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# Severe weather and wildfires test emergency services across New Zealand
- URL: https://goodoil.news/severe-weather-and-wildfires-test-emergency-services-across-new-zealand/
- Published: 2025-10-24T00:48:46.000Z
- Updated: 2025-10-24T20:16:09.000Z
- Description: Most incidents involved roofs torn off.
- Author: Centrist
- Tags: News

Summarised by [Centrist](https://centrist.nz/?ref=goodoil.news)

**Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews were stretched nationwide on Thursday, responding to almost 600 weather-related callouts as storms battered the country.** 

**Most incidents involved roofs torn off, trees down and power lines damaged, with Southland and Invercargill hit hardest.**

A large wildfire near Hanmer Springs had been contained after heavy rain. In Kaikoura, multiple fires are were brought under control, while in Hawke’s Bay firefighters battled three blazes, including a 139-hectare blaze at Saleyard Bridge.

Assistant National Commander Ken Cooper said crews had worked tirelessly “in pretty tough conditions” to protect lives and property. He warned that high temperatures and strong winds expected over the long weekend mean the ban on open-air fires and fireworks remains in place nationwide.

> Watch towering pine trees crash down like dominoes in Tapawera send in to [https://t.co/FSLNfecn8y](https://t.co/FSLNfecn8y?ref=goodoil.news) [pic.twitter.com/d0BsXvu6Z7](https://t.co/d0BsXvu6Z7?ref=goodoil.news)
> 
> — Chris Lynch (@chrislynchmedia) [October 23, 2025](https://twitter.com/chrislynchmedia/status/1981202655906320461?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=goodoil.news)

> Incredible footage shows Otago University students running for cover as fierce winds hit Dunedin. (Happened round 1.30PM) The mother of a student who filmed the video said some students stayed inside the library, waiting for the powerful winds to ease. [pic.twitter.com/zxZCGPCRc3](https://t.co/zxZCGPCRc3?ref=goodoil.news)
> 
> — Chris Lynch (@chrislynchmedia) [October 23, 2025](https://twitter.com/chrislynchmedia/status/1981167231582261729?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=goodoil.news)

> Bealey River railway bridge, just before the Ōtira tunnel [pic.twitter.com/UzhiYlOKN9](https://t.co/UzhiYlOKN9?ref=goodoil.news)
> 
> — Geoff Keey 🏔️🏕️🐶🥧💉 (@GeoffreyKeey) [October 22, 2025](https://twitter.com/GeoffreyKeey/status/1981136787709051351?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=goodoil.news)

[**Read more over at Scoop**](https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK2510/S00885/fire-and-emergency-new-zealand-fire-and-weather-update-2-23-october-6pm.htm?%5Fgl=1%2A6csp42%2A%5Fgcl%5Fau%2AMTM0Nzg4ODczMC4xNzYxMjE3MTgx%2A%5Fga%2ANzk0NDEyNTkuMTc1MTM1NDIzMg..%2A%5Fga%5FGGVMM3MB82%2AczE3NjEyMTcxODEkbzE3JGcxJHQxNzYxMjE3NDA4JGo1MCRsMCRoMA..&ref=goodoil.news)

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