
Radio New Zealand
Wellington, February 14, 2023
A national state of emergency has been declared after Cyclone Gabrielle unleashed fury across the North Island.
There has been widespread power outages, flooding, slips and damage to properties.
Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty says both the prime minister, and the Opposition spokesperson for emergency management are supportive of the move.
He says this is an unprecedented weather event impacting much of the North Island.
This is only the third time in New Zealand history a National State of Emergency has been declared.
Read more:
Cyclone Gabrielle: Flooding and land slips isolate some Auckland regions
Firefighters trapped, injured in Auckland’s Muriwai house collapse
By the numbers: Cyclone Gabrielle’s impact
Cyclone Gabrielle: Who to call, what to do if the roof comes off or windows smash
Video Courtesy: RNZ
Follow the latest weather updates on RNZ’s live blog below:
National state of emergency: What you need to know
- The New Zealand Government has declared a National State of Emergency, to assist in the response to Cyclone Gabrielle.
- The declaration will apply to the six regions that have already declared a local State of Emergency: Northland, Auckland, Tairāwhiti, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, and Hawkes Bay.
- A National State of Emergency gives the National Controller legal authority to apply further resources across the country and set priorities in support of a national level response.
- Put safety first. Don’t take any chances. Act quickly if you see rising water. Floods and flash floods can happen quickly. If you see rising water do not wait for official warnings. Head for higher ground and stay away from floodwater.
- Stay at home if it is safe to do so. But have an evacuation plan in case your home becomes unsafe to stay in.
- If you have evacuated, please stay where you are until you are given the all-clear to go home.
- People should stay up to date with the forecasts from MetService and continue to follow the advice of civil defence and emergency services.
- Do not try to walk, play, swim, or drive in floodwater: even water just 15 centimetres deep can sweep you off your feet, and half a metre of water will carry away most vehicles. Flood water is often contaminated and can make you sick.
What you need to know:
- A national state of emergency has been declared. It is only the third in New Zealand’s history.
- Auckland, Northland, Tairāwhiti, Bay of Plenty Region, Ōpōtiki, Whakatāne district, Waikato Region, Thames-Coromandel, Hauraki district, Waikato district, Napier City and Hastings District are under states of emergency.
- Cyclone Gabrielle is expected to continue moving southeast, tracking close to the east coast of the North Island, before moving away to the southeast from late Tuesday, MetService says.
- MetService has issued multiple severe weather warnings and watches. Check the latest updates here
- Air New Zealand cancelled all domestic flights from or through Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and Taupō, until at least midday Tuesday. Some international flights are also either cancelled or diverted to another NZ airport.
- Some communities on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula are cut off
- Auckland trains are cancelled until at least mid afternoon on Tuesday.
- In Auckland there are 27 civil defence centres and shelter sites open.
- The government on Monday unveiled a $11.5 million package to support NGOs and community groups.
- Interislander cancelled Cook Strait ferry sailings until 2am Wednesday, and Bluebridge suspended crossings until at least 8.15am Wednesday.


“The power and communications is a big problem. And the roads of course,” adding he has heard State Highway 35 sustained damage along much of its length.
He said Tokomaru Bay has been flooded, power was out and communication was difficult, with the call from RNZ this morning the first contact with the outside world.
But Cunningham said, for him specifically, Cyclone Gabrielle hadn’t been as bad as previous disasters.
“I can’t speak for other people, but we’ve had several of these floods now and this one is no worse than the others.”
“[The cafe] didn’t flood this time, which is a great relief. We put some precautions in to stop it from flooding again and they seemed to work.”
Cunningham said Uawa/Tolaga Bay appears to be the worst-affected area on the coast.
“I’ve heard Uawa, it’s really bad down there with all the slash. We don’t get the slash the same way they do, I saw some in the river but they get really hammered with it.”
“There’s no groceries available here either, no water. Usual story,” he said, of the latest large-scale flood for Tairāwhiti.
Reporting by Jamie Tahana