People heading out to swimming spots across Taranaki this summer are being encouraged to wait a few days after heavy rain before diving in. Taranaki Regional Council’s summer “Can I Swim Here?" monitoring programme starts this week, running through until the end of March 2024. Every Tuesday staff will take water samples at 41 popular swimming spots at lakes, rivers and beaches across the region. Results take two days to come back from the lab, and are posted on the Land, Air, Water Aotearoa
This year’s trend for lower rainfall continued with an average of 135.2mm in Taranaki in July, 23% less than usual. Among all locations, Taungatara at Eltham Rd had the lowest rainfall compared to its average, with 39% less rain, while Dawson Falls had the highest, with 9% more than usual. Year-to-date rainfall is lowest at Waitotara at Hawken Rd with 41% less rainfall than normal, Motunui M39 at Weston W3 has had the highest year-to-date rainfall with 4% less normal rainfall, on average there
page
Taranaki Regional Council
New Plymouth Constituency
Electing 5 Regional Councillors
Bev RAINE
My principal place of residence is in the New
Plymouth Constituency area.
Thank you for electing me to the TRC in 2016.
I am proud to have been involved in the
achievements of this Regional Council which, I
believe, sets standards envied by counterparts
throughout New Zealand.
Excellent relationships with the rural community have enabled
the Council to protect river quality
Rainfall February and year-to-date totals for rain gauge sites in Taranaki.
February 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
North Egmont at
Visitors Centre 4 144.0 38.0 323.0 42.9 4.7 1996
Dawson Falls 8 152.0 46.7 335.0 50.4 5.3 1999
Kapoaiaia at Kahui
Hut 8 136.5 52.6 309.5 55.7 5.9 2006
Mangorei Upper at
Forest Hill 6
to date totals for rain gauge sites in Taranaki.
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
North Egmont at
Visitors Centre 15 366.5 61.6 5888.4 85.1 85.1 1995
Dawson Falls 14 282.5 58.5 5569.0 87.0 87.0 1999
Kapoaiaia at Kahui
Hut 15 340.0 86.5 4603.5 87.5 87.5 2006
Mangorei Upper at
Forest Hill 14 258.0 67.9
page
Table 1: Rainfall January and year-to-date totals for rain gauge sites in Taranaki.
January 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
North Egmont at
Visitors Centre 9 179.0 49.5 179.0 49.5 2.6 1995
Dawson Falls 12 183.0 53.9 183.0 53.9 2.9 1999
Kapoaiaia at Kahui
Hut 10 173.0 58.5 173.0 58.5 3.3 2006
Mangorei Upper
year-to-date totals for rain gauge sites in Taranaki.
November 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
North Egmont at
Visitors Centre 14 570.5 118.7 5519.4 87.3 79.8 1995
Dawson Falls 13 461.0 105.2 5286.0 89.4 82.6 1999
Kapoaiaia at Kahui
Hut 17 394.5 93.6 4263.0 87.6 81.1 2006
Mangorei Upper at
Forest Hill 13 305.5 97.3
The weather stats are in for 2024 and if you live near Hawken Road in South Taranaki then last year you will have enjoyed the lowest rainfall and highest air temperature in the region. And those living near Ngutuwera, north of Waitotara, had to hang onto their hats on 4 February as the area recorded the highest wind gust for the year at 128.52km/hr. Figures from Taranaki Regional Council show the region, well known for enjoying a healthy dose of rain most years, recorded 14% less than normal
and reduces the amount of contaminated water you need to manage.
Monitor and maintain your runoff control measures. Reassess and adjust if necessary. Consent requirements
You won’t need a resource consent to discharge stormwater to land or to water if you can meet these requirements: The discharge is not into a significant wetland.
You have a stormwater interception system (a roof and guttering, for example) to keep rain from areas where there may be contaminants, if your site is bigger than half
and reduces the amount of contaminated water you need to manage.
Monitor and maintain your runoff control measures. Reassess and adjust if necessary. Consent requirements
You won’t need a resource consent to discharge stormwater to land or to water if you can meet these requirements: The discharge is not into a significant wetland.
You have a stormwater interception system (a roof and guttering, for example) to keep rain from areas where there may be contaminants, if your site is bigger than half