Precautionary boil water notice for Bunnythorpe

Published on 26 November 2025

A precautionary boil water notice has been issued for Bunnythorpe this evening after a dead bird was found in a water pipe where construction work is underway.

This issue is limited to Bunnythorpe and does not affect any other areas of Palmerston North. We spoke with Taumata Arowai, the national drinking water regulator, late this afternoon. As a precaution, we’re asking Bunnythorpe residents to boil water while we complete further testing.

What you need to do

Please boil water in the jug, or if using a pot, boil water for at least one minute before using it for drinking, making ice, preparing food, brushing teeth, preparing baby bottles, washing dishes, pets’ water, or any medical needs involving water.

If your child is going to school tomorrow, please ensure they bring already-boiled water for bottles. Drinking fountains will be turned off as a precaution.

Why has this notice been issued

Routine drinking water testing is carried out across the city, including Bunnythorpe. The most recent test results for Bunnythorpe, completed last week, were normal.

Additional testing is underway, and we expect results tomorrow afternoon. Once we have them, we’ll confirm whether the boil water notice needs to remain in place.

Stay updated

We will provide further updates as soon as we get the test results back tomorrow afternoon (Thursday).

Thank you for your patience and understanding while we confirm the safety of the water supply.