Lower Hutt experienced two significant weather events that tested the resilience of the community and required a coordinated response from Council and its partners.
In February 2026, a severe storm triggered a full emergency response. The Emergency Operations Centre was activated and staffed throughout the night, while Council staff from across the organisation supported community hubs, carried out welfare checks and assisted residents affected by flooding, storm damage and power outages. Working alongside emergency services, contractors and community organisations, teams responded quickly to address immediate safety risks, clear roads and provide essential support to affected households.
There was a large spike in online engagement and customer interactions, with call volumes peaking at three times normal levels during the first two days of the event. Work requests for cleanup work also increased by 80 percent for the emergency, transport and parks and reserves teams.
A local State of Emergency was declared for a second weather event in April, which brought severe swells and coastal impacts, particularly along the south coast. Council closely monitored conditions across the city, especially the Eastern Bays and along the Petone shoreline and worked with partners to assess risks and protect vulnerable areas. The performance of Tupua Horo Nuku and other coastal infrastructure helped reduce the impacts of the event and demonstrated the value of ongoing resilience investments.
Customer Services deployed solutions identified after the February storms, helping the team stay on top of contact volumes, process jobs, and remain aligned with the Emergency Operations Centre response team. The maximum call waiting time was reduced to 21 minutes, compared with up to two hours in the February event.
Together, these responses highlighted the dedication, adaptability and teamwork of staff, contractors, community volunteers and partners in supporting the community during challenging conditions.