Preparations urged as cyclone nears Northland

**UPDATE as of 5.30pm Friday 10 April**

A regional State of Emergency was declared at 5pm today and is in effect for seven days, as part of the regional response to Cyclone Vaianu.

MetService has issued an Orange Weather Warning from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon for the entire region.

Heavy rain is predicted over 12hrs from 9pm Sat - 9am Sun south of Bay of Islands to Hokianga Harbour. Expect 50–80mm of rain, with 10–20mm/h possible Sunday morning. Impacts may include surface flooding, rising rivers, slips, and difficult driving.

Strong to severe gale winds are predicted across all of Northland for 15hrs from 11pm Sat - 2pm Sun, 12 Apr. Winds will shift from southeast to southwest as the system passes with gusts up to 130km/h in exposed areas. Expect damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured items.

We’re urging people to stay alert, take care and follow official advice. Remember, reduce your speed, use headlights, never drive through floodwaters, be cautious on the roads and delay travel if conditions deteriorate.

There  are no reports of weather-related road closures in the Far North at this stage.

Please call 111 if you believe your life or safety of others are at risk.

For other weather-related hazards, call Far North District Council on 0800 920 029. We are on duty 24/7 and have rostered extra staff on this weekend. Calling us directly is the best and fastest way to tell to report problems. We do NOT monitor Facebook!

And remember, we’re not looking for building consents or dog registrations. We’re here to help you and your whanau get through safely – that’s our focus.

Here are some simple steps you can take now to prepare for severe weather:

• Stay informed: Keep up to date with MetService forecasts and official warnings so you know what weather is coming and when.
• Secure your property: Bring inside or tie down outdoor items that could be blown around in strong winds, and trim trees or branches that could fall.
• Prepare essential supplies: Make sure you have enough food, water, medicines and everyday essentials to last at least three days if conditions worsen or services are disrupted.
• Make a plan: Talk with your whānau about what you’ll do in a storm, where to shelter safely, and how to contact each other if needed.
• Be ready for damage: Have basic materials on hand, such as tarpaulins, boards and duct tape, in case you need to protect or repair your home.

For more preparedness tips, visit GetReady.govt.nz

The Civil Defence Northland Facebook page is the best source at the moment for real‑time updates on conditions across the region. We encourage people to follow that page closely and other pages like MetService New Zealand, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi - Northland for any state highway closures and Top Energy NZ for potential power outages.

Our welfare operations are ongoing following the March weather event and our kaimahi are on standby and prepared to support Civil Defence activities this weekend.

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Residents and visitors across Te Tai Tokerau are being warned to be prepared as Tropical Cyclone Vaianu barrels towards New Zealand.

Current modelling indicates the weather system, which is likely to transition to an ex-tropical cyclone, is expected to be felt from Saturday through to Monday, with heavy rain, damaging winds, coastal impacts, and an increased likelihood of slips and flooding.

Northland is identified as one of the regions most likely to be affected, impacting areas in our district already trying to recover from other recent weather events.

Ground conditions in the Far North remain highly saturated, increasing the risk of slips and localised flooding, and national guidelines indicate landslides are highly likely, even with lower rainfall thresholds due to the impact of the previous weather.

Far North District Council is continuing to maintain regular contact with our Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) partners, and our emergency response teams are currently on standby.

The council is prepared to reactivate the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) if the conditions warrant a coordinated response and has multi-agency briefing calls scheduled on Thursday and Saturday to evaluate conditions and ensure responsiveness.

We encourage everyone in the district to be prepared ahead of the weekend by:

• securing properties and clearing drains
• avoiding unnecessary travel during the peak of the cyclone
• preparing for potential power outages and isolation
• have emergency plans and supplies ready.

Road users should reduce their speed, use headlights, and drive to the conditions. Please call 111 if you believe your life or safety of others are at risk. Call Far North District Council on 0800 920 029 to report hazards.

To keep up to date with forecasts and weather-related events, head to Far North District Council, Northland Civil Defence, and MetService New Zealand.