NZ Herald Morning Headlines | Saturday, May 9, 2026.
US hopeful Iran will send a proposal today to 'try and end the war'. Weather elated disruptions across the country.
Six people have been rescued after becoming trapped in floodwaters in Marlborough.
Emergency services were notified about 8.35pm last night of vehicles stuck in floodwaters on State Highway 6 near Canvastown.
Police Search and Rescue immediately deployed, along with Fire and Emergency New Zealand, the New Zealand Defence Force andSurf Life Saving New Zealand, who together retrieved six people from vehicles.
SH6 between Pelorus and Havelock was closed overnight but reopened to two lanes about 10am.
An NZTA spokesperson said contractors had been working hard this morning to remove flood debris, repair road damage and make the route safe for traffic.
“They also recovered four vehicles that were caught in the flooding. Drivers are asked to take care on the route and drive to the conditions, particularly in flood-damaged areas where 50km/h temporary speed limits are in place.”
SH60 (Tākaka Hill) was also closed last night because of flooding but is now open.
Flood damage on State Highway 6. Photo / NZTA
More heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds were possible today as an unsettled weather system swept across New Zealand.
MetService meteorologist Alanah Burrows told the Herald the North Island was in for a particularly stormy Saturday.
“We’ve got that heavy rain over the North Island with possible squally thunderstorms for the Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty early.”
Eastern areas of the upper part of the country are set to clear later in the day as conditions deteriorate further north.
“Rain is then returning to the northern North Island in the afternoon and evening with possible thunderstorms, which could be heavy at times with small hail.”
It was a rainy start for the South Island, where the heaviest falls were forecast for the West Coast with a risk of thunderstorms this morning.
A messy low spins through Saturday with showers, some heavy rain, & strong winds. Several cold fronts will sweep through too, dropping temps sharply into Sunday.
Burrows said conditions should begin easing for many places throughout the afternoon, with some regions expected to get sunny spells later in the day, though swells up to 7m can be expected in southern waters.
Tomorrow, the messy conditions are expected to continue, with a moderate chance of a strong wind warning being issued for Southland, Clutha, Dunedin and Stewart Island through the morning and afternoon.
“It’s going to be an unsettled and cold showery southwesterly flow across the country,” Burrows said.
The system will bring a noticeable drop in temperatures.
“We’ve had some warm temperatures quite recently but as we’re turning to that southwesterly flow, it’s going to start to feel cooler again.”
