Severe weather watch and power cuts for the Waikato today
Wild weather lashing the Waikato has cut power to hundreds of homes and made driving conditions treacherous. Most of the country is in for a showery and windy Monday, with a colder spell on the way that may bring snow to the Desert Rd on Tuesday.
- Rain is expected to continue in Hamilton through until Wednesday this week.
- WEL Network put out a statement at 7am on Monday saying several areas were experiencing power outages.
- Power is out to 684 properties north of Huntly in the Kimiha area. In Hillcrest around 55 homes are without power due to an unplanned outage. WEL said high winds and heavy rain posed a threat to field staff who have been advised to make sites safe and return at a later time to complete repairs.
MetService has issued a strong wind watch for the Waikato until 5pm Monday.
- Check on power outages at wel.co.nz
- People are advised to keep up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings here.
- Read more and follow updates here
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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84% Yes
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14.7% No
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1.3% Other - I'll share below
Spring gardening tips
Dreaming of a garden bursting with colour and fresh produce? Shane Fairbairn, Ryman Healthcare’s Landscape Manager, shares his top tips to make it happen. You’ll be set to create a gorgeous, relaxing space in no time - grab your trowel, and let’s dig in.
Click read more for more information.
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.