services are maintained while full power supply is restored.
Foxton and Shannon’s water supply are most at risk due to low reservoir levels. We are asking Foxton and Shannon residents to urgently conserve water while the plants are able to be restored to their full capacity.
Welfare needs:
There are currently no reports of welfare needs; however, if you or someone you know requires welfare support, please contact Horowhenua District Council on 06 366 0999.
Residents are urged to:
- Conserve water immediately to help reduce pressure on our water treatment plants while generators are brought online.
- Stay clear of fallen power lines and report them immediately to Electra; treat all downed lines as live and dangerous.
- Monitor local updates from Horowhenua District Council and Electra for information on restoration timeframes.
- Check on vulnerable neighbours and family, particularly those needing medical support or reliant on electrically powered medical equipment.
- Be prepared for ongoing unstable weather, including strong winds and heavy rain, which may continue to impact trees and power infrastructure.
Horowhenua District Council’s Incident Management Team is monitoring the situation and coordinating with partner agencies including Electra, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and local road crews to prioritise safety and restoration work throughout the district.
For emergency assistance, call 111 if life is at risk. For non-urgent information and enquiries, contact Horowhenua District Council through the usual channels.