Independent candidate Lautimuia Uelese Vaai has been officially declared the winner of the Vaimauga 3 by-election, securing a decisive victory following the release of final results by the Office of the Electoral Commission.

According to the official count, Lautimuia polled 1,802 votes, comfortably ahead of his nearest rival, Taioali’iseu Fiti Aimaasu of the FAST Party, who received 996 votes.

Tuuamaalii Tupuola Fomai Sapolu of HRPP finished third with 573 votes, while fellow independent Puaalatai Tupuola Filemoni recorded 474 votes.

The total number of valid votes cast in the by-election was 3,845, with 38 informal votes recorded.

The result confirms what early preliminary counts had indicated — a strong and consistent lead for Lautimuia across the majority of polling booths in the constituency.

This victory marks a significant outcome for an independent candidate in a closely watched contest, reflecting strong voter support across Vaimauga 3. Lautimuia’s performance saw him dominate key polling areas, building a lead that proved insurmountable as counting progressed.

The by-election was held on 1 May 2026 to elect a new Member of Parliament for the Vaimauga 3 constituency, with the official declaration signed and confirmed by Electoral Commissioner Toleafoa Tuiafelolo Alexander John Stanley.

With the final count now confirmed, Lautimuia Uelese Vaai will take up the seat in Parliament, adding an independent voice to Samoa’s political landscape.

ATA: Office of the Electoral Commission – Samoa

Wellington City Council and all three Wairarapa councils have now terminated their state of emergency and formally declared a Local Transition Period.

Wellington Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Joint Committee Chair Mayor Anita Baker signed the termination of the declaration at 5pm, enabling the councils to move out of a state of emergency, with Mayor Andrew Little, Mayor Bex Johnson and Mayor Fran Wilde signing the transition documents to enable councils to still maintain certain powers to help support their communities.

This reflects that the most immediate risks to life from the severe weather have passed, but it does not mean that response impacts are over.

“This marks a shift into a new phase of our response,” Anita Baker says.

“Recovery is about helping communities stabilise, clean up and begin to rebuild, while continuing to manage risks and support people who need help.”

What the change means

During the response phase, the state of emergency provided broad powers to deal quickly with immediate threats. The transition and recovery phase focuses on coordination, problem‑solving and longer‑term support. Sam Bishop has been appointed as Group Recovery Manager.

Under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act, Recovery Managers have powers to coordinate recovery activity, manage access to affected areas where safety issues remain, support restoration of essential services, enable assistance for impacted people and communities, and reduce or remove ongoing risks where practicable.

These powers support an organised recovery while allowing everyday life to resume where it is safe to do so.

Ongoing risks and advice

While conditions have improved, significant risks remain, particularly due to widespread ground saturation.

Slips and landslides can still occur even after rain has eased. Roads, bridges and tracks may be unstable or debris‑affected, and floodwater, mud and silt may contain contaminants. Even moderate further rain can quickly increase risk.

“Some impacts aren’t immediately visible,” said Baker. “Saturated ground and hidden damage can pose real danger. Please don’t assume conditions are back to normal.”

People are urged to:

• take care when returning home and during clean‑up activities
• follow public health guidance in flood‑affected areas
• avoid unstable slopes, slip areas and damaged roads
• stay informed through WREMO, local councils and MetService
• check on neighbours, friends and whānau who may need help, if it is safe to do so

 Ongoing support

Some residents will continue to need support in the days and weeks ahead. Needs assessments are ongoing, with councils and partner agencies working together to ensure people receive the help they need.

Emergency Assistance Centres may transition or change their role as recovery arrangements are put in place. Information about available support will continue to be shared through council and WREMO channels.

Further information about the formal transition to recovery, including termination of local states of emergency, will be confirmed shortly.

ATA: SCR (file).

The local State of Emergency for Hutt City Council has been terminated.

Wellington Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Joint Committee Chair Anita Baker declared the termination at 2.30pm on Wednesday, 22 April.

The State of Emergency remains for Wellington City and the Wairarapa.

This decision reflects that the immediate risks to life and property from the recent severe weather have reduced, and that emergency coordination and powers are no longer required by Hutt City Council.

“I understand the situation in Lower Hutt has stabilised, and essential services and council functions are operating as normal,” Anita Baker says.

“Ending the State of Emergency allows us to step back from emergency settings while continuing to manage any remaining impacts through our normal processes.”

