Cyclone Vaianu Bears Down on North Island as States of Emergency Declared

A powerful subtropical system bearing down on New Zealand’s North Island has prompted multiple states of emergency, mass evacuations, and urgent warnings for residents to prepare now rather than wait. Cyclone Vaianu, which has been reclassified from a tropical to a subtropical system but remains an extremely dangerous weather event, is expected to make landfall on the northeast coast around midday Sunday.

Northland declared a region-wide state of emergency on Friday, with Civil Defence controller Damian Rio describing the declaration as rare but warranted given the “significant impacts” anticipated. The emergency runs for an initial seven days and grants civil defence authorities expanded powers to direct resources and issue orders. Whakatane and Hawke’s Bay have also declared local states of emergency, and properties in Whakatane’s West End and Ohope were ordered to evacuate before 5pm Saturday.

MetService meteorologist Heather Keats said the system remained “still a very large, damaging system” despite the downgrade in classification. The subtropical label refers to how the storm draws its energy rather than its destructive capacity, and forecasters have been clear that the reclassification should not reassure residents in the storm’s path. A red-level strong wind warning is in force for the Coromandel Peninsula, where gusts are forecast to reach 140 kilometres per hour. Orange warnings cover Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane, and the Gisborne and Tairawhiti regions.

Rainfall totals of more than 200 millimetres are forecast for some areas, raising the risk of flash flooding, slips, and river inundation. Ocean swells of up to 12 metres are anticipated along the east coast, adding a coastal flooding dimension to what is already a multi-hazard event. Civil defence officials have urged people in low-lying coastal areas to move to higher ground before conditions deteriorate, warning that once the storm arrives there will be no opportunity to act.

The National Emergency Management Agency issued urgent guidance on Saturday, with its director warning that the storm “will hit hard, with a big impact on NZ.” The director urged people not to delay preparations, saying “later on is too late.” NEMA activated its national coordination machinery and was working with regional civil defence groups, emergency services, and local authorities across the affected areas.

Auckland Emergency Management activated its Emergency Coordination Centre as the city faced the prospect of significant wind, rain, and flooding. Supermarkets across Auckland were packed on Saturday as residents rushed to stock up on food, water, torches, batteries, and other supplies. Long queues formed at service stations. Civil defence authorities reminded the public that their preparedness kit should include enough food and water for at least three days, and that they should know their evacuation routes before the storm hits.

Experts have drawn comparisons to Cyclone Cook, which struck the North Island in April 2017 and caused widespread damage across Hawke’s Bay, the Bay of Plenty, and Gisborne. Vaianu is considered to be of comparable severity to Cook rather than to Cyclone Gabrielle, which devastated Hawke’s Bay and the East Coast in February 2023 in one of New Zealand’s costliest and deadliest natural disasters. That comparison offers some relief, though authorities have stressed that any comparison should not lead to complacency and that even a Cook-scale event is capable of causing major damage and posing serious risks to life.

State Highway 25A on the Coromandel Peninsula and several roads in Northland were closed on Saturday as a precaution, with authorities advising against all non-essential travel through the affected regions. Ferries and some domestic flights were cancelled or under review, and airlines warned of further disruptions through Sunday and into Monday depending on how quickly the system passes and conditions improve. Several major outdoor events scheduled for the weekend in the North Island were also cancelled or postponed.

Civil defence authorities said they had pre-positioned resources including emergency generators, water purification equipment, and welfare supplies in areas most likely to be hit. The New Zealand Defence Force was placed on standby to assist with relief efforts if needed. Red Cross activated its welfare teams across the upper North Island to support evacuees and those displaced by flooding.

For those remaining in their homes during the storm, civil defence advice included staying indoors away from windows, not going outside during any apparent lull as that may indicate the eye of the system passing over, and keeping mobile phones charged and with emergency contact numbers saved. Residents were urged to check on elderly neighbours and those who might need assistance before the weather closed in. Landlines were recommended as a backup in case mobile networks became congested or disrupted.

More information is available from MetService, Civil Defence, and local councils. RNZ is providing live updates as conditions develop and further decisions are made. Anyone in immediate danger should call 111.

If you are preparing for Cyclone Vaianu or have already felt its effects, share your experience in the comments below.