Tropical cyclone heading for NZ strengthens to a category 3 – Watch on TVNZ+<\/a><\/p>\n![\"he](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775634849_265_he-forecaster-shared-an-animation-online-depicting-a-range-o-DRBIEZUECBGE5AIVSUN4EQBEQU.jpg\")
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he forecaster shared an animation online depicting a range of track scenarios. (Source: NIWA)<\/p>\n
Law said “uncertainty remains” around TC Vaianu’s exact track, but if it does hit it would bring “damaging, potentially life-threatening winds”.<\/p>\n
“The locations of the most severe winds are not yet certain. As confidence in the track increases, parts of this watch will be upgraded to orange or possibly red warnings,” he said. <\/p>\n
Vaianu would also bring heavy rain, with heavy rain watches and warnings likely to be issued on Thursday for some areas, with a “high chance of upgrading to a warning”. <\/p>\n
Auckland Emergency Management said there was uncertainty about the cyclone’s exact track and potential affects.<\/p>\n
“We can however possibly expect damaging, potentially life threatening winds, heavy rain, and hazardous coastal conditions.<\/p>\n
“This could cause damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures. Driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.”<\/p>\n
Last night NIWA shared an animation online depicting a range of track scenarios, with most indicating a landfall somewhere in the upper North Island on Sunday. <\/p>\n
Vaianu to be ‘significant and damaging’ \u2013 Luxon<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said agencies were on “full notice” over Cyclone Vaianu, saying it was continuing to move south towards New Zealand.<\/p>\n
“This is shaping to be a very significant and damaging weather event, and I just think obviously with big impact on the North Island particularly around Sunday it’s a great opportunity to remind New Zealanders to do everything they can,” he said during am media conference in Wellington on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
“Stock up, get their supplies in order, get items that may be loose in their backyards tied down and in secure storage.”<\/p>\n
He said it was important people did everything they could to prepare.<\/p>\n
Acting Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Chris Penk said, “we know this will be unwelcome news for communities that have recently been affected by severe weather and are still recovering”.<\/p>\n
“We are asking people to take sensible precautions, and government is doing the same. MetService, NEMA and Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups, the New Zealand Defence Force, Police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand are closely monitoring Cyclone Vaianu, and NEMA stands ready to coordinate support if required.”<\/p>\n
![\"Acting](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775634850_890_acting-minister-for-emergency-management-and-recovery-chris-FDODFVDXUBHXHNDNNCEPVZHQFI.jpg\")
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Acting Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Chris Penk. (Source: Getty)<\/p>\n
Penk said there was still time to prepare before the conditions reach New Zealand.<\/p>\n
People could take steps to get ready such as bringing inside or securing anything which strong winds could lift or damage, he said.<\/p>\n
“If you have a trampoline, turn it upside down to reduce wind exposure and tie it down securely. Clear away loose items such as branches and firewood, which can become dangerous in high winds. <\/p>\n
“Make sure drains are free of debris to help reduce the risk of flooding. Check in on neighbours, especially those who may be elderly, isolated, or without reliable communications.”<\/p>\n
He said North Islanders “should also be prepared in case of power outages”.<\/p>\n
“Have torches ready and ensure you have access to a battery or solar-powered radio so you can stay up to date with all the latest information and alerts.”<\/p>\n
“Above all, put safety first. Do not take unnecessary risks. Even if the storm is less severe than forecast, it is always better to be prepared.”<\/p>\n
Current watches and warnings<\/p>\n
![\"Heavy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775634851_926_heavy-rain-for-parts-of-the-north-island-today-and-thursday-4BFNAYAPQBGHXC5IPLXHX6QOWA.jpg\")
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Heavy rain for parts of the North Island today and Thursday. (Source: MetService)<\/p>\n
Heavy Rain Warning \u2013 Orange<\/p>\n
Bay of Plenty west of Whakat\u0101ne, including Rotorua \u2013 12 hours from 9am to 9pm today.<\/p>\n
Heavy Rain Watch<\/p>\n
Auckland and Great Barrier Island \u2013 four hours from 9am to 1pm today.<\/p>\n
Coromandel Peninsula \u2013 six hours from 9am to 3pm today.<\/p>\n
Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui and Taup\u014d \u2013 12 hours from 9am to 9pm today.<\/p>\n
Bay of Plenty about and east of Whakat\u0101ne \u2013 27 hours from 9am today to 12pm Thursday.<\/p>\n
Strong Wind Watch<\/p>\n
The North Island \u2013 22 hours from 1am Sunday to 11pm Sunday.<\/p>\n
The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including a complaint upheld against Richard Chambers, new photos from the moon mission, and JD Vance\u2019s awkward phone call. (Source: 1News)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"MetService has issued a preliminary severe weather watch for the entire North Island ahead of Tropical Cyclone Vaianu’s…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":368870,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[111,43,139,69,6430,6563,3393],"class_list":{"0":"post-369170","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-zealand","8":"tag-new-zealand","9":"tag-news","10":"tag-newzealand","11":"tag-nz","12":"tag-pacific-islands","13":"tag-storms","14":"tag-weather-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/369170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=369170"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/369170\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/368870"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=369170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=369170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=369170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}