Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Wild drone footage of Wairere Falls during the Red Warning Storm in Bay of Plenty, shot on a Mavic 3 Pro, show the power of the wind blowing over the Kaimai Ranges from the west, shot about 8am on Jan 22 the wind is so strong it is blowing water back up the face of the waterfall.
Beginning on 15 January 2026, a series of storm systems brought severe weather to the upper North Island of New Zealand, peaking with the passage of the remnants of Tropical Disturbance 05F (previously known as Tropical Low 14U while it was in the Australian region) across the upper North Island on 21 and 22 January.[1]
During this period, one man died after being swept away near Warkworth,two people died after a landslide hit a house in Papamoa, and six people were killed by a landslide at a campground in Mount Maunganui. On 21 January, 247.6 mm of rain fell in Whitianga and 274.0 mm of rain fell in Tauranga, marking the wettest day on record for each place.
At 153 metres, Wairere Falls is the North Islands highest waterfall.
Just 10 minutes’ drive from Matamata, the Wairere Falls is the highest waterfall in the North Island and a popular walking track in the Waikato
Drone footage: Supplied
Please note, the track is closed for safety reasons so please don't try and go up there.
Wild drone footage of Wairere Falls during the Red Warning Storm in Bay of Plenty, shot on a Mavic 3 Pro, show the power of the wind blowing over the Kaimai Ranges from the west, shot about 8am on Jan 22 the wind is so strong it is blowing water back up the face of the waterfall.
Beginning on 15 January 2026, a series of storm systems brought severe weather to the upper North Island of New Zealand, peaking with the passage of the remnants of Tropical Disturbance 05F (previously known as Tropical Low 14U while it was in the Australian region) across the upper North Island on 21 and 22 January.[1]
During this period, one man died after being swept away near Warkworth,two people died after a landslide hit a house in Papamoa, and six people were killed by a landslide at a campground in Mount Maunganui. On 21 January, 247.6 mm of rain fell in Whitianga and 274.0 mm of rain fell in Tauranga, marking the wettest day on record for each place.
At 153 metres, Wairere Falls is the North Islands highest waterfall.
Just 10 minutes’ drive from Matamata, the Wairere Falls is the highest waterfall in the North Island and a popular walking track in the Waikato
Drone footage: Supplied
Please note, the track is closed for safety reasons so please don't try and go up there.
