Council welcomes the decision to locate the region’s new rain radar on Horoirangi/Drumduan Peak, about 15km northeast of Nelson. It is due to be operational by mid-2027.
MetService currently has 10 weather radars across the country with the closest to Nelson being in Wellington, 125km east, or Westland, 300km south. This distance, the curvature of the Earth and the shadowing effect of the mountains surrounding our region means these provide limited coverage for Nelson and Tasman.
There have been repeated calls for a rain radar over many years. We have had five states of emergency from weather events in Nelson and Tasman since 2011. I made the point to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon after last July’s torrential storms that Government was spending tens of millions on climate change mitigation and adaption policy work but not funding the practical technology that would help us manage the risks. We were pleasantly surprised that, within a week, Government confirmed the $5 million funding for this new radar. I must also acknowledge the advocacy of neighbouring Tasman Mayor, Tim King, Tasman District’s now-retired Principal Hydrologist Martin Doyle and our civil defence teams.
This technology is particularly valuable with our region’s complex topography. Nelson and Tasman’s many varied valleys and catchments can be affected quite differently in storm events. Ten different sites were investigated to determine which would provide the best coverage. Council sincerely thanks the Stuart family, of Cable Bay Farm, for agreeing to have the rain radar installed on their property and local iwi for their support.
Benefits of this rain radar include more reliable information on which to make decisions about weather warnings, evacuations and where to deploy resources during emergencies. It will help save lives. This radar will also provide additional data to help us make better planning and infrastructure decisions around the impacts of climate change.
The combination of Council and Government investments in improved stopbanks and flood walls on the Maitai River, rock bolts and slip protection on Rocks Road, landslide monitoring equipment on the Tāhunanui slump and this rain radar are improving Nelson’s resilience and capacity to manage future storm events.
