Summer arrives fast in Taranaki. Spring’s mix of rain and sunshine keeps the garden fresh and lush until Christmas, but then suddenly the gods flick the switch and a big halogen bulb shines down bringing warm seas and blue skies. Green lawns turn into light browns and trees show signs of water stress, meaning it’s time to haul out the irrigation hoses and check for those inevitable leaks. Luckily, Tūpare’s trees provide plenty of shade, protecting much of the garden from the harshest sun. But
joining the
Kurapete Stream upstream of the Everett Road Bridge. In an emergency (e.g., during a sustained heavy rain
event), Ponds B and C are bypassed as water is pumped directly from Pond A to Pond D where it travels
through the system to Pond F. Contouring and bunding of the site directs stormwater to Ponds A and A1 to
A3 (See Appendix III for a detailed Stormwater Management map). Ponds A1 to A3 form a closed system in
1 The Council has used these compliance grading criteria for
and year to date totals for rain gauge sites in Taranaki.
April 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 18 519.0 102.1 1359.0 79.3 19.6 1991
Dawson Falls 17 512.0 106.4 1213.0 79.9 20.4 1933
Kapoaiaia at Kahui
Hut 20 485.0 120.6 1178.0 91.8 22.4 2006
Mangorei Upper at
Forest Hill 15
February only had an average of 60.8mm of rainfall – 75% less than usual. This ranged from 97% less than normal at Waitōtara at Hawken Rd, and 42% less at Pohokura Saddle. Year to date rainfall is lowest at Kaupokonui at Glenn Rd with 72% less rainfall than normal, Omahine at Moana Trig has had the highest year-to-date rainfall with 33% less than normal, on average there has been 57% less than normal across all rain gauges. Mean river flows for February were 42.7% lower than typical values, low
and year to date totals for rain gauge sites in Taranaki.
March 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 15 374.5 89.7 840.0 69.7 12.1 1991
Dawson Falls 19 351.0 95.7 701.0 67.5 11.8 1933
Kapoaiaia at Kahui
Hut 22 288.0 91.0 693.0 78.6 13.2 2006
Mangorei Upper at
Forest Hill 19 165.5 64.4
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
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 13 221.0 56.8 465.5 59.1 6.7 1991
Dawson Falls 10 167.5 49.9 350.0 52.1 5.9 1933
Kapoaiaia at Kahui
Hut 15 159.0 60.4 405.0 71.7 7.7 2006
Mangorei Upper at
Forest Hill 11
Last year ended with December having 34% less rain than usual and the first month of 2025 mirrored that exactly with 34% less rainfall across the region in January. This was particularly the case in South Taranaki with the monitoring station at Kaupokonui at Glenn Rd recording 59% less than usual. The district also saw the highest soil temperature with 28.1°C at Waitōtara at Rimunui Station on 22 January. Mean river flows for January were 40.1% lower than typical values, low flows were 11.6%
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
The dryer than normal year continued last month with an average of 41% less rain than usual in Taranaki. The average rainfall total for the month was 104.5mm and there was 62% less rain at Kotare at OSullivans, and 12% less at Kaupokonui at Glenn Rd. Year-to-date rainfall is lowest at Waitotara at Hawken Rd with 43% less rainfall than usual and on average there has been 19% less than normal across all rain gauges. Mean river flows for May were 40.8% lower than typical values, low flows were