States of Emergency lifted for Southland and Queenstown

Click here for the RA Emergency Portal – information and guidance you need for managing your business in emergency situations

Update: Saturday 23 September:

The state of local emergencies for Southland and Queenstown, originally declared on Thursday and Friday morning after a severe weather event, have been lifted.

This means the regions move into a recovery phase.

Queenstown Mayor, Mayor Lewers has also reassured visitors that Queenstown and the wider district remains open and ready to delight visitors from around Aotearoa New Zealand and the world. Queenstown is ready to welcome holidaymakers into a Queenstown now surrounded by fresh snow on the hills, and was sure the impending time off would be great for many spending it in the district.

Due to severe weather events and severe surface flooding following heavy rainfall, Regional States of Emergency were originally declared for Southland region (from 6.00pm, Thursday 21 September), and Queenstown district (from 6.33am, Friday 22 September).

A declared State of Emergency enables emergency services and response agencies to draw on resources, and enact additional powers, to assist those affected.

Queenstown

Businesses in Queenstown are open unless they are inside of the listed affected areas. The Town Centre is open and accessible.
Severe flooding events have occured.
Debris had flowed into central areas and caused damage.
A temporary evacuation centre has been set up at St Peters Church to manage evacuees who have not been able to relocate.

For all the latest information and updates, visit https://www.qldc.govt.nz/weather-event-sep23.

Southland

The State of Emergency affects Gore with severe weather warnings – Orange affecting the following regions: Southland, Fiordland, Invercargill, Gore

There is still flooding in many places around the region.
State Highway 1, 6, 93 and SH 99 between Lorneville and Wallacetown have reopened but many other rural roads across Gore, Southland and Invercargill are affected.
If the road is closed do not attempt to access it. Please delay your journey until it reopens or if possible, take an alternative route.

For the latest information visit: https://cdsouthland.nz/.

Latest news

Update: Saturday 23 September:

Due to severe weather events and severe surface flooding following heavy rainfall, Regional States of Emergency were originally declared for Southland region (from 6.00pm, Thursday 21 September), and Queenstown district (from 6.33am, Friday 22 September).

Queenstown

Southland