Mark Mitchell

Don't take any chances and trust your own danger sense. If waters rise, don't wait for an alert, and get to higher ground immediately. The risk of landslides is high - if you feel at risk, be proactive and get out immediately. Take care and stay safe everyone.

This is an ongoing weather event, and a state of local emergency remains in place for the Wellington Region. Its important people stay vigilant. Stay informed through MetService, your local Civil Defence Groups and media, and follow the advice of authorities.

It's been a tough few days for people in Wellington and the Wairarapa - my thoughts are with those affected by this weather event.

If you are in the Wellington region, be prepared, if you are going to evacuate make those decisions early and keep yourself updated with information. Stay out of floodwaters and please comply with any instructions from our first responders. They are there to help and protect you.

I also want to acknowledge our first responders, police, fire and emergency, Surf Lifesaving and NZDF, as well as our CDEM and NEMA teams.

I have been out on the ground this afternoon with Mayor Andrew Little. I want to acknowledge the proactive work done by the regional council to prepare for the worst of the weather which we expect this evening.

For those in the North Island, here’s an important update on Tropical Cyclone Vaianu, expected to make landfall late Saturday night/Sunday morning. MetService says this has the potential to be a significant and damaging storm, but you have time to prepare. You might want to consider bringing inside or securing anything that might blow away, make sure drains are free, check in on the neighbours, and be prepared for possible power cuts. Stay safe everyone and look after each other. Follow MetService and your local Civil Defence group, or just visit getready.govt.nz

Further updates to our travel advice for a number of Middle East countries have been made today. Additional consular officers are being deployed to the NZ Embassy in Ankara. Updates on the status of airspace and airline operations will be shared with registered Kiwis today. Register on SafeTravel.govt.nz to stay informed and receive updates like these. Read more here: mfat.govt.nz/middle-east

Our Embassies in the Middle East are closely monitoring the situation and will continue to provide support to New Zealanders. If you require urgent consular assistance, please call the New Zealand 24/7 Consular Emergency Line on +64 99 20 20 20. Find info at mfat.govt.nz/middle-east

It is with a heavy heart that I send my thoughts and condolences to the family that have lost two of their loved ones in the Welcome Bay slip. Our thoughts as a country are with you. Thank you to teams that worked so hard to recover them, I know how you will be feeling.

Extreme weather continues to cause dangerous conditions across the North Island. Right now, the Government is doing everything we can to support those impacted. Minister Mark Mitchell and I have been receiving briefings over the past 24 hours, and we are actively monitoring situations across the country – including the major incident in Mt Maunganui, where the Minister is on the ground. To the emergency responders, Defence Force personnel, and all those who are putting themselves in harm’s way to keep Kiwis safe, the whole country is grateful. We continue to urge people in affected areas to follow the advice of local authorities. More information can be found on your local Civil Defence website.

New Zealand is built on the values of dignity, freedom, and respect for human rights, and we support the right of all people to protest peacefully without fear of violence or repression.

I stand in solidarity with our Iranian community in New Zealand and acknowledge the deep pain and concern many are feeling for loved ones in Iran.

It’s 2026 and worth reminding people of what they haven’t seen in two summers now, and won’t see in public again while National is in Government. Gang patches. Happy New Year.

I want to acknowledge our Sikh community who showed calm and composure in the face of a protest designed to offend and intimidate them. In NZ we should choose calm dialogue to discuss differences. Not intolerance, intimidation and bullying.

My thoughts and prayers are with all those impacted by the cowardly terrorist attack in Bondi. My focus is on the safety and security of our own Jewish community and ensuring we are doing all we can to prevent this happening in our own country.

As a Government, our focus is on implementing the recommendations of the IPCA report to ensure this level of serious misconduct cannot happen again.

If Mr Coster’s focus is on relitigating matters, there are legal recourses available to him and if he truly believes what he is saying, nothing prevents him pursuing those.

It is disappointing that following his resignation, that came with an apology to Police less than a week ago, Mr Coster is trying to deflect and relitigate matters.