What this means

With the State of Emergency lifted, council services and partners will continue responding to weather impacts through standard operational arrangements. This includes infrastructure repairs, monitoring known risk areas and supporting affected residents where required.

Returning to business as usual does not mean the effects of the weather have disappeared.

Ongoing risks and advice

While conditions have improved, saturated ground across the region means some risks remain. Slips, surface flooding and debris can still occur, particularly if further rain falls.

People are urged to:

• take care when moving around the city and during any clean‑up

• avoid unstable slopes, slip areas and damaged roads or tracks

• be cautious around pooled water, mud and silt, which may be contaminated

• continue following official advice from council and MetService

“We’re asking people to stay alert,” said Baker. “Some impacts may not be immediately visible, and conditions can change quickly.”

Hutt City Council will continue to monitor conditions and provide updates if required. People who need assistance are encouraged to contact council through usual channels.

ATA: SCR (file).

The state of emergency has been terminated for Upper Hutt City Council, Porirua City Council and Kāpiti Coast District Council as the severe weather event response begins to deescalate.

The state of emergency remains in place for all other parts of the Wellington region, including all of Wairarapa, while damage, needs, building safety, and recovery assessments continue.

A state of emergency was declared by Wellington Civil Defence Emergency Management Group joint committee chair Anita Baker to support the response to ongoing severe weather, flooding and infrastructure impacts.

The state of emergency gives responders the powers and coordination needed to keep people safe, support evacuations where required, and manage impacts across the region. These powers are used only where necessary and are proportionate to the risk.

People are encouraged to stay informed and safe by keeping up to date with official information from MetService, WREMO, local council channels, and local media.

ATA: SCR (file).

‘UA ALOĀ’IA NEI LE POLOĀ’IGA MŌ FA’ALAVELAVE (STATE OF EMERGENCY) MO LE LAUMUA ‘O UELIGITONE ‘ONA ‘O TŪLAGA FA’ALETONU ‘O LE TAU

A State of Emergency has been declared across the Wellington region due to severe weather, heavy rain, flooding, and impacts on infrastructure.

WHAT THIS MEANS:

This is a serious and evolving situation. Emergency services now have additional powers to help keep people safe, carry out evacuations if needed, and manage the situation across the region.

CURRENT CONDITIONS:

• Ground is already saturated – high risk of flooding and landslides (slips)
• An *Orange Rain Warning* remains in place – more heavy rain is expected
• Rivers and streams may rise rapidly

IMPORTANT ADVICE:

• If you live in low-lying or flood-prone areas – please move to safer ground for the next 24 hours
• Avoid driving or walking through floodwaters
• Stay updated through official channels
• Prepare an emergency kit if you haven’t already

EVACUATION SUPPORT:

An Emergency Assistance Centre is open at:

Wellington City Mission, Oxford Terrace

Please check on your family, friends, and neighbours—especially those in vulnerable or high-risk areas.

Keep updated on Wellington Region Emergency Management Office, Wellington City Council, Porirua City Council, Hutt City Council, Upper Hutt City Council for the latest!

Stay safe, Wellington. Share this message to help keep our community informed.

— Sāmoa Capital Radio

RNZ is New Zealand’s statutory civil defence lifeline radio broadcaster, providing vital information and updates as they come to hand.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/emergencies_local/592910/weather-live-red-rain-warnings-all-day-for-flooded-wellington-region

ATA: SCR (file).

Ua fa’ailoa aloā’ia i le asō, e le afioga iā Toelupe Maoiautele Poumulinuku Onesemo, lona fa’amavae aloā’ia mai i ona tofiga o le Sui Palemia ma le Minisitā o le Kapeneta mo le taimi nei.

O le i’uga a le Fa’amasinoga o Faigā Palota e tusa o le matā’upu i fa’atosina i le Palota Aoao 2025, na fa’alēāogaina ai le tofiga Faipule o le afioga iā Toelupe.

Peita’i, o le taeao nei, ua fa’ailoa manino e Toelupe, ua toe tu’uina atu lana talosaga i le Fa’amasinoga mo le toe iloiloina o lenei lava matā’upu, auā i lona talitonuga, ua autasi lona Itumālō Palota e fa’aui i tua lea matā’upu, ui o lea, sa talosaga le H.R.P.P. ina ia fa’aauau pea, o le vala lea ua afua ai le fa’ai’uga ua tu’uina mai.

