We're in this together as whānau. This page provides information to help you find the assistance and information you need as we recover from the recent flood events.
It will be updated regularly.
Latest update: 18 July 3:45pm
We are here for you
Tono tautoko - tell us what you needLatest Flood recovery updates
Now we are in a transition phase from the state of emergency to a recovery, Te Kaunihea o te tai o Aorere are the lead agency, co-ordinating ongoing efforts.
The current priorities for the recovery effort are:
- Address urgent needs and restore essential services. This is to make sure people can safely return to their homes and daily routines as soon as possible; then
- infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and community facilities. People will also be supported into longer-term accommodation where needed; then
- long-term recovery projects
Emergency grants and financial assistance
Tasman Mayoral Relief Fund
The Mayoral Relief Fund is open and taking applications.
Rural support trust
Starting with a 100% confidential chat, Rural Support Trust can visit you and help connect you with assistance. Phone 0800 787 254.
MSD Civil Defence payments
Phone 0800 559 009
Student Volunteer Army
The Student Volunteer Army has had an extremely generous offer from a person willing to help those struggling to pay deal with the clean-up of their property.
A donor has come forward with an offer to cover the cost of an excavator, driver or fuel (or any combination of the three) to help clean up individual properties.
The donor has pledged to cover the costs for up to 100 properties initially, then will reassess at the end of next week after getting a feel level of need.
They are wanting to prioritise this support for people who are struggling financially to cope with the cleaning of their properties.
Any requests for help should go directly to the Student Volunteer Army.
- Visit their website www.sva.org.nz/nelsontasman25
- Phone 0508 782 782
- e-mail Hello@sva.org.nz
Donations of goods and support
Churches of Motueka are supporting families in the region who have been severely affected by the recent floods – many of whom have lost everything.
People are invited to join in a united relief effort by donating essential items to help those in urgent need.
What is needed:
- Clothing (sorted by size and gender)
- Shoes
- Household goods and kitchenware
- Furniture (please offer large items directly at the carpark - displayed in your trailer)
- Vouchers for 2–5 hours of practical help (e.g. gardening, clean-up work, transport)
When & Where: Saturday, 18 July 2025 Motueka Recreation Centre
- 8:30am–9:30am: Drop-off of donations
- 9:30am–11:30am: Sorting of donations
- 12:00pm–4:00pm: Affected families are welcome to come and collect what they need.
Financial contributions
If you’d like to make a financial contribution to the emergency please do so through the Mayoral Relief Fund. If you would like to donate to the Nelson-Tasman Mayoral Relief Fund please deposit funds into the Tasman District Council bank account:
- Account number: 12-3193-0002048-00
- Account name: Tasman District Council
- Please use the reference “Mayoral Relief Fund”, or “MRF”
- If you are asked to select a TDC account, select the Debtors account. This will allow you to edit the first and third reference boxes, as shown below.(Your name) | Debtors | Relief Fund
- Alternatively, you may donate at a Tasman District Council office.
Ngā mihi nui ki a koe. Your generosity and willingness to help will bring hope and healing where it’s needed most.
Dealing with silt, waste and damaged items in Tasman
Agricultural waste
Carloads, trailers, utes and small trucks up to five tonnes with domestic flood waste will continue to be accepted at Tasman Resource Recovery Centres.
Domestic rubbish is things like curtains, carpets, furnishings wall linings and insultation. Examples of agricultural waste are things like are woody debris, fence posts and hay bale wrapping.
Work is underway to investigate options for agricultural waste, this has become a bigger task but, in the meantime, can you please stockpile these items on site if possible.
Where insurance is in place this should be used to cover waste disposal costs.
Silt collection sites
Our silt collection sites are ready to take your domestic silt which is the stuff from immediately around homes and on driveways. These are for domestic trailers or utes or small trucks up to five tonnes.
- Ngātīmoti Reserve off the Motueka Valley Highway, open mornings from 8:00am to midday
- the old Māriri landfill next to the Resource Recovery Centre on Robinson Road, open 1:00pm to 5:00pm. Due to a road closure you can only access it from the Moutere Highway.
