Dry conditions in South Taranaki caused by the current La Nina weather pattern could mean further restrictions on how much water can be taken from rivers, Taranaki Regional Council has warned. The environmental watchdog is keeping a close eye on rainfall levels, soil moisture, river flows and climate across the region, with most of the Council’s monitoring sites recording less rain than usual over the last three months. Council data for the lowest rainfall sites shows Pātea recorded 61% of
river beds. As of last week, five of the seven monitored river sites and one lake were unsuitable for swimming (for humans or dogs) due to cyanobacteria (toxic algae). We will continue to monitor these sites until they return to normal, posting the results on LAWA each week. We’ll do a full analysis of the summer’s results, but most of the samples that exceeded guideline levels were taken after heavy or prolonged rain. We know heavy rain washes contaminants off the land into rivers and out to sea.
December continued 2024’s trend for lower rainfall with an average of 108.3mm - 34% less than usual. On average across Taranaki there was 14% less rainfall than normal across all rain gauges with year-to-date rainfall lowest at Waitōtara at Hawken Rd with 28% less than usual. In December, there was 63% less rain at Kaupokonui at Glenn Rd and 11% less at Motunui M39 at Weston W3. Mean river flows for December were 31.8% lower than typical values, low flows were 21.9% greater, and high flows
June has continued this year’s trend for dryer weather with an average of 108.8mm of rain – 37% less than normal. On average there has been 23% less rain than normal across all rain gauges in the region with the lowest year-to-date rainfall at Waitotara at Hawken Rd with 44% less than normal. June’s figures show there was 57% less rain at Waitotara at Ngutuwera, and 7% more at Motunui M39 at Weston W3. Mean river flows were 34.4% lower than typical values, low flows were 2.8% lower, and high
Map 1a. YTD total rain (mm) and percentage of long-term mean.
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Table 1: Rainfall monthly and year to date totals at 27 rain gauge sites in Taranaki.
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December Year to Date
Rain gauge # days
with rain
Total rain
(mm)
% of typical
month
Total to
date (mm)
% of typical
year to date
% of typical
full year
Records
Began
N Egmont VC 15 365.0 61 8117.5 118 118 1991
Dawson Falls 16 383.0 88 8349.0 141 141 1933
Kahui
October continued this year’s trend for lower than average rainfall – but only just! There was an average of 158.2mm – that’s 1% less than usual – for the month, ranging from 26% less rain at Kaupokonui at Glenn Rd, and 22% more at Waitotara at Hawken Rd. On average there has been 12% less rainfall than normal across all rain gauges, with year-to-date rainfall lowest at Waitotara at Hawken Rd with 26% less rainfall than normal while the Pohokura Saddle has had the highest year-to-date rainfall
rain (mm) and percentage of long-term mean
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Table 1: October 2022 - Rainfall totals at 27 rain gauge sites in Taranaki
Hydro_Sites # days
with rain
Total rain
(mm)
% of typical
month
Total to
date (mm)
% of typical
year to date
% of typical
full year
Records
Began
N Egmont VC 21 469.0 62 6997.0 120 101 1991
Dawson Falls 19 501.5 94 7332.0 145 124 1933
Kahui Hut 21 306.0 60 5265.0 121 101 2006
Forest Hill 16 289.0 91 3798.5 128 106
Taranaki.
August Year to Date
Rain Gauge
# days
with
rain
Total
Rainfall
(mm)
% of
typical
month
Total to
date (mm)
% of typical
year to date
% of
typical full
year
Records
Began
North Egmont at Visitors
Centre 19 1843.5 279 5954.5 139 89 1991
Dawson Falls 20 1801.0 387 6322.0 211 140 1933
Kapoaiaia at Kahui Hut 20 1237.5 264 4526.5 143 92 2006
Mangorei Upper at Forest
Hill 16 665.5 162 3240.5 139 91 2017
Waiwhakaiho at
Hillsborough
The dry conditions Taranaki has experienced in 2025 continued in March with an average rainfall of 153.6mm - that’s 31% less than usual. This ranged from 66% less at Brooklands Zoo in New Plymouth, and 19% more at Pātea at Bore 3. Brooklands Zoo also has the lowest year-to-date rainfall – also at 66% less than usual – while Omahine at Moana Trig has had the highest year to date rainfall with 30% less. On average there has been 47% less than normal across all rain gauges. Mean river flows for
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Map1: Rain gauge sites
Table 1: Rainfall monthly and year to date totals at 27 rain gauge sites in Taranaki.
July Year to Date
Hydro_Sites
# Zero
Rain
days
Total
Rainfall
(mm)
% of
typical
month
Total to
date (mm)
% of typical
year to date
% of typical
full year
Records
Began
North Egmont at
Visitors Centre 6 1196.0 179.9 4111.000 113.9 61.1 1991
Dawson Falls 4 1418.5 296.4 4521.000 178.9 100.5