Saunoa manino le Sui Palemia, e le’o se finagalo lea o lona Itumālō lona fa’amavae, e le’o se tōfā fo’i lea i le Palemia ma le Kapeneta, peita’i o lana lava lea fa’ai’uga fai to’atasi, i lona naunauta’iga, ia ‘aua ‘aua lava ne’i tilofia galuega fa’atino a le Kapeneta, ona o lona nofonofo atu i le tālia ai o se tali i lana talosaga, o le ā toe fa’aulu i le Fa’amasinoga.

Ae silisili ai le puipuiga o le mamalu ma le aloā’ia o fa’ai’uga fai a le Mālō e tauala mai i le laulauāfono a le Kapeneta.

Na ia fa’afetaia fa’apitoa le Susuga i le La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polāta’ivao Fosi Schmidt, o le Palemia o le Mālō Tuto’atasi o Samoa fa’apea le Vaega Fa’a’upufai a le Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi [F.A.S.T.] i le fa’atuatuaga sa tu’uina atu iā te ia, e tau’ave ai nei tofiga mauāluga ma le aloā’ia i Samoa. O se fa’aeaea lava lea i si ona Itumālō Palota fa’apea ai si ona ‘āiga peleina.

Ae fa’asilisili ai lana fa’afetai i le Atua, ona o lona fa’aāogaina pea o lona tagata, e auauna ai i so’o se valā’auina ua tofia ai o ia, e ui i le tele o lu’itau ma fa’afitauli.

Saunoa le Palemia i nisi o feiloā’iga ma Tusitala | Ofisa Fa’asalalau i vaiaso ua mavae, e telē lona fa’atuatuaga ma le talitonuina e le Mālō o le fesoasoani ma le sao tāua o Toelupe i le ta’ita’iga o le sā folau o Samoa.

O sē sa fai ma sili’aga, a’o se tasi na avea ma lima taumatau iā te ia o le Palemia, a’o se’ei ai i le tofiga Sui Palemia | Minisitā o le Kapeneta.

Ta’utino fo’i La’aulialemalietoa, e lē māmā iā te ia ma le Mālō le mea ua tupu, auā o se tulaga e ao ona toe silasila loloto i ai i le Tulafono o Faigā Palota i le lumana’i.

Na ia momoli fo’i fa’amafanafanaga a’o se fa’amalosi’au iā Toelupe ma si ona ‘āiga, e tusa o le tulaga ua tupu mai i le Fa’amasinoga.

Tusia e: Peseta Tusiga Taofiga

ATA: Savali Newspaper

‘Ua māe’a fa’ailoa mai le fa’ai’uga ‘a le Afioga ‘i le tama’ita’i fa’amasino sinia, le Afioga ‘iā Talasa Atoa Sa’aga, ‘e tusa ai ma moliaga ‘e fa’asaga ‘i le Afioga ‘i le Ali’i Palemia, le Susuga ‘i le Laʻaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt ma le isi to’alima ‘o lo’o mōlia faatasi ai: Fepuleai Faimata Sua, Fataumalama Lio, Lise-Marie Schmidt, Sam Sua ma Sivai Kepi – ma ‘ua solofua le Afioga ‘i le Palemia, Fepulea’i, Fataumalama fa’apea Lise – ‘ae ‘ua fa’amaonia ‘e le fa’amasinoga moliaga ‘o Sam Sua ma Sivai Kepi.

‘O moliaga ‘e aofia ai le tu’uina atu ‘o molimau sesē ‘i leoleo, taumafai ‘e ufiufi le mea moni, fa’apea le taumafai ‘e fafau molimau ma fa’amatalaga sesē fa’apea le taumafai ‘e fa’alavelaveina le fa’agāsologa ‘o galuega ‘a le fa’amasinoga.

‘O lenei matā’upu na āfua mai ‘i se fa’alavelave na maliu ai se ali’i talavou ‘i Vaitele ‘i le 2021.

‘O lo’o tālia nei nisi fa’amatalaga ‘i lenei matā’upu, ma ni la’asaga ‘e ono tūla’i mai, fa’apea ai ma fa’asalaga ‘e fa’atinoina ‘e Sam ma Sivai.

This is a developing story, more information to follow …

ATA: SCR / Junior S. Ami (Samoa Observer) / Talamua Media