New Zealand’s severe storm disrupts flights

2026-02-16 - 08:09

New Zealand – Wellington and several regions across New Zealand’s North Island have been struck by extreme weather conditions characterised by torrential rainfall and gale-force winds. The onset of the storm on Monday has led to significant disruptions in the national transport network, forcing the closure of numerous arterial roads and the cancellation of the majority of flights departing from and arriving at the capital city. Air New Zealand confirmed that it has suspended all flight operations at Wellington, Napier, and Palmerston North airports until conditions improve. The impact of the severe weather has also severely affected the local infrastructure, with authorities reporting that more than 30,000 properties have been left without electricity. Emergency response teams remain on high alert as they work to manage the widespread damage caused by fallen trees and flooding. Meteorological forecasts indicate that the storm system is expected to track towards the South Island on Tuesday, prompting officials to advise residents to remain vigilant and prepare for further potential outages and travel delays.