New Zealand’s national weather agency has issued a warning for residents to prepare for severe weather as cyclone Vaianu nears the North Island. The tropical cyclone is expected to make landfall early Sunday, bringing damaging winds, intense rainfall, and flooding that could pose a serious threat to life.
Authorities have urged people living in vulnerable coastal regions to evacuate as a precaution against heavy rain, rising sea levels, and winds reaching speeds of up to 130 kilometers per hour. By Saturday, winds exceeding 100 km/h had already been recorded, signaling the storm’s increasing intensity.
MetService described the event as a multi-hazard emergency, emphasizing that the severity of impacts will largely depend on the cyclone’s path. In response, local governments declared a state of emergency in heavily populated areas of the North Island, including Tauranga, where two landslides earlier this year claimed eight lives.
Meanwhile, Auckland officials issued flood warnings, with emergency operations centre controller Gareth Wallis stressing that this is not a time for sightseeing or taking risks. He urged the public to respect closures implemented to safeguard lives.
On the northeast coast, hundreds of residents in Whakatane have evacuated following local council orders. Alison Stern, director of Beach Point Apartments at Ohope Beach, shared that the community is bracing for the storm, recalling the devastation caused by cyclone Gabrielle in 2023. She noted that residents understand the necessity of evacuation for their safety, especially given the proximity to steep cliffs and the ocean.
In a significant development, MetService has issued a red wind warning—the highest level of alert—for Rotorua, Bay of Plenty, and the Coromandel Peninsula, underscoring the seriousness of the approaching cyclone.