- These hours are Monday to Saturday.
We’re working with HortNZ and MPI to put a broader plan together to deal with larger volumes of silt which has become a much larger issue after the second flood.
Find a Resource Recovery Centre
Please don’t put material on the roadside, as this makes it difficult and more expensive to manage.
You can get more information on cleaning up after an event here: https://www.ifso.nz/pages/natural-disasters-after-the-event.
Boil all bore water
People have raised concerns about potentially contaminated bore water in Motueka after the flooding. Tests have been done on around 50 bores and results will take several days to come back from the laboratory.
In the meantime, it’s vital Motueka residents who draw water from bores, particularly those with uncovered water sources, to boil all water before using it – this should be always done, not just during or after flooding.
Bacterial contamination is always a very real concern. Boiling water will minimise the risks.
Boil all your water for the following purposes:
- Drinking water
- Food preparation
- Mixing cold beverages
- Utensil washing
- Brushing teeth
- Pets
- Ice making
How to boil water for drinking
- Bring water to a rolling boil (where bubbles appear in the centre and do not disappear when the water is stirred) for one minute or boil a full electric jug until it switches off.
- Cool the water (do not use ice cubes to do this) and pour into clean container with a lid.
- Refrigerate until needed.
How to get your water tested
If you want to test your water for bacterial contamination, it can be tested for e.coli as an indicator of contamination. A laboratory can do the test.
Cawthron Laboratories - Cawthron Institute Nelson, 98 Halifax Street East, Nelson 7010 Ph 03 548 2319
or Hills Laboratory - Drinking Water Testing | Hill Labs 0508 44 555 22
+64 7 858 2000 (Landline)
- Keep boiling or treating the water until the test results come back with a satisfactory result.
- The safe limit for e.coli is zero, which may be written on the result as <1.
Drinking water safety advice
The Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai has valuable advice about drinking water safety on its website. https://www.taumataarowai.govt.nz/for-communities/emergencies/drinking-water-following-a-flood/(external link)
There’s also a list of water testing laboratories on the website at https://www.taumataarowai.govt.nz/for-water-suppliers/using-an-accredited-laboratory-to-test-your-drinking-water/
https://info.health.nz/keeping-healthy/protecting-health-natural-disaster/floods-and-health
Rāhui remains in place
Te Tauihu iwi have placed a rāhui across the entire northern coastline of Te Tauihu o Te Waka-a-Māui as floodwaters continue to pose significant disruptions across the rohe.
Read moreOther information
- Tasman District Council Flood Recovery updates
- Insurance - get photos of damage and contact your insurance company
Useful contacts for supporting agencies
MPI: Animal Welfare — 0800 008 333
MSD: Civil Defence Payments — 0800 559 009
IRD: Tax Relief or Income Assistance — 0800 700 334
LIFELINE: Mental Health Support — 0508 828 865
Nelson Bay’s Primary Health (Psychosocial Support) — 03 539 1170
Red Cross — 0800 733 27677
Salvation Army — 0800 530 000
Rural Support Trust — 0800 787 254
Citizens Advice Bureau — 0800 367 222
Tasman District Council — 03 543 8400
Road Closures
Several roads remain closed. Local roads and State Highways are maintained by different agencies, so there are two pages to check when planning journeys.
July 30 Whānau hui: Spring Creek Stopbank Works
As you know Spring Creek stopbank repairs are needed. This is a $16 million project, with work planned to commence in November 2026. This hui is to share the story of the Ngāti Rārua taniwha that resides near the proposed works, and the options for its protection.
We will touch on other issues that these works will have an impact on, the Wairau awa as a whole, its flora and fauna.
Andy White, Rivers and Draining Engineer Manager will also be in attendance to answer any technical questions relating to the stopbank works.
- Wednesday 30 July 5:30 to 7.30pm
- Tokomaru House 65 Scott Street
- Supper will be provided.
Please RSVP to trc@ngatirarua.iwi.nz for catering purposes.
Me takatū
Have you made your plan? You can use this template as a way to start your whānau emergency plan.
You can also use these resources from Civil Defence to get your household, work, school or marae ready.