Western Bay of Plenty was not spared from the deluge of severe weather that hit the North Island on January 21-22.

The storm swept through the Western Bay of Plenty and Tauranga on Wednesday and Thursday, causing landslides that killed two people in Welcome Bay Rd and six, police believe, at a Mount Maunganui campsite.

Flooding and slips forced dozens of people to evacuate their homes and cut off rural communities and neighbourhoods in the Western Bay as highways and local roads closed.

In the Western Bay of Plenty, flooding and landslides also caused extensive damage to houses, properties, public land and roads, resulting in many closures on the long weekend.

Eight properties were red-stickered after slip or flood damage in the WBOP, according to Western Bay of Plenty District Emergency Control Centre controller Scott Parker.

Parker said four were in the Welcome Bay area and two in Ōmokoroa.

A slip in Ōmokoroa, Western Bay of Plenty. Photo / Sandra Conchie

A red placard indicated a building was unsafe to enter, while yellow indicated restricted access due to moderate damage or risks such as unstable ground or adjacent slips.

Twelve yellow placards were issued to a properties in Western Bay of Plenty, six in Welcome Bay, two in Ongare Point, and one each Kauri Point, Katikati, Ōmokoroa and Waihī Beach.

Businesses were also hit hard.

The owners of two Waihī Beach businesses expect to be closed for several months after floodwaters from a major storm caused “devastating” damage.

Pip and Joanne Coombes own Surf Shack Eatery in Emerton Rd, Waihī Beach.

Pip Coombes said they’d suffered “horrendous” losses after floodwaters swept through their cafe early on January 22.

“Everything at knee-level was destroyed, including 11 or 12 fridge–freezers and all their contents.

“I’ve already taken about 940kg of food waste to the dump. It couldn’t even be given to the pigs.”

The pair were waiting for their insurance assessor to determine the full extent of the damage.

Surf Shack Eatery in Waihi Beach sustained major flood damage on January 22, 2026. Photo / Pip Coombes

While their carpark flooded in 2023, Pip Coombes said they had “never experienced anything like this”.

“This is unprecedented, and it’s been a huge shock.”

She said it was already clear they would need to “start again”.

“That includes replacing the kitchen, the flooring, a new toilet, and all our whiteware and everything else water-damaged ... we expect to be closed for several months.”

Pip Coombes said they had owned the cafe for 10 years.

“But it is what it is. What’s happened to us pales in comparison to what people in Pāpāmoa and Mount Maunganui are going through. Our thoughts are with all those devastated families.”

Despite the damages, she said the support from the community had been “wonderful”.

Next door to Surf Shack, the Victoria Lemon Transform Today gym was also severely damaged.

Surf Shack eatery owners Joanne and Pip Coombes, with Victoria Lemon (far right), the owner of Victoria Lemon Transform Today gym, outside their flooded businesses. Photo / Victoria Lemon

Owner Victoria Lemon said her business sustained flood damage in 2023 after a tsunami warning and a king tide, but this was far worse.

She said at 7am on January 22, she received a text and a photograph from a client that showed the inside of her gym was submerged in waist-deep water.

“Because of the ferocity of the storm overnight, everything electric-driven will need to be replaced.”

That included the stereo system, treadmills, cable machines, elliptical cross-trainer, office computer, and printer. All paper-based records – including clients’ files – were also destroyed.

Lemon, who rents the building, had met with her insurance representative and expected it to be closed for several months.

Metservice meteorologist Braydon White said Waihī Beach had 340mm of rain on Wednesday, an “absurd amount”.

Western Bay of Plenty District Mayor James Denyer said about 80 people self‑evacuated to community‑led hubs in Waihī Beach and Te Puke as the weather bore down on Wednesday night, including evacuees from affected campgrounds.

The Waihī Beach RSA supported 73 campground evacuees and the rest were at the Settler’s Lounge in the Te Puke War Memorial Hall.

“Forty‑nine people remained in hubs overnight on Thursday, and 31 evacuees were billeted with local families, reflecting the strong community spirit that continues to shine through during difficult times,” Denyer said.

“People opened their homes at short notice, and neighbours checked on neighbours. This is who we are as the Western Bay. Once again, our community has shown extraordinary support.”

Denyer said on behalf of the council and communities, he wanted to extend his deepest sympathy to whānau, friends and loved ones of those who lost their lives in rural Pāpāmoa and Mount Maunganui.

“Right across our rohe and our neighbouring city of Tauranga, people have been deeply affected.

“What has unfolded at Mauao and Welcome Bay Rd is devastating. Our communities are hurting, and our hearts are with everyone waiting for news or supporting loved ones.

“This is an unimaginable loss, and our thoughts are with everyone affected,” he said.

In Katikati the Uretara River rose going into the night of January 21, and floodwater spilled over State Highway 2 near Kotahi Lane and sent nearby businesses underwater.

Bridgestone Tyre Centre Katikati owner Logan Roche said his leased premises on the corner of SH2 and Kotahi Lane started taking water about 10pm.

“Last time the shop flooded in 2016 it was just town water. This time I think the high tide [later that night] definitely had a lot to do with it, nothing was receding so we assume it was river water.”

Roche said at 1am the shop was at its deepest – just under knee-height. Staff had prepared beforehand by lifting all expensive machinery using hoists, to keep it out of harm’s way.

“It [floodwater] got the fridges, cabinetry, office furniture, paperwork, loose tools, repair items and stock,” said Roche, who would claim insurance for losses.

On January 22, Roche said the community come out in droves to help clean up. “I started 6am and the people just rolled in after that. We had so much community support, from friends, family, and people cleaning up to dropping off food, fans, dehumidifiers, squeegees, and everyone messaging us to offer help, it was really cool – I’d just like to thank everyone who supported us.”

This made it possible for Bridgestone Tyre Centre Katikati to re-open Friday, January 23.

Across SH2, The Veggie Hub owner Karin Du Plessis said floodwater came into her store near 11pm January 21. “Our premises owner Alan Crapp had done a lot of work prior to us moving in six months ago, to make the shop area higher so it wouldn’t flood. But by 10.40pm the water was too much. Our packaging room was totally flooded but not much was in there.

“The shop got water through it but no stock was damaged, and outside our leased chiller kept working and nothing toppled over inside – however the water did push it around.”

Plessis said the store was open 8am January 22 thanks to her staff coming in early to help clean up. “Thank you to everybody because it was a massive effort and we were grateful.”